Tour Guiding Partners in business!
Dr. Nimit Chowdhary
Fellow guidesWhy are they important? What to do?
They have same interests. Together you can contribute to development of local tourism standards and therefore the industry.
You have learnt and worked together
You often meet each other- face similar challenges and threats
Competition
Have a good rapport May be source of business Senior colleagues are a very good
source of learning- could turn mentors Together you can push for better
working conditions
Guide Associations Why are they important? What to do?
Unity is strength- they may lobby for you and your cause
Negotiate fair working conditions with other trade bodies and associations.
Negotiate wages and fees Negotiate other benefits Plead you case when in
difficulty Opportunity for networking Update on technical and
procedural issues (legal, enforcement, etc.)
Obtain memberships Support your associations Follow their code for
professional conduct
Tourism Companies- Tour operators, Travel agencies
Why are they important? What to do?
Bring tourists to the destination Responsible for conduct of
tourism (inbound) Design and deliver packages-
network with service providers including tour guides
Source of business for you
Introduce yourself and your key strengths- language skills, experience, training, etc.
You are the face of the company for the group/ party
Your primary job is to return company’s customers satisfied and happy
Understand the arrangements- what is offered and what is not to the group.
Understand you limitations- how far can you go, that company will support
Tourism Companies- Tour operators, Travel agencies
Why are they important? What to do?
Bring tourists to the destination Responsible for conduct of
tourism (inbound) Design and deliver packages-
network with service providers including tour guides
Source of business for you
Always present the company in good light
Take care of their customers with who you spend significant time
Keep company updated of your movements and activities- never let communication break
Always be ready for the duty If required help with Fam Trips Help companies improvise and design
new packages
Local tourism authority/ Local Tourist information Officer (Public servant)
Why are they important? What to do?
Face of tourism industry at the destination
Source of assignments ( they refer guest to you)
Educate you for destination image and related activities
Educate you about new tourism products and future development
Introduce yourself and if required register with them and leave your contact details with them
Meet them frequently (least they should forget you)
Provide necessary feedback and constructive criticism
Attend their workshops and meetings Request them to give you business Do not turn down their request to
accompany groups (make them succeed)
HotelsWhy are they important? What to do?
Tourist will retire to hotels every evening.
Hotels may be asked to arrange for guides- they may refer you
You may be asked to pick tourists from the railways station/ airport/ sea port and transfer them to hotels and help guests get comfortably settle in the hotel.
Introduce self and build a good rapport with hotels in your vicinity
Forge good relationships with staff at from desk, travel desk and the concierge
Take a tour of the hotel- learn about the facilities and operations details like – parking, restaurant, lifts (and their protocols), evacuation, facilities in the room, door locking system, mini-bar policy, room service, hot and cold water facilities, etc.
HotelsWhy are they important? What to do?
Tourist will retire to hotels every evening.
Hotels may be asked to arrange for guides- they may refer you
You may be asked to pick tourists from the railways station/ airport/ sea port and transfer them to hotels and help guests get comfortably settle in the hotel.
You may arrive with a group, help the front office with rooming lists and details of the guests (passports, identity, etc.)
Help guest with details of the hotels and the neighbourhood
Help in allocation of rooms. Leave your details with the front office/
travel desk Return favours (they give you business) Pass a good word about the hotel
Restaurants and eateries
Why are they important? What to do?
Guests will often ask reference for good restaurant or a speciality restaurant
You should be in a position to advise
You may arrive for lunch or snacks to a pre-decided restaurant as part of itinerary- you would like your party to be served on priority without consuming too much time
They may be willing to return favours for recommending them
Learn about restaurants in your city, their specialities, and their clientele and price bands.
Meet them and introduce self to them
Personally know the manager and the chef
You may have to negotiate time slots for your party and keep them informed about your party’s arrival so that they can prepare in advance
Restaurants and eateries
Why are they important? What to do?
Guests will often ask reference for good restaurant or a speciality restaurant
You should be in a position to advise
You may arrive for lunch or snacks to a pre-decided restaurant as part of itinerary- you would like your party to be served on priority without consuming too much time
They may be willing to return favours for recommending them
You may have to talk to the chef to explain the expectations requirements of your guests
Ask guests about their requirements and accordingly suggest a eating joint (depending upon the time, budget and preference)
Tour escorts/ managersWhy are they important? What to do?
As per law, those tour managers/ escorts who do not have a license to guide tourists will have to hire services of a local guide inside a monument.
They may hire you.
Have good relationships with escorts/ tour managers who accompany tour parties regularly to your site.
You may frequently make calls to exchange pleasantries and also inquire when next they are arriving with a group and should they require your services. You will be on their mind.
Alternatively they call you to help them with local sightseeing- they will be comfortable as they have earlier done business with you and you understand their expectations.
Tour escorts/ managersWhy are they important? What to do?
As per law, those tour managers/ escorts who do not have a license to guide tourists will have to hire services of a local guide inside a monument.
They may hire you.
Keep them informed of new developments at your destination/ site
Give them creative ideas to make itineraries interesting for their clients.
Help them with logistics when in your city.
Local transport- taxis, autos, rickshawsWhy are they important? What to do?
Guests may ask you to arrange for local transport to help with local sightseeing/ shopping on their own
Or just a joyride around the city Or a additional sightseeing trip
to a nearby place Locals transporters may like to
return favours/ oblige
Get in touch with reliable local transport companies
Personally learn about and patronise a few taxi owner-drivers, auto-walas, rickshaw-walas, Tonga-walas, etc. Keep their mobile phone numbers.
Your guest may ask for help and within minutes you should be able to arrange a reliable person for a fun-ride for them!
Authorities at sites ( Museum/ archaeological sites/ galleries/ shows/ religious places)
Why are they important? What to do?
You may have to obtain necessary permissions for your groups
May have to know about convenient time slots for bringing the group wherein they get adequate attention
May learn about special days, events, initiatives, restrictions
May help you with important information about the site (they serve as sources of information)
Meet them (curators, officers, administrators, priests, etc.), introduce self, leave your card
Oblige them as and when possible Promise and do promote visits to these
sites. When at site, help them maintain
decorum and organise the show.
Local authorities (city administration, police)
Why are they important? What to do?
Responsible for general discipline, maintenance of infrastructure and sometimes operations of the tourist sites.
Give permissions Issue licences (for local
guides) Tourism is their interest as
well. Are happy to support responsible tourism
Introduce yourself. Help them enforce law and discipline
by encouraging your guest to follow directions
Seek necessary permissions Always keep them in loop Inform them of any untoward/
unpleasant event, activity.
Shopping establishmentsWhy are they important? What to do?
This is the most cursed part of a tour guide’s job
Code of conduct of MoT does not encourages guides to accompany guest to shopping establishments
However, guests would ask for references- they would like a reference to be sure of the purchase
They (shopping establishments) may oblige.
Know who sells what- prices, credibility, location, bargain, etc.
Please do not leave your guest vulnerable to cheating (something they fear a lot!). You get a share of blame
Learn about opening and closing times, etc.
Negotiate with good shopping establishments the quality and prices – only refer them.
Leave your card with them; carry their contact details,
Other service providers (Porters, priests at temples, etc.)
Why are they important? What to do?
Your guests might require help at railway stations or bus stations.
Might require some services/ rituals to be performed at the religious sites (temples, river banks or holy tanks, etc.)
Arranging such services leave a very good impression
Service providers get business and so are willing to oblige. Build rapport.
Give tips. There are examples of local service
providers like watchman and care takers and even hawkers displaying extra courtesies ( making guests feel special) as they have been tipped- this pleasantly amuses the guests
Community
Why are they important? What to do?
They provide the vital backdrop for an interesting experience of the tour. Subtly, all members of the community play their role in staging an experience for the guests.
They are at times obstructed and offended by visitors’’ movements.
They are the trustees of tourism
Engage extensively with community Educate them (about tourism and
tourists) Buy-in their consent Always keep them in good humour Organise your visits and movements
such that they are least obtrusive Educate your group about local
sensitivities and appropriate behaviour including dress and the way they carry self.
FamilyWhy are they important? What to do?
Last but not the least is your family
They allow you time that was due to them
They accommodate your awkward arrivals and departures, meetings and company of unknown people
Provide emotional and moral support to you
Be good to them always Talk to them often about your work, job
descriptions Remain connected to them when
working out of station Express your feelings for them- return
favours.