Notes TOURIST GUIDING ON COACH
Introduction Tourist travel in coach. Therefore, Tour guide must know how to guide in a coach. As coach moves to the places and passes through the viewer eyes, a guide has to cover and explain maximum number of places. A guide has to show them attractions and places on the way to the destination. When a tour guide is guiding in a coach, he must know how to handle the microphone and use various gadgets and facilities available in the coach. The Tour guide must tell the group to see on his left or right before arriving to the destination they are heading to. Another example of On coach Tour Guiding is "Hop On and Hop Off" bus. On Coach Tour Guiding
Coach tour guiding is an activity in which tour guide assist the tourist’s and explains them about: 1) the important places, 2) people living at the destination, 3) their traditions, rituals, 4) Cuisine, culture etc. Coach tour guiding and On Site Tour
A Tourist guide give commentary on bus while the bus is moving and drawing tourist attention towards different things/ places/ attractions passing through very fast before arriving to destination. Example: Places on the way to A Famosa. Coach tour guiding 01 Tourist Guide make commentary while walking to the attraction. For example give commentary about A Famosa. 02 On Site tour guiding
On Coach commentaries. Announce what are the various items included in the tour and what to expect. Send your day by thanking the guest. Announce next day’s itinerary or tour program before concluding today’s tour. And give them instructions. When you are guiding in the coach, you must keep in mind many things. Delivering On Coach Commentaries:
Pre-planning for coach guiding Prepare a draft or plan for guiding. Collect information about the route of guiding. Prepare a list of places en-route. Try to explain each and every route. Think about the specialty of places coming on the way. Before, starting guiding in the coach, you must do "Pre-planning for coach guiding":
Check list before riding on the coach (Bus) Ask coach (Bus) driver to check air pressure in tires, steeply, cleanliness inside the coach, status of microphone, speakers, availability of water bottles in the coach, first aid box, seat covers etc. Remind tour group members to have cap/ hat/ head gear, goggles, camera, umbrella, paper wipes, water bottles, or medicines (if anyone has to take medicines). Prepare a check list of items tourists has to carry in the coach (Bus):
When coach (Bus) starts from the hotel Define the coach (Bus) schedule. When coach (Bus) starts from the hotel for tour. Greet all group members. Remind them about the pleasant weather. Tell them your name, about the city, its population, history, local food, political scenario, specialties etc. Allow them for some time to get adjusted in the coach (Bus). Tell them about the time for complete tour, places you are covering on the way, do’s and do not, short breaks on the way, photography.
When coach (Bus) starts from the hotel/railway station/ airport Guide must introduce driver and his name, as well as coach helper and his name. The coach Plate number (if any member wanted to reach directly to the coach and want assistance with the driver and helper). The guide must interacts in brief with the driver as per the day itinerary and type of tourists and their expectations form coach (Bus) facilities.
When you are guiding in the coach (Bus). Always tell the tourists to see their left or right. Give them sufficient time (as coach is moving. You have to sense the place before actually passing the place). Tell them about the prominent identity of the place. In tourism, it is known as Top Visual Priority (TVP). Hold the microphone properly, so that tourists can listen to your voice. It should be not too close or not too far the mouth. Give some time to relax between two places in the moving coach. Do not be too fast or too slow.
After the coach guiding Collect feedback. Talk to all group members and try to find out their reaction. Be a good listener. A tour guide must be a good listener.
Do’s and do not’s in coach (Bus) tour guiding ·Tour guide must stand in front of tourists in the aisle. He should face them. While talking to them, he must point out all important places. Guide should hold microphone properly and ensure that all speakers are working properly and sound is audible. Guide may ensure that air cooling in the coach and neat and cleanliness. All the members are properly settled in the coach (Bus). He should count number of tourist’s before starting. During drive he may explain about local information about the particular city some highlights which you passing on the way be explained in easy language as far as possible. It is expected that he must be smart looking which means he is smiling personality, proper uniform, with his naming badge on the chest and brief the day program to each and every member and further during the day if group members are going on any religious site may ensure the required dress code of tourist as well as required scarf or cap to cover head.
Do ’ s and do not’ s in coach (Bus) tour guiding .....continue page If some monuments are not permitting camera or video photography may inform in advance or if applicable he must explain photography fee to the tourists. Guide may ensure the parking of the coach as closest possible to the monument due to some group members are senior citizens / old age and they cannot walk too much during the tour. He may offer proper washrooms or rest rooms as per gender. Guide may ensure well in advance to the all group members kind of warning/ suggestion about vendors/ hackers trying to sell post cards or miscellaneous handcrafts about quality, availability and price before they are buying/ purchasing. Tourists must keep good quality stick, torch carry during the site seeing. The coach driver may be advised by the tour guide to drive slowly whenever you are driving through the city passing some important attraction that may be beautiful building, heritage site or any cultural activity going through.
Conclusion: A coach tour guide must know guiding technique in the coach. He must have good idea about handling tourist in the coach tour. He must be having leadership qualities to quickly assemble them for the next destination. Coach during is a complex job. Tour Guide must be mentally and physically active of coach guiding.
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