Tour Guides Research Articles

Digital technologies and applications in tourist guidance: The dilemma between adopting innovations and career concerns

This study examines tourist guides’ self-evaluations of innovative technologies, focusing on digital transformation in tourist guidance services. With the qualitative research design, in-depth interviews were conducted with professional tourist guides, and the findings were revealed by thematic analysis. While tourist guides adopt the diffusion of innovations related to “technical features” and “individualized services” dimensions of digital technology used in tourism, there is a tendency to show resistance to “tour quality” and “career concern.” As a result, it has been revealed that strengthening professional tourist guidance with tourist guidance digital technologies will improve visitor–tourist guide interaction.

Les ambiances au sein des equipements touristiques de la ville coloniale de Biskra (Est Algerien)

Conquered by the French army in 1844, Biskra was widely known as a notorious winter tourist destination during the colonial era. Characterized by a hot and dry climate, the ‘queen of the oases’ in the Ziban region was renowned for its numerous tourist facilities constructed using techniques imported from elsewhere, local materials, and apparent local stylistic influences. This distinguished architecture was notably mentioned in travel accounts and highlighted in tourist guides. Situated in the realm of heritage and architecture, this research aims to go beyond the knowledge of the built (material) heritage of hotels and thermal resorts in a southern Algerian city. Therefore, this article identifies and defines the atmospheres (intangible heritage) and architectural components, along with their origins, within the tourist facilities built in Biskra during the colonial period. Content analysis is the research technique applied to a corpus of textual sources dating from the colonial period itself. Thus, this work is conducted in accordance with a methodological protocol allocating the study of atmospheres, form, and construction. The acquired results shed light on a historical mode of construction adapted to a challenging natural environment, and they provide a valuable historical reference for contemporary tourism projects suitable for demanding contexts.

Developing Material Of English For Tour Guiding Enriched With Balinese Local Wisdom For Tourism Students

Developing Material Of English For Tour Guiding Enriched With Balinese Local Wisdom For Tourism Students

Multi-stakeholder identification and prioritization of human–tiger conflict reduction measures in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Abstract The identification and implementation of conflict reduction measures are necessary to reduce predator attacks on people and livestock and to minimize human encroachment into predator habitats. We identified potential human–tiger conflict reduction measures and prioritized these measures for Chitwan National Park, Nepal. We identified these measures through a literature review, key informant interviews and a local stakeholder workshop. We prioritized the identified measures using a questionnaire survey of victims of tiger attacks (farmers, forest users and fishers), beneficiaries of tiger conservation (tourist guides, Jeep and elephant safari operators, tour and hotel operators and business operators) and National Park managers. We identified 22 measures (12 preventative, five reactive and five mitigative) as having potential for reducing negative interactions between people and tigers. Amongst these, we identified compensation payments, tiger-proof fences and habitat and prey management as high-priority measures. Conflict reduction priorities also varied amongst stakeholder groups. The victims assigned the highest priority to the construction of tiger-proof fences, whereas beneficiaries identified the management of habitat and prey as their highest priority. Compensation payments were the first preference of National Park managers and were amongst the top two priorities of all stakeholder groups. We recommend the adoption of the identified stakeholder priorities for reducing human–tiger conflict around Chitwan National Park and encourage consideration of the variations in priorities between stakeholder groups during policy development and decision-making.

Alternative Tourism – an Ontology of Bulgarian National Revival Residential Architecture for the Purposes of an Intelligent Tourist Guide

In the article, we will explain the concept of alternative tourism and its subtypes, we will dwell on its role in the preservation of cultural and historical heritage of an architectural type by means of technological solutions – an intelligent guide with ontological knowledge.

Motives for Tipping Behaviour towards Food Delivery Riders: A Perspective from Malaysian Consumers

Tipping is a form of gratitude in which patrons pay extra money to service personnel for excellent service. It often accounts for 15-20% of the entire bill. Tipping customs differ for each country; therefore, it's crucial to understand local practices. Customer tips are given to airport porters, baristas, bartenders, bellmen, busboys, concierges, courtesy van drivers, croupiers, doormen, golf caddies, hotel maids, parking valets, sommeliers, taxicab and delivery drivers, tour guides and servers. According to past research, there are limited studies that focus on tipping food delivery riders or drivers. Thus, this study examines the motives for tipping behaviour toward food delivery riders. Convenience sampling was used, and data from up to 384 were obtained through online survey questionnaires and were analysed using SPSS software. Food delivery consumers who are experienced in giving tips to the food delivery rider are the target respondents of this research. This research will focus on the relationship between the motives variables, which include the weather (1), sympathy (2), autonomy (3), and better service (4) with the tipping practice. The findings of the analysis suggest that the four variables above have a significant relationship with tipping practice. Future research aimed to determine whether and how tipping behaviour changed among individuals who continued eating out by ordering delivery and takeaway meals.

The Role of Driving Actors as Social Engineers in Improving the Community's Economy through Social Entrepreneurship in Marine Ecotourism

The gap initiated the movement of empowerment through social entrepreneurship as a business effort to improve the economy of the community in the Sungai Pinang area by a driving actor named Ricky with a learning center known as Ricky's beach house. This research was conducted at Ricky's beach house in the Sungai Pinang marine tourism area with an inductive research approach with a descriptive qualitative method of field study method. This research presents data using descriptive data. This research aims to analyze the role of driving actors in improving the community's economy through social entrepreneurship and marine ecotourism. The results of this study show that the development steps taken by Ricky's beach house by empowering the potential of the surrounding community to be involved in every aspect of the development of Sungai Pinang tourism, such as utilizing people's homes as tourist lodging facilities, turning people into tour guides, and using facilities owned by other residents such as boats for tourists who want to go to the island including at the same time being the captain of the ship, being a waiter at the bar and lounge. The concept of social entrepreneurship also emphasizes the concept of ecotourism where tourism that is developed still pays attention to environmental sustainability even by involving foreign tourists as volunteers.

Moscow Palace of Pioneers in the Cinema: A History Frozen in Time

The Moscow Palace of Pioneers on the Vorobyovy Gory — an architectural monument of Soviet modernism, the most successful and recognizable building of the Thaw period — can be found in many Soviet and Russian films: “The Tale of Lost Time”, “Gimme the Book of Complaints”, “Moscow — Cassiopeia”, “The Way to the Concert”, “Afonya”, “Dangerous Age”, “Nina”, “Legend No. 17”, “Thaw”, “Lyudmila Gurchenko”, “The Optimists” and others. The article reviews filming locations of feature and documentary films, identifies the main locations of the director’s groups, parallels and comparisons of perspectives in cinema with contemporary reality. The reasons for the director’s choice of certain halls, auditoriums, and spaces are analyzed; changes in the role and functionality of the spaces are identified; and the connection with the plot is traced. It is shown how, thanks to the artistic language of cinema, the directors change the function of buildings and spaces: the seventh building becomes an airport, the winter garden becomes a billiard room, classrooms become editorial offices, the theatre hall becomes a meeting place for diplomats. Some films depict unique interiors of the Palace, panels and mosaics, while in other films the directors were interested in innovative objects and angles that were not clearly linked to the pioneer theme. Many of the reviewed films contain a pedagogical component: they teach to value time (The Tale of Lost Time), to dream (Moscow is My Love), to set high goals (Moscow — Cassiopeia), to keep one’s word (Thaw), to succeed (Legend No. 17, Lyudmila Gurchenko), to seek the right path in life (Afonya), to be a patriot (The Optimists). Documentary films about the Moscow Palace of Pioneers are a vivid example of successful organisation of the educational process. The article may be interesting and useful to researchers of the spheres of culture, cinema, art, history and education, residents and guests of the capital and everyone who is interested in the history of the Moscow Palace of Pioneers. The materials of the research are also of practical value and can be used by tour guides, teachers, methodologists and teachers.

Pola Pengalaman Wisatawan Generasi Z di Destinasi Pariwisata Yogyakarta

Generation Z is the largest population in Indonesia. Many potentials can be explored from their behavior. The purpose of this study is to discover what the pattern of experiences before, during and after traveling from generation Z tourists in Yogyakarta tourism destinations. This research method uses a qualitative approach, with a sequential research design. Where the data will begin with quantitative in the form of questionnaires to generation Z tourists, then the results are confirmed by conducting interviews with tour guides, tour drivers, tourist attraction managers, tour and travel owners, the results are triangulated by conducting field observations, seeing the behavior of generation Z tourists at tourist attractions. The results found that psychocentric generation Z tourists have a pattern of Psychocentric Gen Z experience in Yogyakarta, starting with (1) dreaming, then (2) researching, (3) planning, (4) booking, (5) anticipating, (6) traveling to, (7) experiencing, (8) sharing, (9) remembering, and (10) evaluating. Generation Z travelers who are allocentric have a pattern of (1) Researching. (2) traveling to Yogyakarta, (3) Enjoying traveling in Yogyakarta, (4) Enjoying the return trip, (5) sharing, (6) recalling tourism activities, and (7) evaluating. Meanwhile, midcentric generation Z tourists have an experience pattern of (1) dreaming, (2) researching (3) booking, (4) anticipating, (5) enjoying a trip to each tourist attraction. (6) Enjoying tourist activities at tourist attractions (7) sharing. (8) remembering, and (9) evaluating.

Sharia Hotel Management Policy: An Analysis of Islamic Attribute of Destination Theory in Indonesia and Malaysia

Islamic Destination Attributes play an essential role in influencing Muslim travelers' interests. This study analyses IAD by comparing Indonesia and Malaysia's current Islamic hotel policies. It was found that there are four dimensions of IAD, namely Worship Facilities, Islamic Facilities, General Islamic Facilities, and Halal Food, which are in accordance with Fatwa Number 108/DSN-MUI/X/2016 fifth article and MS 2610 2015 fourth and fifth articles. IAD is essential for Muslim hotel customer satisfaction. Both policies have fulfilled these four criteria. This study can contribute to academics and researchers in developing a more profound IAD theory. Although limited to the Islamic hotel sector, IAD studies can develop in other sectors with the same policy, such as travel agencies or tour guides.

The persuasive effects of voice characteristics embedded in paid tour guide audio on tourist purchase decisions based on deep learning

Different voices may have persuasive effects on individuals’ decision-making processes; however, in the tourism context, little attention has been paid to online paid tour guide audio. This study investigates how the voice characteristics of tour guide audio play a persuasive role in tourist purchase decisions. Drawing on the stereotype content model, we identify two voice characteristics: perceived warmth and competence. We then extract them from tour guide audio using speech processing and deep learning techniques. Our results show that perceived warmth and competence are positively related to tourist purchase decisions. The contingency effects further indicate greater warmth perception for female tour guides and greater competence perception for male tour guides. In addition, drawing on the value co-creation paradigm, we imply that perceived warmth is more salient for nonprofessionals, such as scholars, cultural celebrities, and even tourists themselves, whereas perceived competence is more salient for professionals, such as tour guides. This study represents pioneering work in AI-based sonic analysis in the tourism context and offers practical implications for tour guides on how to design their online tour guide audio and enhance tourist purchase decisions.

From Cultural Context to Tourist Routes: A GIS-Based Approach to Enhancing Interpretive Strategies by Tour Guides

From Cultural Context to Tourist Routes: A GIS-Based Approach to Enhancing Interpretive Strategies by Tour Guides

Catering to Luxury Chinese Tourists Demand: Insights from Malaysian Inbound Travel Agencies

ABSTRACT The shift toward luxury tourism has engendered a new class of high-end Chinese tourists, presenting significant opportunities for generating substantial revenue through premium tourism products and services. This study specifically explores Malaysian inbound travel agencies’ perceptions, preparedness, and challenges in attracting luxury Chinese tourists. Through qualitative interviews and thematic analysis, this study delves into nine Malaysian inbound travel agencies’ perspectives on attracting luxury Chinese tourists. The qualitative findings reveal distinct characteristics and preferences of Chinese luxury tourists, notably their substantial financial capability, penchant for shopping activities, preference for authentic local Chinese cuisine, and the significance of Mandarin-speaking tour guides. The Chinese tourists also seek high standards and exclusivity, aspire for unique experiences, and often desire customization in their travel itineraries. However, challenges surface in meeting their unique preferences, including limited infrastructures, the need for customization in luxury services, and bureaucratic hurdles. Despite these challenges, travel agencies assert their readiness to cater to the demands of Chinese luxury tourists, actively promoting and enhancing their high-end offerings. By delving into these aspects, the study provides valuable practical and academic insights into industry strategies and the complexities of serving affluent tourist segments within a multicultural destination.

The edifying body: the role of embodied practices in the social production of servicescapes

PurposeThis research aims to explore and theorize the role of embodied practices – orchestrated by service providers – in the social production of servicescapes. It is claimed that the social character of the servicescape is shaped not only by narratives and materialities but also through the body. Bodily physical behaviors like physical movements in space, gestures, facial expressions, postures and tactile engagements with the surrounding materiality constitute a body language that conveys information and expresses meanings. In this kinetic capacity, the body becomes a building agent in the social constitution of the servicescape. As the author empirically demonstrates in the context of city tourism with diverse experiential opportunities, it is due to the body’s discriminatory orientation, walking, looking, pointing and acting in selective ways that the city emerges as a servicescape of particular kind.Design/methodology/approachMarket-oriented ethnography was conducted in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where the author observed the guiding practices of tour guides leading international tourists during two-day city excursions.FindingsThis research identifies and unpacks three clusters of embodied practices deployed by service providers as they guide customers at the servicescape: spatializing, emplacing and regulating. The role of the body and its association with narratives and materialities is identified in each cluster.Practical implicationsA number of embodied practices are provided for use by contact employees as they guide customers in the servicescape. Specific guidelines are also offered to service providers for the strategic employment of body language, their training is navigational skills and the coordination of body, narratives and materialities.Originality/valueThis study extends current materialistic and communicative approaches on the construction of servicescapes by claiming that the servicescape in not only a physical and narrative construction but something that is also configured through the body; provides three clusters of embodied practices deployed by service providers; theorizes the intertwined nature of narratives, materiality and the body; defines servicescapes as dynamic socio-spatial entities emerging from the constant {narrative-material-body} arrangements orchestrated by service providers; and sheds light on the mediating role of the body in the social production of servicescapes.

Pulau Kemaro : Simbol Toleransi Antaragama di Sumatera Selatan

This Community Service (PKM) activity aims to promote and strengthen the values of interreligious tolerance in South Sumatra through the introduction and preservation of Kemaro Island as a symbol of tolerance. Kemaro Island is a small island in the Musi River, Palembang, which is known for the legend of love between a Chinese prince and a princess of Palembang as well as the existence of Buddhist temples that are side by side with the traditions of the local community. Through a series of activities such as workshops, seminars, cultural exhibitions, and educational tours, the program engages various elements of society, including youth, religious leaders, and academics, to understand the history and cultural values of Kemaro Island. This activity also includes training for local tour guides to be able to convey accurate and interesting information about Kemaro Island to visitors. In addition, this program seeks to increase public awareness of the importance of maintaining and preserving cultural sites as valuable heritage. It is hoped that through this activity, the community can better appreciate cultural and religious diversity and foster a spirit of tolerance and harmony in daily life. The results of this PKM activity will be documented in the form of scientific reports and publications, and are expected to be a model for other regions in developing and promoting the values of tolerance through local cultural heritage.

The spatial narratives and representation of slavery and colonial heritage on guided tours in Amsterdam

ABSTRACT Amidst increasing societal discussion on slavery and colonial heritage, tourism has emerged as a potential avenue to address such concerns. Yet, tourism and tour guiding suffers from a paradox. On the one hand, tourism narratives can form a part of an oppressive strategy in colonial approaches against socially excluded and marginalised groups while on the other hand, tourism can offer counter-narratives with progressive potential in transforming mindsets and enlarging perspectives. This article explores these conceptual issues in the context of guided city tours in Amsterdam utilising a qualitative case study design involving participant observation and interviews. We identify the spatial narratives tour guides use to (re)present slavery and colonial heritage, and the factors shaping these narratives. We make two main contributions to the literature. Firstly, we identify how the need for positive atmosphere and good vibes are central to the extent to which tour guides are willing to engage tourists with slavery and colonial narratives in the city. Secondly, we offer a spatial mapping of slavery and colonial heritage narratives offered on tours through Amsterdam. Our study therefore contributes to evidencing how tourism, and tour guides hold transformative potential in dealing with slavery and heritage in an European urban setting.

Tour Guide Performance: An Analysis of English Mastery by Sikka’s Tour Guide

Tour guides play a crucial role as frontline personnel in the tourism sector. By leveraging their expertise in the attractions and cultural aspects of a destination, along with their effective communication with tourists using different languages. In fact, not all tour guides, even those who are certified, have good foreign language skills, resulting in interpretation errors in recognizing tourist destinations and their distinctive culture. This research aims to analyze the problems faced by tour guides related to English mastery. This research uses a qualitative method that allows researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of the problem under study through descriptive and interpretive data analysis. By conducting an interview, the researcher can explore various points of view and obtain data that is rich in context and then conclude with documentation. The results of this research show that tour guides in Sikka district have several problems. The first is the difficulty of communicating with tourists, especially those from Australia, China and France who have different accents and pronunciation of English than usual, so it is necessary to learn related listening skills and various accents and dialects of English from various countries. Then, the tour guide often found tourists who cannot speak English, so the role of technology such as translator applications is needed to overcome these problems. Furthermore, there are tour guides with non-English educational backgrounds so that periodic training needs to be held specifically for English according to the needs of tour guides. On the other hand, proficiency in vocabulary poses a significant challenge. An illustration of this can be seen in the case of tour guides specializing in the diver division, who are required to attain mastery in the vocabulary associated with marine biota. The role of the tourism department is needed by giving awards to tour guides so that the tour guide is motivated to improve their English skills.

Cultural Tourism Potential and its Development Challenges in Harari Region, Ethiopia

The Harari Region offers a rich cultural experience, including well-known historical sites, vibrant festivals, traditional arts, and unique culinary offerings, attracting tourists worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess cultural tourism potential and development challenges in Harari Region. A descriptive research design employed both qualitative and quantitative research approaches to describe the existing phenomena. The study employed probability and non-probability sampling techniques to obtain a representative sample and targeted groups. The respondents to this study were culture and tourism office experts, tourist guides, Museum Staff guides, Souvenir Shop sellers, and local communities. Qualitative data is collected through semi-structured interviews and observation, while quantitative data is collected through questionnaires. The quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 using frequency, percentage, and charts, using both primary and secondary data sources. The study finding reveals that despite the region’s rich cultural heritage, there are development challenges like inadequate infrastructure, insufficient promotional efforts, lack of awareness, poor handling systems, limited documentation, financial constraints, and urban pressures. The findings suggest that stakeholders should utilize cultural tourism properly while avoiding development challenges to support the Harari region and Ethiopia’s development efforts.

GEOWISATA DAN WISATA EDUKASI: MERANCANG PAKET WISATA UNTUK KAWASAN RAWAN BENCANA

The government is currently focused on creating sustainable tourism destinations in disaster areas, with special attention given to developing geotourism as a form of educational tourism. This research aims to design educational tour packages with a geotourism theme specifically for disaster-prone areas. The study was conducted in the Tangkubanparahu Volcano disaster-prone area of North Bandung, using a combination of observations, interviews, and library documents. The data obtained was analyzed through descriptive and map analysis. The results of the research showed that geotourism has great potential as a theme for educational tourism packages in the Tangkubanparahu Volcano disaster-prone area. The 10 km route includes natural, cultural, and man-made tourist attractions which are supported by the availability of tour guides

Ecotourism in Banyuwangi during the Corona Outbreak: Case Study in Pulau Merah, Banyuwangi Regency

This study aims to describe the condition of ecotourism in Pulau Merah, Banyuwangi Regency during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, it attempts to analyze local government policies in the tourism sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research method is descriptive qualitative with data collection, namely in-depth interviews and documentation. The results of this study show that during the pandemic period, Pulau Merah was closed for some time and experienced a fall in visitors. This can also be seen from some of the tour guides that had no customers. The local government issued a new normal policy to survive in the pandemic while still implementing the health protocol. Keywords: ecotourism, new normal policy, tourism policy