Classification of Travelers - Chapter 3

CLASSIFICATIO N OF TRAVELERS Chapter 3 Personality PSYCHOCENTRIC: PREFER SAFE DESTINATIONS ALLOCENTRIC: SEEK NEW EXPERIENCES MID-CENTRIC: PREFER A BALANCE OF S AF E AND NEW EXPERIENCES Travel purpose BUSINESS: TRAVEL FOR WORK PLEASURE: TRAV...

CLASSIFICATIO N OF TRAVELERS Chapter 3 Personality PSYCHOCENTRIC: PREFER SAFE DESTINATIONS ALLOCENTRIC: SEEK NEW EXPERIENCES MID-CENTRIC: PREFER A BALANCE OF S AF E AND NEW EXPERIENCES Travel purpose BUSINESS: TRAVEL FOR WORK PLEASURE: TRAVEL FOR LEISURE, SUCH AS FAMILY VACATIONS, RESORT TRIPS, OR SOLO TRAVEL MEDICAL: TRAVEL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT Baseline characteristics VULNERABLE: HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR OTHER VULNERABILITIES LONG-TERM: TRAVEL FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD EXPLORERS They engage with the destination environment and are willing to adapt their behavior to the environment. GROUP TRA VEL is a travel type that involves a group of people, often organized through a tour company, traveling together to a destination RESORT TRAVELER S are your resort hoppers. These travelers focus their vacations on rest and rejuvenation in a beautiful and easy-to- travel location.  ADVENTURE TOURISM Tourism in contact with nature, involving physical dexterity to undertake activities that are generally carried out in the open air BUSINESS TOURISM Regardless of the destination, the reason for the trip is business or professionally motivated. LEISURE TRAVELERS are people who travel for personal reasons, such as relaxation, entertainment, or recreation. Leisure travel can involve sightseeing, visiting family or friends, or taking a vacation INCENTIVE TRAVELER S are people who receive an all-expenses-paid trip as a reward for achieving certain goals or milestones. Incentive travel programs are used by businesses to motivate and recognize employees or customers. Cultural travel IS A TYPE OF TRAVEL THAT INVOLVES LEARNING ABOUT A PLACE'S HISTORY, TRADITIONS, AND CULTURE. IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS IMMERSIVE TRAVEL OR EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL.  EXPEDITION MEMBERS are people, animals, or things that are part of a group that goes on an expedition. An expedition is a journey or trip that is organized for a specific purpose. MOUNTAI N TOURISM is a type of tourism that takes place in mountainous areas. It includes a variety of outdoor activities, such as walking, climbing, and winter sports. RURAL TOURISM is a type of tourism that involves participating in the rural lifestyle, often through nature-based activities. It can also include cultural activities, such as learning about local history and heritage.  SPORTS TOURISM is the act of traveling to a place to participate in or watch a sporting event. It is a growing form of tourism that combines a love of sports with a desire to experience new places. THE CHALLENGE S OF GROUP TRAVEL A group is collection of unique individuals. One of the challenges of group travel to the industry and to the guide is to off er a more personalized level of service to group travelers. The Changes occurring in society and the changing character of the traveling public off er new challenges to guides. Guides are called upon to meet these challenges.  1. BECAUSE TRAVELERS COME FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, THEY WILL BE MORE DIVERSE IN THEIR TASTE, BEHAVIOR AND VALUES. GUIDES MUST THEREFORE BE DEVELOPED A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES AND CULTURES. 2. BECAUSE TRAVELERS ARE EXPOSED TO OTHER CULTURES THROUGH TELEVISION, MOVIES, VIDEOS, AND TRAVEL GUIDES MUST BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A BROADER, MORE COSMOPOLITAN PERSPECTIVE. 3. BECAUSE TRAVELERS NOW HAVE TRAVELED MORE THAT PREVIOUS GENERATIONS, THEY MAY BE MORE DISCRIMINATING AND DEMANDING ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE AND CARE THEY RECEIVE. 4. Because of increased demands on time, travelers may wish to see more in less time. However, there are other travelers who prefer in depth, slower-paced excursions such as archeological tours or wildlife photography tours. 5. Because those who have already traveled to popular regions will be more interested in unusual places, guides in rural areas will be given more opportunities. 6. Because the future will demand that guides specialize in a wide variety of areas such as nature, architecture, foreign and sign languages.  INTERNATIONA L TRAVELERS Globally, international travel is growing in popularity and provides both tourists and tour guides with an exciting and fulfilling experience. Those who work with foreign guests must be familiar with greetings, punctuality, gift-giving, clothing gestures, and general procedure because it can be diffi cult to understand customs, body language, and personalities. ANTI CHEWING LAW, SPITTING IN PUBLIC HAS A FINE. SMOKING IN PUBLIC WILL GET YOU IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. Singapore  RESPECT THE THAI KING A LW AY S C A R RY YO U R PA S S P O RT I N T H A I L A N D AV O I D I L L E G A L D R U G S I N T H A I L A N D THAILAND'S LEGAL DRINKING AGE IS 20 D O N ' T O V E R S TAY YO U R V I S A I N T H A I L A N D 1.YOU MUST TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES WHEN GOING INTO SOMEONE’S HOUSE. 2. IT IS IMPOLITE TO START A MEAL BEFORE THE OLDEST PERSON AMONG YOU AT THE TABLE 3, DO NOT COMMENT ON FOOD NOR SMELL IT BEFORE EATING IT. VARIOUS ROLE OF A TOUR GUIDE PRIMARY ROLE OF TOUR GUIDE  RESPONSIBILITIES PROVIDE IN FORM ATION : SHARE DETAIL S ABOUT THE HISTORY, PURPO SE, AND ARCHITEC TURE O F A SITE. TEL L STORIES: SHARE STO RIES ABOUT PEOPL E AN D EVENTS ASSO CIATED W ITH A SITE. M AN AGE ITIN ERARIES : EN SURE THAT THE TO UR'S ITIN ERARY IS F OL LO WED. EN SURE SAFETY: ENSURE THE S AF ETY O F THE GROUP AND THAT THEY REMAIN TOGETHER. RESPON D TO EM ERGEN CIES: PROVIDE ASSISTANC E IN EMERGEN CIES. COM PLY WITH REGUL ATION S: ENSURE C OMPL IANC E WITH ESTAB L ISHMENT OR TOUR REGUL ATION S. ADAPT TO N EEDS: ADJUST THE PAC E, CO NTEN T, AND STYL E O F THE TO UR TO MATC H THE IN TERESTS OF THE GRO UP. SOLVE PROBL EM S: USE CREATIVE THINK IN G AN D Q UIC K DEC ISIO N - MAK IN G TO F IN D SO LUTIO NS TO PROB L EMS. Skills KNOWLEDGE: HAVE EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL HISTORY, ATTRACTIONS, AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES. ADAPTABILITY: BE FLEXIBLE AND ABLE TO ADJUST PL ANS AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE. PROBLEM-SOLVING: BE ABLE TO THINK ON YOUR FEET AND FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. TIME MANAGEMENT: BE ABLE TO BAL ANCE THE NEED TO COVER ALL PL ANNED STOPS WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO ALLOW FOR DETOURS. HOW TO BE A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER  HOW TO BE A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER  Plan: Research your destination and look for sustainable accommodations, tour operators, and transportation.  Support local businesses: Buy local items, souvenirs, and hire local guides.  Respect local culture: Learn about the local customs and traditions.  Reduce waste: Avoid single-use plastics and bring reusable bags, water bottles, and utensils. HOW TO BE A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER  Conserve resources: Take shorter showers, turn off lights and air conditioning when you leave, and reuse towels.  Reduce your carbon footprint: Walk, cycle, or use public transportation when possible.  Leave no trace: Pick up trash, stay on designated trails, and respect wildlife.  Educate yourself: Learn about the environmental and social issues in your destination. Volunteer: Volunteer your time to help the local community.  A TOUR GUIDE HAS 5 PRIMARY ROLES ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENT: LEADER, EDUCATOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE, HOST, AND CONDUIT. As a leader, guides must navigate groups, provide access, maintain control, manage tensions, entertain, and make decisions. As educators, they impart historical, cultural and geographic knowledge. As public relations representatives, they represent countries and businesses. As hosts, they make travelers comfortable, enjoy people, and extend help. Finally, as conduits, guides emphasize the visitor experience over their own performance. These interrelated roles vary based on the tour but are essential for a successful experience.  SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF ROLES Guiding is not an exact science. It is an individual and creative art, requiring both style and personality. Having described the various roles of guides, clearer picture arises concerning the desirable qualities of guides and their possible courses of study. Indeed, the different task a guide must fulfill simultaneously are very challenging. For some guides, the ability fulfills their roles concurrently is inborn; for others, it is diffi cult. However, experience has shown that many of the skills required regarding the guides work are teachable. SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATIO N OF ROLES it must be noted that the five roles presented are those roles pertaining to the guide’s image; that is, the roles that the visitor and the industry expect of a professional. These roles demand that guides must also work to build their identities as educators, researchers, guest or travelers, businessmen, and marketers as a foundation for the roles described. As Gabriel Cherem said, “Image is what you are perceived by others; identity is what you are.”