THE TOUR ROUTE AND NARRATION

GUIA DE
TURISMO
COLOMBIA

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 THE TOUR ROUTE AND NARRATION

INTRODUCCIÓN

GUIA DE
TURISMO
COLOMBIA

Para diseñar y ejecutar una ruta turística exitosamente se requiere tener

el soporte de todos los ingredientes necesarios para hacerla atractiva, de
manera que satisfaga el interés y expectativas de los turistas.

Indiscutiblemente, en los tiempos modernos el idioma inglés se ha

convertido en un elemento indispensable para la industria turística
mundial; por tanto, todo Guía de Turismo debe apropiar su vocabulario
técnico, dándole aplicación al diseñar el guion de una ruta turística y
desarrollando el programa acorde a los requerimientos del visitante de
habla inglesa.

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ESTRUCTURA DE CONTENIDOS

Introducción..................................................................................2

Mapa Conceptual............................................................................4

1. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOUR ROUTE........................................5

1.1 The tour route...........................................................................5

1. 2 Marking the tour route in the plan or map....................................6

2. THE TOUR NARRATION AND INFORMATIVE MATERIAL............7

2.1 Forming the tour narration.........................................................7

2.2 Preparation of additional informative and

illustrative material.........................................................................8

3. THE TOUR GUIDE’S NARRATION............................................10

3.1 Information about the objects of visitation..................................10

3.2 Types of narration...................................................................12

Bibliografía..................................................................................14

Glosario......................................................................................15

Control de Documento..................................................................17

Creative Commons y Marca Registrada............................................17

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MAPA CONCEPTUAL

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1.DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOUR ROUTE

In order to develop a well thought-out,

thematic tour, the territory and tourism
objects have to be studied first to make
it an excellent service that does not
suggest improvisation even if it has
been successful before. By developing
a good tour route we avoid getting
lost since it is marked in the map and
nature. The route developer will have
to go and explore everything while
planning and developing the route.
Exploring the territory it is advisable
to mark potential objects in the plan
and also distances from one object to
another.

1.1 The tour route

The tour route is planned, purposeful routing of the group along prescribed
itinerary from object to object accompanied by the guide. Making a tour
along the nearest neighborhood and its famous objects the guide or the
host can freely pick the route where to guide his guests and improvise
each time again. But in this case the guide or the host should consider that
it will not be possible to tell the length of the route, duration in advance,
nor to choose the best order to show the objects. Therefore it is advisable
to develop the tour route in advance. The practice of the tour developers
shows that making the itinerary some conditions should be considered,
for example:

• The itinerary should be rationally planned, optimal

• All objects should be easy to access
• All objects should be placed compactly

Objects included in the route should be seen in logical order in accordance

to the tour theme. The itinerary should be developed so that one and
the same itinerary section should not be covered two or more times.
The number of objects to visit should be chosen according to the tour
length, separating the main objects and additional objects. The main
objects during the tour that are seen have more extended description or
are analyzed deeper. During development of bigger, longer tours some
extra themes are made for the main objects.

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If it is a tour by some means of transport then the parking lots should be

assessed – where and what kind are available. Sometimes it is good to
develop variations of one itinerary if in some cases (for example, traffic
jams, wet, flooded meadows, slippery hillsides during the rain) it is not
possible to carry them out.

Developing the tour route, one can stick by one itinerary development
principles:

• Chronological principle
• Topical principle
• Thematically – chronological principle

In order to be successful, a tourist destination should be easily accessible,

dependent on two or more communities, satisfy the needs of diverse
groups of customers, and have an efficient transportation system linking
demand sites with the tourist destination. Planning at this level requires
a substantial amount of coordination between the single components of
tourism supply.

1.2 Marking the tour route in the plan or map.

Any route should be marked in the map or plan. Marked route will be
useful for the tour adverts and popularization and for informing the
tourists, and also in case several drivers and guides will use this route.
If it is a bus tour then as a base should be chosen a map that pictures
network of roads and road surfacing quite well. Topographical maps and
plans should be used as a base for hiking that pictures local roads or
where foot-paths can be marked.

According to what kind of means of transports is used it is possible to

distinguish and mark in the maps:

• Road transport, bike or boat thematic itinerary

• Hiking itineraries
• Compound itinerary (one part is on road transport, another part
hiking)

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One can develop routes that can

be used all year long but also it is
possible to develop routes used in
particular seasons, for example,
boating in rivers, lakes, cycling
routes, skiing.

2. THE TOUR NARRATION

Since tourists should be provided

with tour information that is
proved and evaluated, the tour
narration (text) must contain
elements that are informative and
extended about the main tour topic
and objects. A good tour narration
enlightens the guide’s work and
makes tourists get more involved
in the tour as they learn and enjoy
along the way.

2.1 Forming the tour narration

During any tour the guide can do without special previously summarized
and written text. But tourists often are interested in various facts and
events therefore a good guide will try to find out as much as possible
about the tour objects, activities, and places. It is impossible to remember
everything and keep in mind. Therefore it is necessary to obtain information,

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 THE TOUR ROUTE AND NARRATION

gather it, and present it as logically as possible

and in an attractive way for listeners. As it was
Circuito

Viajes a Medida
already mentioned, well recorded tour (with s
the route drawn in the map or plan, gathered

Aeroterrestres
de Estancias
Programas
main and additional themes, registration of
the main objects and their description, written
narration text or its summary), is easy to use

Terrestres
for several guides. This material can be used if it
is necessary to brighten up the tour, improve it,
develop new or combine one tour from several
tours.

Professional tour organizers and accomplishers advise to integrate a tour

plan at first or its brief summary. When the plan or summary is integrated,
it is easier to form the tour text (narration). The methods are emphasized
in the tour plan, and they show how to carry out the tour in order to reach
the targets that have been set. This information included in the tour plan
or description is:

• The title of the tour

• The goals and assignments of the tour
• The route and duration
• Stopping places
• Component parts of the tour: introduction, basic part and conclusion
• The tour objects
• Duration of the object visit
• The main theme of the tour and additional topics
• Particular organizing instructions if there are any

2.2 Preparation of additional informative and illustrative material

During the tour skillful and experienced guides can get along without any
additional materials. However, the guide practice and the tourist behavior
show that usage of different additional visual aids freshens up the tour,
activates attention, and helps to grasp and comprehend easier what is
shown and narrated.

Additional (auxiliary) materials are necessary to supplement the tourist

conception with information about particular activities, objects, and
people. They are used to give an idea, for example, of what this object

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was like some time ago, or show, describe lost or destroyed elements of
the objects or its components. Different visual aids can give more perfect
concept of history activities and people. Those also can be materials
about future intentions that are prescribed to create in some places, for
example, to demonstrate new buildings, bridges, territory improvement
projects and so on. In nature tours one can use auxiliary materials to
show what plant or animal are in another season, for example, show
blooming plants, demonstrate their berries or fruit. The guide can show
birds and animals that are not seen, play their voice.

There are different types of additional materials – photos, maps, plans,

drawings and copies, copies of documents, audio and video recordings,
also small items. When using additional materials the guide should make
sure they are directly linked to the tour objects. One should remember
they should be in appropriate size and design (for example, photos so
big that the tourists can see them easily). Also, one should consider and
check the number of these materials and whether they are impressive
enough.

Materials prepared like this are also called a “briefcase” of the tour guide.
This title has derived from the fact that the guide carries these materials
in his case or small bag.

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3. THE TOUR GUIDE’S NARRATION

The tour guide’s job will not be

successful unless his narration fulfills
the tourists’ expectations by having
all the elements that makes the
visitation of objects more enjoyable
and informative. Methodological
techniques such as cognitive ones,
GUIA DE
TURISMO
descriptions, characterization,
explanations and comments are used
COLOMBIA

depending on the circumstances

because the guide’s task is to perform
the narration before, during and after
the object visitation.

3.1. Information about the objects of visitation

Narration is always the supplement of the visible material. It cannot be of

too great length – the tour cannot be converted into a lecture. Narration
functions in two ways:

The tour guide not only tells,

but also answers questions and
remarks. Narration should be made
according to the standards of public
speech. During the tour “saturation
” of speech takes place and there
is transition from visitation of the
objects to their verbal evaluation
and conclusions. If the group has
little preparation for the tours,
considers narration to be something

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unnecessary then one has to take account of this factor and reach the
specific aim of the tour, paying more attention to visitation.

As already mentioned, the text of the tour is prepared beforehand. It

cannot be a free improvisation on theme. But it also does not mean that
narration of the tour guide cannot be impromptu. It is acceptable to
mention examples, quotations, current events, responding on the content
of specific group and interests. Narration is formed based on standards
of method of induction (from the specific example, the object to the
general), or on the standards of deduction method (from the general to
the specific). In practice when one makes the narration, the induction
method is most often used when on the base of some object of visitation
the general conclusions are made.

Content has to be:

• Thematic
• Specific
• Related
• Logical
• Convincing
• Well-grounded
• Related to the objects of visitation
• Scientific

Narration usually is the monologue of guide, but it does not exclude the
possibility to create dialogue with the group. Dialogue helps to activate
conception. Usually it starts as the answer of the guide to the questions
and remarks of the tourists.
The feature of narration is the one that there are no oral proofs, their
role is performed by objects of visitation. The Guide has to make the
narration the way that the object would start “to speak itself” so the
tourists would see the things that they are being told about. It can be
achieved by imaginative narration, skillful showing of the object, using
the additional visual aids.

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3.2 Types of narration

Guides can use different manners of narration:

Short information
The basic information about the object is
only being offered – name of the object,
main characteristic entities: age, volume and
others. This technique is used when telling
about additional objects or also about visually
interesting objects, however inconsequential
for the tour which the tourists are in the habit
to ask questions about.

Characterization
It is extensive, exact narration in details
about the object of the tour. The features of
the object, characteristic parameters or the
historical events related to them, are listed
consecutively. When preparing the narration
one has to choose accurate principle of narration
construction in order to avoid chaos.

Comment
This technique is used when one is describing
some process or during demonstration of
some object in its action that is observed by
the tourists during the time of the tour. The
evaluation of production process is practiced
during visits of industrial objects and field trips.
The tour guide briefly comments and describes
the ongoing processes.

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Quotation
Literary work, fragments of historical documents
are included in the narration. The aim is –
to highlight, emphasize degree of veracity,
make brighter the narration. Quotations are
widely included in tours that introduce the
life and activity of famous people and writers.
Quotations have to be short, accurately included
in the context of all narration. Quotations are
to be written out on little cards (10x15 cm),
when quoting, occasionally one can look in the
card.

Reconstruction
COL
OMB
IA
GUI
TUR A DE
ISM
O
It is the technique that is used to recreate
ancient events by creating the effect of being
present at the event, by returning to the
past. This technique requires high degree of
proficiency of the tour guide.

Logical transition
Is introduction of the next object or activity,
when concluding the narration about the
previous object of the tour. One can simply
COLOMBIA
GUIA DE
TURISMO announce the next object of the tour (formally
logical approach), or also create content related
connection between the both objects. Logical
transitions inform the group about the process
of next events and make the tour as one whole,
compositionally well planned service.

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BIBLIOGRAFÍA

Lourens, M. (July de 2007). The underpinnings for successful route

tourism development in South Africa. Recuperado el 14
de October de 2013, de Wired Space: http://wiredspace.
wits.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10539/4887/Masters%20
Thesis%20Routes%20Tourism.pdf?sequence=2

Bruner, E. (7-8 de October de 2005). The Role Of Narrative in

Tourism. Recuperado el 16 de October de 2012, de Berkely
Conference on Voyage: New Directions in Tourism Theory:
www.nyu.edu/classes/bkg/tourist/narrative.doc

Job Monkey. (s.f.). Developing your Guide Skills. Recuperado el 10

de October de 2012, de Job Monkey: http://www.
jobmonkey.com/landtours/html/develop_skills.html

Ehow. Discover the Expert in You. (s.f.). Improving your Tour Guide
Narration Skills (video). Recuperado el 17 de October de
2012, de Ehow: Discover the Expert in You: http://www.
ehow.com/video_2275934_improving-tour-guide-narration-
skills.html

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GLOSARIO

Accomplisher: A person who accomplishes; an achiever.

Adverts: Advertisement - ad - announcement - notice – commercial.

Assess: Evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality.

“Briefcase”: A flat, rectangular container, typically made of leather, for

carrying books and papers.
Synonyms: portfolio - briefbag - attache case

Cognitive: of or being or relating to or involving cognition; “cognitive

psychology”; “cognitive style”.

Current events: News is the communication of information on current

events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth
to a third party or mass audience.

Drawings: A picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen, or crayon rather

than paint, esp. one drawn in monochrome.

Flooded meadows: A piece of low ground near a river that is covered or

submerged with water

Foot-paths: A path for people to walk along, especially one in the

countryside

Gather: Come together; assemble or accumulate.

Hiking: Walk for a long distance, esp. across country or in the woods.

Hillsides: The sloping side of a hill.

Impromptu: Done without being planned, organized, or rehearsed.

Itinerary: A list of a tour’s schedule and major travel elements.

Lecture: An educational talk to an audience, esp. to students in a

university or college.

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Quotation: A group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated

by someone other than the original author or speaker.

Skillful: Possessing or exercising skill; expert, proficient.

Slippery: (of a surface or object) Difficult to hold firmly or stand on

because it is smooth, wet, or slimy.

Speech: A person’s style of speaking. talk - oration - tongue - address -

language – discourse

Tour route: A scenic route, tourist road, tourist route, theme route,
or scenic byway is a specially designated road or waterway that travels
through an area of natural or cultural beauty.

Traffic jams: Road traffic at or near a standstill because of road

construction, an accident, or heavy congestion.

Visual aids: An item of illustrative matter, such as a film, slide, or model,

designed to supplement written or spoken information so that it can be
understood more easily.

Wet: Covered or saturated with water or another liquid.

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Control de documento
Construcción Objeto de Aprendizaje
THE TOUR ROUTE AND NARRATION
Desarrollador de contenido Bienvenido Roy Torres Cárdenas
Experto temático
Asesor pedagógico Luis Orlando Beltrán Vargas
Producción Multimedia Sandra Carolina Durán López
Victor Hugo Tabares Carreño
Voces
Matha Lucía Chaves Niño
William Fernando Ramírez
Programador Francisco Jose Lizcano Reyes
Líder expertos temáticos José Armando Díaz Londoño
Líder línea de producción Santiago Lozada Garcés

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