NZx March 9th: guiding 101
Naumai
It has been great to get out and spend the last month travelling the country on the Oceanic Discoverer.
As well as getting the opportunity to lecture, guide, interpret and spend time with people from all around the world, you also get to experience NZ Inc from a visitors viewpoint.
We have previously posted on the need for interpreters to do the basics well. Essentially that is to have: well themed, entertaining, engaging and correct interpretation delivered in a passionate way to their visitors.
Over the last four weeks we have accompanied our visitors on some experiences offered by some of NZ’s leading tourism businesses. They do a great job of essentials such as: marketing, providing good equipment, and partially delivering on the promise.
Some don’t do a great job in the essential areas of visitor experiences. particularly guiding/interpretation. Specifically we endured: our guide continually standing at the front of the group and not being heard, our driver twice leaving us in a small van to carry out some personal business, a monotone lecture from another driver on bees which had nothing to do with the experience on offer and our guide (while knowing her material) being less than engaging.
Visitor’s on the Oceanic Discover come from all around the world, travel a long way and spend a lot of money to experience NZ. They have a great experience on the ship but some of our smaller land-based operators are delivering a less than 100% visitor experience.
Ka kite ano
Malcolm