Tour guide - a bridge to promote the homeland

The role of tour guides is very important . They are the connectors , ambassadors promoting the beauty of the homeland , people and each tourism product to tourists .​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

In the 2017 Vietnam Tourism Law, the content of tour guides (TGV) is dedicated to a whole chapter, with 8 articles, very detailed and specific. Tour guides are an important element in the tourism industry. After a journey to a new land, tourists will remember and be more impressed with many things in the land they experience if they meet a professional, knowledgeable and funny tour guide.

 

The profession of " three heads and six arms "

 

Many people feel that the job of a tour guide is glamorous and interesting. You get to travel everywhere, stay in luxury hotels without having to pay, experience many regional specialties, and absorb many cultural features of many lands... Many people also imagine that the job of a tour guide is quite easy, you just need to "know your lesson" about the points that need to be explained on the journey, know how to sing, talk wittily, make people laugh, and create a good image in the eyes of tourists. This is not wrong, but it is not enough.

 

Tour guide is a job of traveling, traveling across the country (if domestic tour guide), traveling all over the world (if international tour guide). This is a hard and high pressure job, so it is often compared to "three heads and six arms" when having to handle many tasks at the same time.

 

Before getting on the bus, the tour guide must carefully prepare the main tasks for the entire journey, including forecasted events that may occur. When getting on the bus, the tour guide is the one who explains, introduces, and provides information about famous landmarks, natural values, culture, and history of each land the group passes through. When getting off the bus, the tour guide is the one who serves and takes care of the guests from food to sleep.

 

Mr. Ton That Tuong, an older tour guide with many years of experience in the profession, shared: “Nighttime is the time for tour guides to recover and prepare for the new day. But if unfortunately, in the middle of the night, a guest complains of a stomachache or headache, the tour guide must immediately be there to visit and support, or in more serious cases, must call a doctor or take the guest to the emergency room. The tour guide is the one who has to take care of all kinds of travel documents, entrance tickets, visas, etc., and is the last person to stay to pay and control all kinds of bills. There are many situations where the tour guide is really exhausted, but there is always a smile on his lips.”

 

According to Mr. Tran Quoc Hoan, a veteran in the tour guide profession, this profession looks like this but is harsh, requiring tour guides to have many qualities and knowledge about culture, history, foreign languages, talent, health, experience, and love for the job. “When you become a tour guide, you have to accept a stressful job, pressure, unstable hours, have the courage to handle unexpected difficult situations… and accept to be happy after everyone else is happy. The time working depends a lot on the health and passion of each person,” said Mr. Hoan.

 

Chanh Thi, a freelance tour guide currently working at the Phu Yen Tour Guide Association (under the Phu Yen Tourism Association), confided: Tour guides are truly a profession that serves hundreds of families. In life, only 9 people have 10 opinions, here a group of dozens of guests, only one tour guide, to satisfy everyone is not a simple matter. “The first one or two days, the guests are still energetic, playing very happily, the following days many guests are tired, tour guides must not be tired but must work harder to stir up the atmosphere; walk continuously and talk continuously to make guests happy and comfortable. And many unnamed, unexpected things also happen such as: broken vehicles, deviating from the route, sick guests... Tour guides must respond and handle things in the most sensitive and effective way...", Chanh Thi confided.

Tour guide Hoang The is explaining and introducing Thanh Luong Pagoda (An Chan Commune, Tuy An District) to tourists. Photo: TRAN QUOI

 

Never stop improving knowledge and skills​​​​​​​​

 

The working environment is sometimes harsh, but the fun and appeal of the tour guide profession makes many people love and are passionate about it.

 

Mr. Pham Luong Don, one of the veteran tour guides in Phu Yen, has held many positions in the tourism industry. Even though he is over 50 years old, he still loves and does this job. His dynamism and agility are not as good as those of younger tour guides, but it is his composure, experience and knowledge accumulated over many years of touring that makes tourists love him.

 

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Danh, Director of Phu Yen Travel Joint Stock Company (Phu Yen Travel) said: “Mr. Pham Luong Don is currently the most experienced tour guide in Phu Yen. At Phu Yen Travel, he is the tour guide most requested by many groups of tourists, many old customers return and introduce new customers also thanks to Mr. Pham Luong Don's great contribution”. Sharing about the tour guide profession, Mr. Don said briefly: Every profession has its joys, as well as its downsides, but being a tour guide is an interesting profession. The important thing is that you love the job, are eager to learn, then you will feel youthful and energetic to... get on the bus to take customers!

 

According to Mr. Le Khai, Standing Member of the Executive Committee of Phu Yen Tour Guide Association, the association currently has over 50 registered tour guides, of which nearly 30 members participate in regular activities. Recently, the association held its 3rd Congress. Through the summary assessment, it can be seen that the association has completed many of the tasks set out, such as: organizing offline events outside the province, football exchanges, participating in charity work... These are playgrounds to connect members, create opportunities to exchange and learn experiences, and regenerate working energy.

 

“To become a tour guide, not only must you be trained, meet the requirements for professional testing and conditions to be granted a tour guide card, each tour guide must constantly study and improve their professional skills, knowledge of culture and history, especially keeping the flame of passion alive. One of the tasks set out by the association in the coming time is to invite experts in Phu Yen culture and history to talk, supplement in-depth knowledge to help tour guides grasp official information and knowledge, update their presentations, and spread the beautiful image of the people and homeland of Phu Yen to tourists,” Mr. Khai emphasized.

 

According to Mr. Ngo Van Dinh, Permanent Vice President of Phu Yen Tourism Association, everyone can design their own travel itinerary according to their preferences. But when organizing tours for many people, the role of tour guides is indispensable. They play the role of a connector, leading and introducing the beautiful cultural features of the land and the indigenous people to tourists. "Through monitoring feedback from tourist groups, Phu Yen tour guides are loved by tourists for their professionalism, cute personality, honesty and thoughtfulness in the journey of experience," said Mr. Dinh.

 

TRAN QUOI

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/377/320899/huong-dan-vien-du-lich-cau-noi-quang-ba-que-huong.html