Introduction
Berlin has so much to offer that it can be so rewarding, though so challenging to also guide the tours. Ranging from the statue of liberty to the amazing culture of the nation, there are a number of attractions that make Berlin an attractive destination for the world. However, excellent managing of groups involves certain planning, expertise and ability to notice would-be obstacles to the group’s successful completion of the tour. For those of you wishing to become guides in Berlin or simply wishing to learn more information about how not to make this unpleasant impression on tourists, here are the mistakes made by the guides and some advice, therefore:
1. Lack of Preparation
Blunders that affect tour guides are that some of them hardly prepare for their activities. This can lead to misinforming the tourists and over looking on some literature features such as historical facts and cultural believe, opening time, fees among others. To avoid this, be very keen when choosing your tour route so that you can visit areas that are safe. Learn as much as you can about specific history of the landmarks you are going to visit, concerning the present conditions, traditions and stereotypes and check twice everything connected with the tour. Scheduling time for preparation will prepare you to ensure you offer a value addition tour to the participants.
Tips:
Develop a chronological list of the places you want to go along with estimated time required and likely activities during a visit.
Be aware of the current events and the cultural events happenning in the Berlin.
It cuts pants especially for tourists where you physically lead groups stand to gain by visiting these sites firsthand.
Make a list with time schedules and amazing sights that can be seen at each place.
As for the external environment, it is necessary to pay attention to what is happening in the city at the moment as well as cultural news.
Stay and work at the sites that you are leading before, so, one would be aware of how the visitors feel when they visit the sites.
2. What happens When one is Overwhelmed with Too Much Information
Preparing for any tour is good, but the participants should not be treated to so much information, that they get bored. Make sure this fact does not bring you to thinking that your audience knows all there is to know about Berlin and its cultural history. Thus, it is better to bejde and present short and interesting pieces of information that reflects all about the landmarks. This will make sure that your participants are fully engaged during the tour and go home with something to always remember.
Tips:
Essential facts and key stories told are what matters most about each location.
To make it easy to comprehend, distill such history factors and people as Julius case on French Revolution.
It is important the tour is an active process, so participants are asked to keep asking questions and to answer them.
Concentrate on those incidents and events which make each spot unique.
When passing on history it is much easier to try and condense the large two or three main events and characters.
Be open for questions and ensure that people interact with one and other to make the tour whole.
3. Lack of attention to engagement of Participants
It therefore is important not to leave your tour participants indifferent, and to make sure that their experience is a positive one. Some people can leave the group unmixed for a long time and thus lose interest in the tour, making it mundane and formal. In order to prevent it, try to engage people, increase the feeling of unity of the group members. Promote the questioning, offer the participants to share their experience, and adopt the platform of friendly discussion. Just a note for you to bear in mind, a happy group is definitely an active group that can recommend your tour to their friends and other people.
Tips:
Pay particular attention to learn and use the names of your participants throughout the tour.
Tell funny stories and incidents, as well as speaking of your own experiences with the landmarks.
To increase interest incorporate comprehensive visuals like maps and images within your lesson plan.
Try to learn and use the names of the participants within the period of the tour.
Discuss personal and historical stories connected with the landmarks.
They should include the use of maps, images , diagrams or any display in order to capture the learners’ attention.
4. Rushing Through the Tour
There are hundreds of thousands of videos on YouTube and it’s extremely tempting to want to get your portion of views fast and forget that the people that enrolled your tour deserve more time for the sites. If the participants are in a hurry, they will simply fail to appreciate the essence of the landmarks or even get to take photos they will cherish. To avoid this ensure that you plan and set enough time for each destination in your tour. Let the participants make photo or video records, feel the atmosphere, and get carried away. As a friendly reminder, it is always better to do fewer tours than flood a market with numerous subpar tours.
Tips:
Make sure that each place is offered for enough time so that the participants of the trip can wander around on their own.
Make the participants engage in questioning and sharing their ideas as they observe.
Make provisions for normal breaks for members to rest and seize some meal.
Take enough time for participants to wander around within the area earmarked for the sessions.
You need to encourage participants to ask questions and to share their observations.
Schedule time that the students or learners are free to rest and relax as well as to take some drinks.
5. Not valuing Safety and considering Logistics
When giving the tours, there is need to have in mind the safety and operational aspects of the participants. Failure of these aspects means that user experience may be negative or even a possible accident occurs. It is also important to get a signal of certain protocols in case of an emergency, evaluate accessibility to certain location, get an understanding of specific guidelines or restrictions imposed on some of the landmarks. Attendio to these considerations will guarantee a good time by all.
Tips:
Ensure that all you have to say about safety at the tour’s onset is said well in advance.
Identify where emergency exits are situated and redraw the escape plan provided by law enforcement.
Let the participants know if there physical limitation that they are likely to experience while on the tour.
Safety directions should be briefed to the tourists when they embark on the tour.
Admire the view, take note of the place’s emergency exits, and evacuation measures to be taken.
Here, the participants should be informed of any possibility of finding it physically challenging during the tour.
Conclusion
Berlin’s guided tours can be a very rewarding and enjoyable endeavour if a few things are avoided. If you make time to prepare well in advance, adapt info to the audience, get people involved, allocate enough time for explorations, and emphasizing safety and organization aspects – you are well on your way to turning into a good Berlin-escorting tour guide. Just as a word of caution, when designing your knowledge transfer session, bear in mind that your goal is not merely to disseminate knowledge, but also to engage your participants and create an exciting experience. Therefore, feel free to check the lively city of Berlin, and help other people learn all of its interesting features and history!
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