Nature and Adventure Guiding

In this course, tour guides and prospective tour guides will learn how to manage nature and adventure guiding! You will learn about different kinds of nature-based tourism and what to keep in mind when organizing and conducting those tours. You will further get a deeper understanding of sports and adventure tourism. 

Who is this course for? 

The course is intended for tour guides and prospective tour guides and anyone interested in the topic.

What will you learn? 

• You will get an overview the principles of nature-based and sustainable tourism
• You will learn about the principles of nature guiding
• You will learn how to conduct adventure and sports tours

Keywords: Tour guiding, nature-based tourism, nature guiding, adventure tourism

Introduction to Nature and Adventure Guiding

Lesson 1: Introduction

Introduction
Welcome to this, the 8th and final learning unit in our Digital Tour Guiding course. Today I’d like to focus on nature and adventure guiding.

We humans have always been driven to explore the beauty of nature. Our interest in experiencing the natural world has been a driving force behind the development of nature tourism. So, what are people looking for when they opt to take part in a nature tourism group?

Well, from my experience, there are three main motivations.

• One is to reconnect with nature. This is especially true of guests who live in urban areas.
• Others are looking for their own meaning as individuals. You could say they’re searching for themselves. 
• And thirdly, of course, there are many people who are curious about the natural and cultural heritage of the country.

Our job as tour guides is to help our guests have the experience they came for. Hmm, not such an easy task.

It means we need to have in-depth knowledge of different forms of nature, landscapes and their biodiversity. We should also use interpretative methods to help our guests reconnect with nature and raise awareness of the special value of cultural and natural heritage.

A good way to achieve this is to highlight the differences between nature in the host country and that of the guests’ home country. This is because the nature experience in the host country is often significantly different to that in their country of origin. However, there are also other useful ways to make the tour an exciting, successful experience for our guests.

I’d like to work out how to do this together with you here. I’m really looking forward to it. Let’s get going.

Nature Tourism

Lesson 1: The nature experience

Different forms of nature: landscapes and habitats 

Landscapes

A landscape is a designated area that is different from other areas through scientifically detectable characteristics (geographical concept of landscape). On the other hand, it describes the culturally shaped, subjective perception of an area as an aesthetic wholeness (philosophical-cultural-scientific concept of landscape).

Habitats

A habitat is a home environment for organisms (plants and animals), meeting all the environmental conditions for its survival.  A species’ habitat is those places where the species can find food, shelter, protection, and mates for reproduction. It is characterized by both physical and biological features. Examples of terrestrial, fresh-water and marine habitats include: desert, meadow, woodland, grassland, forest, rivers, marshland, lakes, seashore, ocean etc.

Embedding elements of landscape in tour guiding 

If you are planning a guided tour in nature or linked to an adventure, you can and should consider different elements and themes. I have listed here the points that seem particularly important to me.

Natural Landscapes:

• Climate (climate and solar radiation and their influence on mood and mentality of the people, comparison with the country visited; climatic conditions and their influence on the emergence of culture; landscape and climate shape the type of architecture or dwellings – e.g. stilt houses in Cotonou lagoon, Benin, underground caves in Australia etc.)
• Vegetation zones
• Geological conditions and the history of their formation (e.g. volcanic origin etc.)
• Natural resources and related industries in the present and past

Cultural Landscapes

• Mineral resources and their extraction (e.g. impact on flora and fauna, nature reserves, reserves for indigenous people, e.g. Indians of North America, Aboriginal Australians etc.)
• Waters and water resources and their importance for settlement and human life
• Man-made landscapes in history (e.g. erosion in the Mediterranean countries, deforestation in Roman times etc.) and in present (e.g. reforestation to stop erosion, agriculture, irrigation, import of animals and plants, restructuring through hotel buildings, Felling of precious woods)
• Educational trails and historical roads (e.g. the old Silk Road)

Industrial Landscapes:

• Fortification and stabilisation of a landscape (dams on the North Sea; terracing of vineyards; defence towers against pirates etc.) 
• Protective measures for the landscape in the past and present
• Neglected landscapes (e.g. rural exodus, abandoned settlements, remains of former cultivation etc.)

Providing information in form of examples or pictures of e.g. characteristic plants, trees or flowers supports guests in understating and connecting to different landscapes and its biodiversity, thereby establishing relationships to nature.

Protected Area management

It’s important to understand why the site you are visiting is protected, how it is managed, as well as the rights and responsibilities of all users.  

The IUCN Protected Area Categories System

The IUCN Protected Area Categories System is the global standard and categorizes protected areas according to the management objectives. The System are recognized as the global standard for defining and recording protected areas by international bodies such as the United Nations and national governments.

Category 1: Strict Nature Reserve

Strictly protected areas set aside to protect biodiversity and also possibly geological/geomorphical features, where human visitation, use and impacts are strictly controlled and limited.

Category 2: Wilderness Area

Large unmodified or slightly modified areas without permanent or significant human habitation, protected and managed so as to preserve their natural condition.

Category 3: National Park

Large natural or near natural areas that protect large-scale ecological processes, species and ecosystems characteristic of the area.

 

Category 4: Natural Monument or Feature

Protected areas that protect a specific natural monument.

Category 5: Habitat/Species Management Area

Protected areas that protect particular species or habitats and management.

Category 6: Protected Landscape/ Seascape

Protected areas where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant, ecological, biological, cultural and scenic value.

Category 7: Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources

Protected areas that conserve ecosystems and habitats together with associated cultural values and traditional natural resource management systems.

How would you design your guided tour? I have the following three tasks as preparation for this.

• Describe one landscape in your region, using 2 -3 different elements for interpretation. Prepare a short commentary and practice with a colleague or friend. 
• Name a typical crop in your region. Explain its meaning and draft a short lecture on the history (endemic or imported) and importance of this plant for the local community. Name a traditional recipe for it.
• Is there a unique nature-based experience in your region? Present a short description about what guests can do there and why it’s special

Lesson 2: Sustainable travel

Nature Conservation Designations

There are a number of protection mechanism in place that recognise the importance of protecting our planet’s most valuable natural areas. Guests are increasingly aware and interested to hear about conservation approaches in the sites that they visit, so it is always worth mentioning if the site is protected under any of these mechanisms. 

National parks, wildlife reserves and other protected areas

National parks are key instruments of nature conservation on a national/country level, as they ensure protection and research of species and their habitats as well as they restrict access and limit visitor numbers. National parks usually include comprehensive interpretation infrastructure. Other forms of protected areas such as nature and wildlife reserves, marine protected areas etc. vary with regards to protection levels and access for visitors.

Natural World Heritage sites

The World Heritage Convention is an international instrument that recognizes the most exceptional cultural and natural places in the world. Sites that are included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for their natural values are characterized by their outstanding biodiversity, ecosystem values, geological diversity or superb natural phenomena and exceptional natural beauty. 

They include many iconic places such as the Serengeti National Park, Galápagos Islands, Yellowstone National Park and the Great Barrier Reef, and are often a last refuge for species threatened with extinction, such as the mountain gorilla, giant panda and orangutan

Ramsar Sites

Ramsar sites are wetlands which are considered to be of international significance. They are designated as protected sites under the Ramsar Convention, a treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands

Biosphere Reserves

As ‘learning places for sustainable development’, Biosphere Reserves are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity

UNESCO Global Geoparks

Single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development

Supporting and promoting nature conservation in tour guiding

Research 

Research and comply with current legislation and regulations when guiding in a nature context.

Plan

Plan how to raise awareness and educate guests about conservation issues. 

Consider

Consider all aspects of nature conservation, aiming to minimise impact on destination (e.g. noise, overcrowding, littering, energy/water usage).

Respect

Respect the rules and follow the guidelines for visiting he protected area (e.g. opening times, keeping on designated paths, not disturbing or removing anything)

Note

Note that charges are levied for access and visits to protected areas.

Keep in mind

Keep in mind the permits and associated fees (e.g. for access to nature areas or certain roads, even if outside protected areas).

Nature conservation is important and we must also address this in our guided tours. To give you some ideas about this, I have three tasks for you here.

• Research natural World Heritage sites and protected areas in your country. Prepare a visit to one park or site, research opening times, group fees and any special features regarding a group visit.
• Prepare an introduction to a natural World Heritage site or protected area. Include rules and guidelines for guests as well as specific highlights. Practice with a colleague or friend.
• Reflection: A guest shows you a flower she has picked during a national park visit. What will you do? What will you communicate to the guest? What will you change in your introductory talk?

Sustainable Tourism

The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”. Tour guides play a very important role in promoting and educating guests about how to travel sustainably and responsibly. There is a growing demand for sustainable travel experiences and greater expectations on destinations, service providers (such as hotels) to practice and promote sustainability in tourism management.

Ecotourism and Sustainable Travel

Ecotourism can be defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improves the well-being of local people”, and defines Sustainable Travel as “tourism that meets the needs of present tourist and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for future”.

I also talked to Angelika Müller about sustainable travel. She is head of international tour guide recruiting and training at Studiosus, one of the leading tour operators in the cultural tours segment.

Conversation

[Presenter] Welcome to another expert interview. Once again I’ll be talking to Angelika Müller, who was a tour guide for many years and who now works in education and training. Today our topic is sustainability in tour guiding. That’s something we’re both really interested in. Hello, Angelika. Why is it so important for tour guides to pay close attention to sustainability?

 [Angelika Müller] Well, tourism plays a major economic role. In many countries, guests and hosts benefit together from sustainable development. We all bear responsibility for the future, even when on holiday. And a lot of companies, tour operators and agencies have set up their own binding sustainability concepts and rules. Tour guides should know these policies and act accordingly because they are ambassadors and role models in this regard as well. Guests observe and adapt or copy the behaviour of their tour guides. This means that tour guides have a large influence on holiday makers.

 [Presenter] Let’s talk for a moment specifically about leading tour groups. Could you outline for us some of the simple ways in which sustainability can be achieved in that area?

 [Angelika Müller] Well, let’s look at picnics, for example. If possible, plastic is to be avoided at all times. Ideally, guests should bring their own picnic dishes and cutlery. Otherwise maybe hotels could offer these. Meanwhile also some agencies provide reusable tableware and glasses. This would be very easy. Or if you look at waste avoidance, if there are no rubbish bins, guests should be informed about this, so that they can do their best to avoid waste or take it with them and dispose of it properly at the hotel. Plastic bags are a serious problem and in some countries they are fortunately not being produced or sold any longer. It’s always better to use backpacks or other reusable bags to carry your provisions with you. Let’s look at saving water. We all know that water is a precious resource and in some regions of the world it’s also in very short supply.

[Angelika Müller] What about the natural resources in the tour guides country? Guests are very interested in these types of topics, therefore tour guides are also educators here. How can holiday makers help to save water in the hotel or in other places? For example, it just isn’t necessary to change towels every day. And in case the hotel is not used to this procedure, sometimes talking about it with the housekeeping staff can help.

 [Presenter] What can tour guides do to ensure their groups embrace sustainability and want to play their part in it?

 [Angelika Müller] If we look at nature and ecosystems, for example, guests should know in advance what to observe on a safari or a hiking tour in a National Park, et cetera. Tour guides should provide information very early and make sure that the rules are adhered to during the activity of visit. It’s also very interesting for guests to hear about national or local measures to protect animals, plants, ecosystems. Some aspects to talk about would be what has been achieved yet, what are the main challenges? This is a way in which one can turn the guests into allies by answering these questions.

 [Angelika Müller] Sometimes, however, it’s necessary and at the same time quite a challenge to stop guests, if, for example, they get too close to animals, nesting birds, young animals, or they want to leave hiking trails and eco protected areas in order to dive deeper into nature.  Most guests respect the rules and want tour guides to take a clear stance if individuals try to cross these boundaries. And this is where tour guide’s leadership comes into play.

 [Angelika Müller] We should also look at encounters between travellers and locals. In the area of sustainability, socially responsible interaction of holiday makers with the local population, as well as with their cultural customs, is also part of tourism. Tour guides can take pride in being cultural mediators by sharing dos and don’ts with their guests, translating and helping to clear up misunderstandings in order to solve difficult situations. Sometimes, however, it’s also necessary and at the same time a challenge to stop guests when they knowingly or unknowingly behave rudely. In this situation, the tour guides should be in charge and take the lead as well. Therefore tour guides are always mediators between cultures and somehow defenders off or advocates for nature. In these roles, they make an important contribution to sustainable tourism.

 [Presenter] Do you think it’s possible to learn sustainable practises? Have you had any experience with that?

 [Angelika Müller] I guess I can give you one example. Especially when it’s very warm, guests are happy to have a perfectly air-conditioned coach waiting for them. Often, and even before the group gets on, the engines are turned on to create cooler temperatures. At the same time, this causes additional pollutants in the air. Tour guides could help here and convince both drivers and guests to turn off the engine during waiting times for the sake of the environment. It might take a bit more persuasion, of course, but it can be done. They’re just a few small things that one can do that can have a very big impact.

[Presenter] Super. I think that example offers us a lot of hope for the future. That was a very interesting and insightful conversation. Thank you very much. And thanks to our viewers too. I think we’ve all learned a lot.

That was a very interesting conversation I was allowed to have with Angelika Müller. Following on from that, I have two tasks for you here.

• Research a tour operators sustainability policy.
• Prepare 2-3 short tour commentaries, communicating sustainability effectively to your guests. Practice with a colleague or friend.

Lesson 3: Principles of nature guiding

Different forms of nature tourism

Today, tour organisers offer a range of different products accommodating different customer needs and demands for nature experiences. These experiences can vary with regards to difficulty and risk.

Special Interest Tours:

Wildlife watching (e.g. whale or bird watching etc.), desert or volcano tours, cultural heritage tours etc.

Hard Adventure:

Horse riding, hiking, cycling, kayaking, bush walking, fishing, etc. Hard adventures are physical challenging and risky, require robust health and safety measures and protective equipment.

Soft Adventure:

Beach and relaxation, spa and wellness, self-improvement, visiting parks and gardens, scenic drives, photo stops, camping and glamping etc.

Soft adventures require moderate level of physical involvement, less risks involved.

Eco-Tours:

Special nature experiences, e.g. hiking, safaris, star gazing and visiting observatories, wilderness tours to remote areas etc.

Eco-tours aiming to learn and to protect, niche tours.

Considerations for enhancing the nature experience

Tour programmes of standard round tours generally include visits to main cities, attractions, and landmarks, but often leave time and opportunity for a variety of different nature experiences which tour guides may be able to provide according to customers’ interest.

Planning and preparation

•  Planning and preparation depend on type of tour and format as well as customers. Try to build in some nature experiences, adjust to customers level and interest accordingly (e.g. plan a walk, camel, donkey or bike ride etc.).
• Provide routes and trails of different lengths to meet needs of customers of all skills and ages.
• Diversify and enrich the programme (e.g. offer some night walks for guests if in remote area)

Promotion

• Promote your countries’ different and unique natural attractions, including its biodiversity.
• Promote activities accommodating groups diversity and different needs. Some might be interested in gentle nature experience, some in active experience or more adventurous activities etc.
• Offer extended activities for participants who are extremely interested in a particular leisure activity.
• Using examples or pictures of typical plants, trees and flowers of region or country, use an app for identifying plants etc.

I think I have given you some hints about the principles of nature guiding. Now it’s your turn!

Chose a day of an itinerary of a standard tour programme. Identify places of interests on the route where you could stop and enhance the nature experience. Write a list with suitable themes, activities and interpretative material. Include differentiation to accommodate customers diverse needs.

Lesson 4: Wildlife tourism

Wildlife tourism refers to the observation and interaction with local animal and plant life in their natural habitats, such as bird watching, safari tours and whale watching. When managed ethically and responsibly, wildlife tourism can play an important role in protecting endangered species and supporting the livelihoods of local communities.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), over one-third of all direct tourism GDP across Africa in 2018 attributed to wildlife (36.3%). 21.8 million jobs globally are supported by wildlife tourism – equivalent to the population of Sri Lanka. Global wildlife tourism generates five times more revenue than illegal wildlife trade annually.

Different forms of animal tourism

It is important to promote awareness of the different types of animal tourism, and discourage guests from participating in exploitative and harmful animal experiences.

Non-Consumptive:

Wildlife watching, feeding and taking photographs, aiming to observe and to engage and interact with variety of wildlife in non-captivity/local habitat. 

Motivations range from special interest, education, research or more general recreation and leisure.

Captive:

Tourism that involves viewing wildlife in captivity, such as zoos, wildlife parks, aquariums, etc.

Consumptive:

Hunting, capturing and killing animals in terrestrial environments, recreational fishing in aquatic environments. 

Game hunting and fishing tours for recreational reasons as part of community based resource management context. consumptive wildlife tourism, if done compliant with nature protection has a lower environmental imprint, yet is often controversial.

Planning for tourism and wildlife watching

When planning for tours and wildlife watching, professional preparation includes research of attractions and wildlife to be viewed, seasonal or migratory changes and weather conditions. 

However, it is at least as important to respect nature conservation and not to disturb the wildlife. We must also make our guests aware of this. I have summarised important issues for you here.

.

1. Safety and preventative measures
2. always make guests fully aware of safety rules and regulations,
3. comply with safety measures to ensure guests feel safe,
4. make special considerations for more vulnerable guests, such as elderly or children.

• Support conservation efforts
• generate awareness about value and importance of natural heritage and its protection, 
• create intercultural understanding and respect, raise awareness about souvenirs,
• be aware of local wildlife regulations, risk species and wildlife products of concern in your country,
• advise guests that in many cases animal and plant species or so called wildlife souvenirs are subject to international regulations and may be illegal or require permits.

• Support preserving and protecting wildlife
• without habitats and wildlife, there would be no wildlife tourism,
• main goal is to protect natural and cultural heritage,
• supporting anti-poaching campaigns and promote awareness about the importance of combatting wildlife crime.

• Enhance relationships between people and nature
• benefits of experience nature first-hand, 
• re-connecting to nature and ecological consciousness, 
• facilitate a multi-faceted and multi-sensory experience through setting, landscape, sound, touch, smell etc.

• Support local communities
• support local communities as they once lived in those areas and on resources which are now protected (e.g. fisheries, hunting, etc.), 
• maximise local economic benefit,
• encourage respectful interactions.

• Minimise disturbances
• try to avoid weekends, tourism peak times and overcrowding, 
• be considerate to wildlife, speak and move quietly, withdraw if wildlife shows signs of stress or disturbance, 
• don’t try to interact with wildlife, touch or seeking attention, don’t surround, 
• be aware of baby animals and their mothers.

• Strictly comply to rules and regulations
• respect times of the day, 
• keep to designated roads/respect rules re off-road driving, feeding/touching wildlife, littering, damaging habitat, making fire,
• don’t accept extra guest tips (e.g. for getting closer to wildlife, drive off road etc.), 
• report incidents (e.g. dead or dying animal, irresponsible behaviours, breach of rules etc.

To give you some ideas on how to prepare your wildlife guided tour, I have two tasks for you here.

Research wildlife watching opportunities in your country/region, e.g. national parks or reserves, animal parks and zoos etc. Write a list with places, wildlife to encounter as well as benefits visitors will gain from visiting those places

Prepare a commentary about a species of wildlife occurrent in your country. Practice with a colleague or friend

Marine wildlife tourism

Marine wildlife watching has grown in popularity in recent years, in many countries. There are over 70 target species, ranging from penguins, turtles, sea dragons, sharks and other fish to seals, dugongs, dolphins and whales. Most species and populations are vulnerable: they might be recovering from over exploitation or encounters might happen at a critical stage of their life e.g. during migration, breeding. As always, it is important that these type of tours are managed responsibly without disturbing or interfering with the wildlife. Tours should be enjoyable for guests but non-threatening nor harmful to the animals.

13 Million whale watchers in 119 countries in 2008, majority in US, Canada, Spain, South Africa and Australia. Economic value was estimated US$2.1 billion. (International Fund for Animal Welfare)

Interpretation and sustainability of marine habitats 

I find some aspects particularly important when it comes to visiting marine habitats in a sustainable way with our guests. I found a very informative podcast by Anna and Elias.

Podcast

[Elias] Hello fellow tour guides, and welcome to a brand new podcast, this time on the topic of whale and dolphin watching. This topic is particularly important to you, isn’t it Anna?

[Anna] That’s right, I’ve lead a few whale and dolphin watching trips myself. And unfortunately, they don’t always go the way they should. 

[Elias] What exactly do you mean by that? That the mammals don’t show up?

[Anna] No, I mean, of course that also happens from time to time too, due to lower populations or migration habits. But what I mean is related to that. Of course, tour guests really want to see whales and dolphins, which is absolutely understandable. But sometimes the tour guides are under so much pressure to guarantee guests a sighting that the animals are inadequately protected, even harmed.

[Elias] Well, that definitely shouldn’t happen, of course. Have you experienced it first hand?

[Anna] Yes, unfortunately I’ve witnessed boats travelling at high speed over the water to get to an observation point or even right up close to the whales. The loud noise is extremely stressful for the animals, and sometimes they’re even hit by the boat’s propellers and seriously injured. 

[Elias] Oh, that’s really terrible. But I mean, this represents a dilemma for the tour guides, doesn’t it? On the one hand, they want to meet the expectations of their guests, and on the other, they want and need to respect nature conservation and sustainability. 

[Anna] Yes, it’s a dilemma, but one that can be solved quite easily. I think the most important thing is to focus on education, on educating our guests. We have to get to the point where the focus is no longer on the actual whale watching, but on developing a conservation ethic. 

[Elias] That’s a good approach. So you mean placing the focus on the needs of individual species and educating tour groups about how endangered they are and what people can do to sort this out?

[Anna] Exactly. We can provide guests with insights and background information and help them to establish a connexion to the natural world. After all, human actions influence the well-being of other species and at the same time, witnessing wild animals in a healthy natural environment can have a positive influence on us too. 

[Elias] Such a sustainable approach can motivate tour guests to think about the natural world and perhaps make a contribution towards its conservation through organisations such as Greenpeace or the International Fund for Animal Welfare. 

[Anna] Yes, that would be the ultimate goal of course, but I’ll tell you something else too Elias. In my experience, this approach also guarantees more success when it comes to actually watching wildlife. If the animals don’t feel disturbed and stressed, then they’re much more likely to make themselves available to us, so that we can really enjoy watching them. 

[Elias] A beautiful conclusion. And that’s all from us for today. As always, thanks for listening and wherever you are, try and bring sustainability and nature conservation into your next wildlife watching trip.

After this very helpful information from Anna and Elias, it’s your turn now. I have these two exercises for you so that you are well prepared for your next tour.  

• Research marine habitats and species in your country or nearest neighboring country, identifying threats and conservation issues.
• Prepare a boat-based presentation, including interpretative material, stories and anecdotes about whales and dolphins. Practice with a colleague or friend.

Adventure Tourism

Lesson 1: Guiding on Sports tourism

Sports tourism consists of travelling to a destination with the purpose of getting involved in a sporting activity or event. This can either be in form of own physical involvement and carrying out physical exercise for recreation or competition purposes, or the attendance of sporting events. It represents a unique interaction of activity, people and place, combining movement with interaction in a tourist destination, and engaging related service providers within communities. 

Passive sport and sports event tourism

Sports event tourism does not involve participants actively taking part in the sport itself, but rather visiting sporting events of different sizes and travel distances (e.g. Olympic Games, Formula 1, Football World Cup). They can also visit nostalgic places with historical significance (e.g. the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, sports museums and exhibitions, etc.).

Embedding sport activities in standard package holidays

Standard round trips, whose aim is to provide insight in culture, history and nature of a country, offer great opportunity not only for addressing intangible sport-related cultural heritage, but also to encourage exercise and gentle sportive activities in customers.

Depending on the participants interests, needs and physical condition, a range of activities can be embedded and facilitated whilst on tour, stimulating intercultural learning and/or sensory experience.

Presentations on typical sport in your country/region, major sports events held in your country, famous and internationally known sportsman from your country/region (comparison and connections to visitor’s country and types of sports).

Attending a local sports event or tournament, connecting to local community and intangible heritage (e.g. dance festival, boating race, local football match etc.)

Soft adventure activities such as walking (city tour, landmarks), stretching and gymnastic (during or after coach ride), can help relieve tension and improve group dynamics.

Activities linking to intangible cultural heritage, e.g. dance, yoga practice, archery, martial arts etc for providing engaging and participative experiences for visitors.

After this overview of sports tourism and how we as tour guides can prepare for such guided tours, I have these closing tasks for you.

• Research a well-known sportsperson from your region / country. Write a short commentary about the person (upbringing, career, international success), draw connections / comparisons to the visitors’ country e.g. attended international tournaments, as successful as, etc. Present to a colleague or friend.
• Plan and prepare a sport-themed activity for your group. Consider your customers’ needs as well as intangible cultural elements in your planning.

Lesson 2: Guiding on Hiking and cycling

Hiking and cycling tours are enjoying increasing popularity in recent years: The proportion of guided hiking tours has risen continuously in the last 10 years and makes up around 15% of group tourism. Numerous tour operators have specialized on offering guided tours worldwide, from beginners to advanced levels

Different forms of hiking or cycling trips

• In extreme areas (e.g. alpine crossing, glacier hike, ascent to the summit etc.)
• In combination with regional as part of educational circuits (e.g. coastal hiking, mudflat hiking, etc.) 
• In combination with regional culinary themes (e.g. Hiking and Wine, Hiking and Whiskey, Hiking and Bread) 
• In combination with transport (Rail & Hike, Drive & Hike, Bike & Hike)
• Health related hiking/ cycling trips under medical supervision (e.g. for weight reduction)

Customers on hiking or cycling tours

Customers deciding to take part in a group hiking or cycling tour want to immerse in nature. They also prioritise group experience before the individual travel experience. They understand themselves as part of a team, caring and looking out for each other, they are movement-orientated and motivated. The target group is usually between 30 and 55 years old, with strong affinity for exercise and sport and looking for exercise and relaxation in nature.

Requirements for hiking or cycling guides

Tour guides leading hiking or cycling tours function more as moderators, facilitating group spirit and group dynamics. Important additional skills for hiking or cycling guides are the following:

• General good condition and physical fitness 
• High sense of direction in the field
• Be able to orientate yourself with a compass/map
• Be able to read maps in great detail
• Very good knowledge of the local area

Personally, I have to admit that I am not particularly sporty. And so that the important tips also come from someone who has already done such tours, I have picked out a podcast by Anna and Elias for you here.

Video

Transcript

[Anna] Hello everyone out there. Today we’re going to be sporty. Well, not literally, of course.

[Elias] No. But today we’d like to talk about the topic of walking and cycling tours, and there are some important things to consider. 

[Anna] Exactly. And I think you know quite a bit about it, don’t you, Elias? You’ve already lead a few such tours. 

[Elias] Yes, that’s true, mainly in Europe, but also when I was in Africa for a few months. In fact, these are one of my favourite kinds of guided tours. 

[Anna] What would you say is the most important point to consider? 

[Elias] The health of all participants has top priority. We as tour guides have to take health and safety requirements into account and that means being very well prepared. 

[Anna] And what does such preparation look like for you? 

[Elias] I usually hike or drive the trail once beforehand, so I get maps and think about a route. Of course, this also includes places to take a break and places with a great view where guests can take photos, for example. 

[Anna] What do you do when you’re in areas where it rains a lot and there’s a high chance you’ll get caught in the rain? 

[Elias] Ohh, yes, that can happen. In fact it’s happened to me many times. Usually you have the right equipment with you, so rain gear for example, and if it gets really bad, it’s good to have sourced shelter options in advance or shortcuts so that we can get back quickly.

 [Anna] I assume that part of the preparation is to inform yourself about such weather conditions, right?

[Elias] Absolutely. That’s very important. There are also quite good weather forecasts. I also often talk to local tour guides and find out about the trail conditions, for example whether there are frequent landslides in the area. 

[Anna]I think you also need to be quite fit to do a guided tour like that, right? 

[Elias] Yes. You don’t have to be a top athlete. I’m not that either, am I? But it is important to be in good physical condition. However, the pace of the guided tour always depends on the guests. The guests set the pace, never us tour guides. 

[Anna] How do you keep the group together? Some certainly run or cycle more slowly than others. 

[Elias] Yes, that’s right, but that’s not really a problem. I always designate one person to stay at the back of the group, so I can see that no one has got lost. That works well.

[Anna] Let’s talk about the topic of equipment again. You have already mentioned the importance of rain gear. What else? 

[Elias] Well, generally you need functional clothing for all weather conditions that may occur on the trail. That includes sun protection, sunglasses or warm clothing in colder regions. 

[Anna] it’s also important to drink and eat enough. And of course, as a tour guide, you’ll need your instruments for navigation. That means maps and a compass or GPS.

[Elias] Absolutely right. Then add first aid equipment, especially blister plasters. Very important. 

[Anna] Oh yes, I can well imagine that. All of this is equipment that should always be with you. What about special equipment for hiking and cycling tours? 

[Elias] Well, for walking, hiking shoes that are appropriate for the terrain. And for cycling tours a helmet of course. Plus the bikes should be in good condition, so meet all safety requirements. It’s also a good idea to carry a small repair kit with you.

[Anna] OK. Thanks Elias for all that. I’ve learned a lot too, and for you out there. As always, thanks for listening, and wherever you are, have fun on your next cycling or hiking tour and take care of yourselves and your guests.

Do you already do cycling and walking tours or would you like to start? Here are three tasks for you to start preparing right away.

• Research training providers and opportunities for becoming a hiking / trekking or cycling specialist in your country.
• Plan and prepare a short hike (max 45 min) in the surroundings of your hometown, use appropriate maps to set the route and plan in breaks. Circular hike or drop off / pick up required? Emergency access in case of an accident? Mobile phone coverage? Write a list, include special features such as plants, wildlife or viewpoints to be seen on the hike.
• How could you shorten your hike in bad weather?  How could you replace it with alternative cultural program?

Embedding hiking activities in standard round tours

Customers on round trips aim to see major attractions of region and country visited. Including some form of hiking, a walk or gentle promenade in the tour programme can enhance the nature and group experience. By walking, tensions can be relieved and communication amongst participants can be improved.

Do you already do cycling and walking tours or would you like to start? Here are three tasks for you to start preparing right away.

• Research training providers and opportunities for becoming a hiking / trekking or cycling specialist in your country.
• Plan and prepare a short hike (max 45 min) in the surroundings of your hometown, use appropriate maps to set the route and plan in breaks. Circular hike or drop off / pick up required? Emergency access in case of an accident? Mobile phone coverage? Write a list, include special features such as plants, wildlife or viewpoints to be seen on the hike.
• How could you shorten your hike in bad weather?  How could you replace it with alternative cultural program?

Lesson 3: Adventure tours

Adventure tours are very popular amongst Europeans, there are over 100 million tours in other countries each year. They are contributing greatly economically to local communities, as adventure tourists are spending two thirds of their travel budget in destinations (estimate 350 Euro a day/per visitor).

Adventure tours can contain at least 2-3 elements of physical activity, nature experience and cultural experience. Motivations include improving mental and physical wellbeing and the activities serve to destress and improve physical fitness.

Customers on adventure tours

YOUNGER AGE GROUP

Younger age group (18-44 years), well-educated, have disposable money to spend, focussing on at least one high risk.

OLDER AGE GROUP

Older age group (45-70 years) focusses more on low-risk activities, although still looking for physical challenges. Seeking comfort but not luxury (e.g. quiet nights, fresh air, high-quality beds, air conditioning etc.

Requirements for adventure tour guides

Content

Natural and cultural history interpretation

Technical competency

Technical ability and sport-specific certifications to carry out the activities

Wilderness medicine and first aid

First aid trained to carry out medical emergency response

Customer service 

To provide more individualized support and advice as well as whole group leadership

Sustainability

Core value to minimise environmental impacts

Embedding adventure activities in standard package holiday/circuit tours

What can we do as tour guides to incorporate adventure activities into our round tours? I have written down my thoughts on this for you.

Management

• Identify suitable activities to accommodate guests’ physical conditions and needs, including nature experiences, sport and movement as well as cultural experiences.
• Be flexible with tour planning and amending changes to itinerary.
• Managing risk is crucial for adventure tours, tour guides must ensure the safety of customers, who may participate in high-risk activities. This must be reflected in the risk assessment for each tour as well as extensive liability insurance cover. Check with the tour operator which insurances are in place

Communication

• Provide comprehensive information on environment, culture and nature, include accessible information for all age groups (children to elderly) to meet customer needs.
• Direct, communicative approach, promoting activities with stories, pictures and videos whilst clearly communicating challenges and risks.
• Provide more personalised advice for customers, e.g. different route, remote snorkelling spot or a rock climb opportunity for (low risk) adventures in customers’ free time.
• Provide information on healthy choices (e.g. advice on healthy nutrition, calories at meal times, range of vegetables and fruits etc.), refer to traditional food and dishes from your region embedding elements of intangible cultural heritage of your country

Adventure tours are exciting and thrilling. But they also need to be well prepared. Here are two tasks for you.

• Research tour operators’ guidelines, requirements and insurances for carrying out adventure activities on tour.
• Plan and prepare an adventure activity, include a physical activity, nature experience and a cultural experience. Describe how you would differentiate this activity according to your customers physical condition and needs.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the last learning unit in the course “Digital Tour-Guiding”. I am very glad you attended and wish you much success in your future projects.