Tour guide

Guide (also tour guides, tourist guide or also common anglicism Guide, in the GDR once cityscape explainer ) are stationary and knowledgeable individuals who receive and foreigners, guide and support which they - in the required foreign language - in-depth knowledge of geography, convey history, art history, cultural, economic, social facts and contexts. In many EU countries, the guests are accompanied by a certified guide who introduces in museums, galleries and archaeological sites not only art, history, monuments, landscape and nature presents but also the guests in Common customs and culinary habits and represents the country. From the guide, the tour guide is necessary to distinguish the arriving with the group and they looked after during the entire trip.

  • 4.1 Audio Guide
  • 4.2 Mobile Internet
  • 4.3 Geocaching - GPS scavenger hunt

History

The profession of tourist guide was created with the advent of educational travel and tourism, already in the 17th century, there was the job title in the Vatican State. The concept of Cicerone (probably derived from the eloquence of a Cicero for a guide to the historical sites of the Mediterranean ) was popular to Western Europe (without source).

Legal bases

Today, the task of the tour guide in Germany is in the accompaniment of annotated city tours, city walks, museum and castle tours, excursions, study tours and the like.

In Germany, the profession of tourist guide is governed neither by law, nor does it have a uniform and precise job description and is therefore often confused with the profession of tourist guide. Legally, can this profession therefore there anyone to take. In Germany the training take mainly the tourist offices of developed tourist areas or sites.

In Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, England, Spain, Turkey and Cyprus, the profession of tourist guide is regulated by law, and may be exercised only after a qualified training and have passed state tests.

This proficiency exams will be held in Austria before a committee in the Chamber of Commerce. Prerequisite for this is the completion of a training course at the BFI or the WIFI ( duration between two and four semesters), one obtains the title " Certified tour guides ".

In France, the state examination after two years of technical college education at the Préfecture de l' Ile- de -France are stored ( for regionally active at least bilingual guides ), or two additional semesters at a university ( for nationally operating at least trilingual guide ). Foreign candidates with the respective equivalence be admitted as candidates to free elections organized at least in all European and many other languages ​​exams. The diploma allows the activity as an independent or employee " State certified tour guides ".

There is the opinion that because of the freedom to provide services enshrined in the EC Treaty, the registration provisions of the Member States for the profession of tourist guide could be contrary to European law under certain circumstances, as a guide, tour guide, city guide, for example, in Germany are the professions that do not require permission. In several supreme court decisions in different Member States and the European Court has held that a restriction is legitimate only insofar as that by the admission rule there is no data discrimination of EU citizens. Are problematic according to the European Court qualification requirements, which can not be freely applied deprivation through each guide in the EU field of view. Some countries require official confirmation of activity, such as Italy.

Tour guides

Due to changes in requirements from travelers to experience the character of a trip to various special tours have developed.

Alternatively, motion guides

In many places, alternative tours are offered in which demonstrated not only classical sights, but places of everyday life and the world of work as well as controversial or problematic issues to be considered.

These guides can also take into account ideas of sustainable tourism.

Scenic walks

Another type of guides are called "Theatre walks " or " scenic ", ie with drama combined tours, where the leader takes on a role and leads guests around at certain points at which any other actor the events of earlier times alive leave.

This type are very similar so-called " Ghost Walks", where ghost stories, myths and legends are in the foreground. Originally home to more in the Anglo-Saxon countries, there is such a city tours since the 90s, among others also in Cologne, Freiburg and Regensburg. Meanwhile, " Ghost Walks" performed in many German cities.

Theme Tours

The guided tour is available under the aspects of a certain topic, such as " The City in the Middle Ages " or "The city and its famous citizens XY" or " underground passages and rooms ," etc.

Sporting tours

Since 2001, city guides to jogging base in Hamburg. In recent years ( 2007), providers have been found in 12 cities.

More guides

The different types of guides:

  • Architecture Tours
  • Exhibition Tours
  • Tours of the castle
  • Bus Tours
  • Monument guides
  • Adventure tours
  • Event guides
  • Rock tours
  • Guided tours of the excavations
  • Mountain walks
  • Scary guide
  • Historic Tours
  • Cathedral Tours
  • Monastery Tour
  • Neighborhood tours
  • Kostümführungen
  • Kulinarischeführung
  • Culture guides
  • Art Tours
  • Shore excursions, field trips
  • Museum tours
  • Cycling
  • Acting guides
  • Palace Tour
  • Walks
  • City tour
  • City Tours
  • Day Trips
  • Theme Tours
  • Wine Tours

Guided tour through technical means

Guided tours can also be done through technical means. This tool can generate a so-called augmented reality (extended, enriched reality ).

Audio Guide

Since the 1980s, lend or rent some institutions called audio guides: a portable device ( " Walkman ", " iPod" ) with headphones plays an Audio Cassette; the Guided goes from station to station a route and listens to explanations on there.

Mobile Internet

Also available as an app on a smartphone (eg iPhone ), a tablet PC or a laptop, you can download such information.

Geocaching - GPS scavenger hunt

Geocaching is an invented in 2000 leisure. Some cities offer tourists geocaching tours. The tourists get a geocaching device and move out on foot or by transport from station to station.

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