What is tour?

Coined from the Latin word tornare and Greek tornos, meaning to circle around, the word “tour” means to come back to the point of origin after going to a destination elsewhere (Theobald 1998). In tourism, the word “tour” refers to the activities of people when they go to a place to see and learn about it in person.

Who is the Tour Guide?

A tour guide is the person who guides tourists as they go about a foreign place. A tour guide helps the latter gain a better appreciation of he place and the interesting things to see there. The tour guide likewise helps tourists use their time more efficiently.

The Philippine Department of Tourism (1995) defines a tour guide as “ an individual who guides tourist, both foreign and domestic, for a fee, commission, or any other form of lawful remuneration.” Tour guides need to undergo proper training before they can apply for accreditation from the Department of Tourism.

What is tour guiding?

 Tour guiding therefore refers to the provision of professional service to interpret the cultural and natural heritage of an area (World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, n.d.). In this sense, interpretation does not only refer to translation of information from one language to another, but also to the description of cultural and natural attractions that helps people gain better understanding and appreciation of such.