Module one

Understanding Tourism

This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of SNV/ ILO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. For more information on EuropeAid, please visithttp://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/

Module introduction

Topic 1: Tourism System

Topic 2: Who are Tourists?

Topic 3: Why Tourists visit Vietnam?

Topic 4: What is tour guiding ?

2

The tourism system

Topic One

Definition of Tourism 4

Activities connected with:• Trips taken by people outside their habitual residences; • aimed at satisfying their needs for sightseeing, study,

leisure or recreation; • in a certain period of time.

Vietnam Tourism Law, 2005

Why provide best services to tourists?

1. Happier tourists

2. Repeat business

3. Word of mouth

4. Increased income

5. Secured job

6. Good reputation for village

7. More successful tourism industry in Vietnam.

5

I am having great time in Vietnam… Specially when I have such great help from the guide…

Activity 1. Posters: Impacts of tourism

Divide into 4 groups. 1. Use A0/A1 paper, markers, crayons to prepare posters on the following topics:

• Groups 1 & 2: benefits of tourism

• Groups 3 & 4: negative impacts of tourism

2. Make a “poster show”: groups to explain their posters.3. Comments from other groups4. Vote for the best poster

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Benefits of tourism?

1. Income

2. Employment

3. Government services

4. Living standards

5. Cultural exchange.

7

Negative impacts of tourism 8

Loss of Natural Beauty

Trash & Pollution

Safety & SecurityBegging

Negative impacts of tourism 9Change in culture

Loss of wildlife

Disturbed

Villagers

Loss of valuable artifacts

Tourism industry

Provides services and facilities for consumption by tourists

10

Transport

Tour guidingAccommodation

Elements of tourism and the tourism industry

Attractions• Natural attractions

• Cultural attractions

Public services• Public transportation

• Electric & water supplies

• Health care services

• Safety and security

Industry services• Accommodation

• Food and drink

• Guides and travel organisers

• Tourist transport services

• Souvenir shops, workshops

• Other services: wellness, photograph...

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Activity 2. Tourism elements:

Divide into 3 groups. 1. Each group will receive at least 6 cards. On each card is an

element of tourism industry2. Discuss in 5 minutes and identify which category of

elements their tourism element belong to. 3. Each member of each group must place their card in the

correct category on the flip chart

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The Tourism Cycle

• The particular sequence in which tourism business services are

used by tourists

• Each business in the Cycle fills a particular need or several needs

of the tourist. However, they together provide a tourist experience.

Hotel

Restaurant

Tour (guide)

Bus

Flight

Train (station)

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Activity 3. Actors in the tourism cycle

Take a flashcard with images of a key actor in the tourism cycle.

• Place flash cards in the right sequence in the guest’s travelling route from their home country to the destination (village).

• Discuss if all the cards are in the right sequence

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Key actors in a tourism cycle

1. Transport

2. Attractions

3. Accommodation

4. Food & Beverage

5. Other key actors???

Homestay

Boat Operator

Meal

Travel agent

Tour operator

Attraction

operator

? ? ? ?

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Who are tourists

Topic two

Tourist means a person who travels for either tourism or for other

purposes combined with tourism, except for those who go to study,

work or practice their professions to get paid at the places of

destination.

(Vietnam Tourism Law, 2005)

Who are tourists? 17

Activity 4: Identify Tourists

Think about your own family, friends, associates and colleagues.

• Do any of these people travel, and if so, where do

they go and why do they go there?

• Do you think of them as tourists, and if so, why? Write these down and identify if they are tourists or not.

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Why do people travel?

• General

• MICE

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Leisure

Business

• Holiday

• VFR

Where do tourists come from?

1. Vietnam: domestic tourists

2. Other Countries: international tourists from:

20

AsiaEurope

Others?

Viet Nam

Activity 5: Tourists needs

Brainstorming:

What do

Tourists need

when they travel?

!

21

Transport

A place to stay

Things to see and do

Food and drink

What do tourists need? 22

Tourist also need …

• Access to facilities: bank, electricity, …

• Communication: Internet, post to send postcards, …

• Safety and security: to feel that they are not in any

danger …

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Why tourists visit Vietnam?

Topic three

Activity 6: Learning about Vietnam

Divide into 3 groups. In your groups:1. Discuss how tourists learn about Vietnam tourism.2. List channels that provide information about Vietnam for

tourists3. Discuss what each channel is . What channel is effective

most and why? 4. Present outcomes to the whole group

?

Vietnam

25

What do tourists need? 26

Newspaper & books

Internet

Word of mouth

TV, radio and others

How do tourists get to Vietnam & to our village ?

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Why do tourists come to Vietnam?

1. Authentic, exciting, natural and cultural experiences.

2. Explore and discover beautiful landscape

3. Practice outdoor and adventure sports

4. Admire and experience Vietnam’s diverse culture

5. Interact with the country’s people and learn about different lifestyles.

6. Experience flora and fauna in its national parks

7. Pilgrimage.

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Activity 7: Diff erent tourist destinations in Vietnam

Divide into 3 groups;  each group must pick a tourism

area or destination. 

1. Use the brochures, guidebooks and maps provided in

class and research the area

2. Draw a poster or picture if you have time

3. Present a persuasive sales pitch on why a tourist

should visit that area.

4. The best presentation, as voted by the whole class, will

win a prize. 

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What do tourists like to do in Vietnam?

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Get to know local people

Trekking

Eating delicious local

food

Boating on beautiful rivers

Sightseeing 31

What do tourists like to do in Vietnam?

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1. Buying Local Handicrafts

2. Cycling

3. Taking photos

4. Visiting Temples

1

2

3

4

What do tourists like to do in Vietnam?

33

1. Attending festivals

2. Visit caves & waterfalls

3. Learning about local agriculture

4. Seeing birds & wildlife

1

234

Visit attractions 34

Heritage sites & natural attractions

35

Going to events 36

Cultures 37

Food 38

What is tour guiding?

Topic four

Activity 8: Tour escort vs. local guide

Divide into 4 groups

1. Watch the role plays conducted by your trainer2. Discuss what are the different between the first and the

second scene?

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Tour Escort vs. Local Guide

• Receive tourists in the village

• Translate local languages

• Share local knowledge about

villages, culture and nature

• Show major sites to tourists

• Help tour escort manage

guests

• Help tour escort with

injuries/illnesses

• Help the provincial guide with

activities in the village or

forest.

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• Bring tourists to the

village

• Interpret language (if

necessary)

• Give general information

• Manage the itinerary

• Make sure that guests are

satisfied

• Take care of expenses

• Take care of

injuries/illnesses

• Coordinate activities

• Markets tours

Tour EscortLocal Guide

Types of Guides

1. On-site Guide / Step-on Guide

2. Local Guide

3. Regional Guide

4. National Guide

5. Specialised Guide (culture/ history/ nature)

6. Tour Escort / Tour Manager / Tour Operator.

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Activity 9: Roles of tour guides

Divide into five groups. Each group will present the roles and responsibilities of one actor in the tour operating sector:

Present your findings to the rest of the class.

Group 1 On-site Guide

Group 2Local Guide

Group 3 National Guide

Group 4: Specialized Guide

Group 5: Tour Escort / Tour Manager / Tour Operator

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General roles of tour guides

1. Manage and supervise the itinerary

2. Conduct the tour according to itinerary

3. Impart local information while on the tour

4. Provide practical information.

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Activity 10: Main responsibilities of local tour guide

Divide into three groups; each group get 6-8 cards

1. Discuss and decide what the main responsibilities of a local

guide should be.

2. Write one responsibility on each card.

3. Exchange cards between every two teams.

4. The team who receives cards selects the responsibilities

that they agree with and stick these cards on

wall/board/flip chard.

5. Compare results with those in the Slide 46 and 47 that will

be presented by trainer.

45

Main responsibilities of local tour guide

1. Lead a group and show the way  

2. Introduce tourists & tour escort (if any) to your village & family

3. Help tourists & escort guides to understand your culture  

4. Help tourists & tour escorts to see wildlife in your local area

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5. Show local plants and medicinal

plants that you use and anything

other things in the forest  

6. Show tourists your fields and

show them how you plant rice

and other crops

Main responsibilities of local tour guide

7. Help carry heavy equipment that tourists cannot carry. 

8. Help prepare your favorite local food for tourists

9. Help tourists and make the tour safe

10. Protect culture – show tourists how to behave in your village

11. Protect wildlife & environment.

47

Thanks for

your attention

!

The HITT Programme and its Contributors This series of materials has been produced in collaboration between the High Impact Tourism Training for Jobs and Income Programme (HITT) funded by the European Union and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Vietnam. These programmes and organisations contributed to the development and printing of this material and will be using these training materials to deliver High Impact Tourism Training to their respective target beneficiaries. The programme supports informal workers and potential workers from the tourism sector of Vietnam to enhance their productivity and professionalism, and to increase their employability and income opportunities. The HITT programme is implemented by the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) through the financial assistance of the European Commission (EC) Investing in People programme. This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of the publication are the sole responsibility of the HITT Programme and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. For more information on Europe Aid, please visit http://ec.europa.er/europeaid/