THE TOUR
COMMENTARY
TOUR COMMENTARY
-A tour commentary is a narrative used
by a tour guide to describe a site and
provide information about various
aspects of a country to tourists while on
a tour. They are generally referred to as
the “guide speak” and include general
information and local stories about
attractions or sites, events and
personalities in a country.
What are the contents of Tour
Commentary?
-A tour guide should prepare the
tour commentary before beginning a
tour and it is composed of the four
main parts:
a.The Introduction
b.The Briefing
c.The Presentation
d.The Closing
Preparing a Tour
Commentary
The procedure for preparing a commentary is as
follows:
Establish the needs and interests of the group.
Confirm itinerary
Access sources of information about the sites to
be visited
Research on the facts about the attractions to
be visited.
Prepare the text of the tour commentary based
on the established facts.
Planning the delivery of a
Commentary
The following guideline should ensure:
Know the contents of your tour commentary backwards and
forward but do not memorize in verbatim
Distractions or interruptions including questions from the
audience will leave you floundering.
Learn the concepts and meanings exhaustively and deliver them with an
inflection that reflects both enthusiasm and authority.
This helps you answer any questions and segue back into spiel.
The way you deliver the commentary can be just as important as what
you say, take your time to work on it.
Project the right Body
Language
Stand straight to convey confidence in your product as you
pitch your tour commentary.
Maintain confidence, yet an easy-going body language so you
appear approachable but not aggressive
Take your cues from the tourists to see if your body language is
mirrored or if you need to tone it down.
Build natural rapport with your audience.
Build natural rapport
with your audience
Whether a single person or a group, pay attention to their
reactions, especially their facial expressions and body language as
your delivery the commentary.
Watch for signs of boredom or discomfort to adjust your
commentary accordingly e.g yawning, fidgeting and checking the
time.
Build natural rapport
with your audience
Recapture attention by interrupting the spiel to relate to
a short personal experience or by moving about to focus
their attention to you.
Delivery of Commentaries On-
Transit
Confirm the interests and expectations of the visitors at the outset
of the tour.
Introduce yourself by clearly state: your name. Designation,
purpose of the tour, distance to be travelled, locations, events,
expectations and activities.
Present the spiel in a conversation rather than noted or memorized
way.
Delivery of Commentaries On-Transit
Make the commentary interesting, relevant, simple and deliver it
in logical sequence.
Be sensitive to the groups interests and tailor the commentary to
the group.
Seek feedback throughout the tour to foster the visitors attention.
Respond to inquiries accurately and positively, when an
answer is not available, refer to the field guides and other
information.
Delivery of Commentaries On-Site
Start with greetings and introductions.
Deliver the spiel in ways that makes visitors
interested.
Use good sense of humor to deliver the spiel.
Remember that spiels help people appreciate and
understand what they see.
Delivery of Commentaries On-Site
Face the entire group, not a few, speak slowly and clearly
with an audible voice.
Always maintain eye contact with the visitors.
Prepare yourself for questions that may be asked.
Take control of your breathing and emphasize on
important words.
Fostering Attention and Fostering Participation
Change your
voice speed
• Consistent pace of voice can
make the commentary delivery
ineffective.
• Vary the speed of your voice
depending on the tourist and
purpose of the communication.
• To gain attention and excite the
visitors,speak quickly and
enthusiastically.
• Speak slowly to enable visitors
to pay attention to your words.
Punctuate with
Pauses
• It is important to break the flow of
information during commentary
delivery so that visitors can
understand what they just heard.
• A pause is taken when the
guidance has conveyed an
important points or wants the
visitors to anticipate.
Articulate Clearly
• It is important that your spiel is
clear to the audience.
• Avoid technical terms unless
explained and often use the
simplest word.
• Learn basic foreign terms and
phrases even if you are not a
linguist.
• Have expertise in pronunciation
and articulate each word clearly
when you speak to gain more
confidence and clarity.
Shift Pitch of your Voice
Frequency of speech is called
voice pitch.
Depending on the aim of the
speech, you can use high and
low pitches at times.
Using extremes can tarnish
the success of your
commentary delivery.
Posture
A guide has to cultivate and
maintain elegance in way of
standing and walking as it
conveys message about
personality.
Control your
voice volume
• Volume of voice create a direct
impact on the audience.
• An average volume should be
used in general.
• It can be loud or soft depending
on the aim of the commentary
• When a mix of loudness and
softness is used, it adds special
effects to the commentary.
Use of Gestures
• A gesture can
communicate all that the
guide feels, consciously
or unconsciously.
• Shaking of hands, head,
holding, embracing or
patting on the back all
convey varied messages.
Facial
Expressions
• Facial expressions are
most natural and
unconscious.
• They continually change
during interactions and are
observed constantly by the
audience.
• Smiling is considered to be
pleasant and helpful.
Paraphrasing
• Is simply explaining
statements or
remarks in shortened
or renowned versions
of facts so as to
clarify the meaning
visitors need.
Keep the
Commentary Light
• People seek enjoyment in
travel, so present the facts
in a witty and humorous
fashion.
• However, do not be a
stand-up comedian,
always modulate your
voice for variation and
emphasis.
Keep the
Narrations Positive
• Each country or
country has its
problems, do not
dwell on them,
constantly highlight
improvements and
progress being made.
Know involve
your Audience
• Tailor the information to
each particular group.
• If the group is
composed of farmers or
accountants, point out
sites they might find
most interesting.
• Schedule and allow
many photo
opportunities
Be Accurate and Specific
Present the information in
a scholarly way that is
accurate and specific.
Quiz the visitors on the
spiel to add some
entertainment and
interest.
Thanks!
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