The role of the animateur
The term “animateur’’ is now becoming more widely known in the British tourism industry. It applies to those members of the industry who entertain tourists, either by acting out a role, or providing entertainment or instruction. The English term “entertainer’’ is not strictly comparable, as this tends to be restricted to an acting role: the French term will also cover those whose task it is to interact with tourists to ensure that they enjoy themselves. They could be involved with instructing tourists in sports or hobbies, lecturing to cruise passengers or teaching them how to play bridge, or entertaining in the evening on stage at European campsite. In Disney’s theme parks there are a variety of animateur roles, the best known of which personify Mickey Mouse, but a host of other Disney characters are to be found on site, dressed as Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, and even the Chipmunks. These workers normally have no speaking role, and are there to make friends with younger visitors, posing for photographs etc. Other may take on a historical role at a heritage site: for example, at Williamsburg in Virginia, a number of staff are dressed in eighteenth-century costumers, and will maintain this role if questioned by visitors. The job might be thought of as fairly basic, in terms of skill, but continental Europeans take a different view, and animation appears on the syllabus of French tourism and leisure qualifications, to cite just one example. This reflects the seriousness with which Continental tourism employees and employers view the role as one providing a professional service.