Results and Discussion
Understanding the world of the ecotour guide
Sixty-five guides completed the pre-training questionnaire.
Almost all had at least two years guiding experience, and approximately one third had been in the profession for more than ten years.
As suggested by the literature, ecotour guides’ perceptions of their role focused
mainly on their role as an informer. When asked to indicate what they considered to be their most important functions, the most common response (mentioned by 77% of guides) focused on the provision of information, e.g.:
• to provide correct information;
• giving as much and as
interesting information as
possible; and
• to educate/inform visitors.
Providing an enjoyable and entertaining experience was also considered important by the majority of guides (52%), e.g.:
• provide fun, entertainment for tourists;
• provide an interesting and entertaining delivery; and
• to ensure that people enjoy the tours.
A variety of other roles, such as communicating effectively, ensuring visitor safety and stimulating visitor interest, were mentioned with reasonable frequency (by at least 20% of
guides), e.g.:
• to speak in a language visitors
can understand;
• to ensure safety of clients; and
• to stimulate visitors’ sense of enquiry about the environment.
The ideas of minimising visitor impacts, encouraging environmental appreciation, promoting conservation values and influencing visitors’ attitudes and behaviour were mentioned by only a small number of guides (fewer than 12% in each case).
Examples include:
• minimising impact of visitors and tourism on natural resources;
• encourage the appreciation and protection of the natural environment;
• to change visitors’ attitudes in regard to their values of heritage/ecology etc.;
• encourage understanding, appreciation, support and appropriate behaviour in visitors to protected areas and for people in general with regards to broader environmental issues; and
• to inspire guests enough to modify their behaviour to have a positive impact on the environment.