Why Go On An Australian Bike Tour

Australian travel visa holders are definitely always on the look out for ways to enjoy their travel in the country more. Lucky for them, there are countless ways to do that. And one of the ways that you can make the most out of your Australian trip is going out on two wheels.

Indeed, bike tours have become so popular with so many people in the country today. In fact, foreigners have actually traveled halfway across from the other part of the globe just to go on a bike tour on the continent. And even the locals are now getting into these bike tours.

So what makes Australia such an attractive place for a bike tour? Well, one thing that many enthusiasts point out is that the continent has enough challenges to throw at the rider. In fact, with the country's vastly varying terrain, a bike tourist will certainly make the most out of his skills here. And there are actually a lot of trails that bike enthusiasts can try out. Some would even take you from one side of the country to the other, such as the famed Munda Biddi trail.

Another major reason that attract a lot of people into a biking tour is the relative ease of preparing everything that you need. Unlike other tours, where you have to go through a lot of preparations, all you need here is, of course, a bike and some supplies. There are plenty of bike shops scattered across the major cities, like Sydney, where you can either buy or rent a good quality by for your trip. And there are several hotels that are especially made for bikers like you.

Furthermore, if you are not that keen in preparing, but still interested in such a tour, there are a wide variety of companies that provide such tours. They will often be the ones that will provide you with all the gear that you will need, including a good bike. Plus, they will also be able to get you a challenging itinerary. And this are also quite reasonably priced.

Lastly, the best reason that you might want to get on a bike tour is that it will give you a pretty good experience. Now only will you be able to stay in good shape for the entire trip, but you will also be able to interact more with the people you meet along the way, as well as your fellow riders. This is certainly something that will set bike touring apart from other ways of traveling Australia.

Tour Guide Survey with Patrick Lovell in Tokyo

1. What is the best thing you like about being a tour guide?

There are many aspects of guiding that appeal to me, not least of which is the ability to travel. I very much enjoy introducing Japan - the focus of my life since my high school days - and opening up the history and culture of the country to visitors. It is a constant pleasure to be a part of visitor’s discovery of Japan and help them get the most out of their travels and go home with a deeper appreciation of the people and their fascinating culture. I also enjoy creating great memories for visitors. It is a pleasure working with people from every corner of the world.

2. What is your most memorable moment in guiding so far?

Watching visitors on tour responding to new places that they are seeing for the first time.

3. What is most challenging for you in this career? Have you coped with it?

I always aim to please my client visitors and to accommodate their every wish. By treating each and every person as the unique individuals that they are, I have been able to meet most requests. I also want to be able to help them with any topic in any period of history for any area, so it is a great challenge to keep up with my studies.

4. What is your favourite place/thing that you want to show your travel clients?

I enjoy showing visitors places, and introducing historical facts that are important to understanding the history, culture, and Japanese people but are perhaps overlooked by many seasoned travellers and passed over by other tour companies.

As Lawrence Durrell says: “Travel can be one of the most rewarding forms of introspection.”

5. What if you were not a tour guide? What do you imagine yourself to be?

I imagine that I would be very unhappy!

Client segmentation for OurExplorer tour guide – senior travelers

We have mentioned senior travelers when talking about cruise passenger. Many senior travelers prefer a relaxed sightseeing tour. For a tour guide, you’d better not rush or push during the tour.

What other areas need tour guides pay attention to when showing senior travelers around?

Be prepared with the variety of topics. As senior travelers gain more life experience, they may be interested in many aspects of local life. How to cook local foods, how people live, how long do people work normally …

Listen to senior travelers and discuss the aspects they are mostly interested. Senior travelers would love to share their own experiences and knowledge. So listen to them. This is also the fun part being a tour guide. You meet various people, hear their stories and learn from their life wisdom. If you find any particular topic they are interested in, why not expand the discussion along the way? You will ensure senior travelers a great personal sightseeing tour.

Pay attention to your client’s physical strength. While senior travelers can be very active and energetic, as a tour guide, you shall pay attention to their physical strength. Consider more small breaks during the sightseeing tour. Mind if they have problems with stairs or climbing, and if elevators suit better. If your clients have mentioned illness or inaccessible activities in advance, do put it into consideration when designing the tour itinerary.

Pre-booking issues. More and more senior travelers now plan their tours online. They are getting used to online bookings. However, you shall not presume every one is internet savvy, senior and young. If your service requires pre-booking online, provide clear instructions on how to complete the booking. It also benefits a tour guide to reduce client cancellation because of technique issue.

Do you have any experiences or tips to share on guiding senior travelers?

Traveling Australia On A Shoestring

If you are an Australian travel visa holder, then you would definitely love going around the country. However, though this one is indeed a great way to spend your vacation. There is a slight catch. As you might have already known, touring the Land Down Under is not going to be cheap.

But of course, that does not mean that you can't cut down on your expenses when on vacation. In fact, this one will be an enjoyable part of the whole trip, as you will be challenged to come up with new ways of saving up. And so, here are some useful tips and tricks that you can do on your nest trip.

Ditch the car rental

This might sound ridiculous, but you can actually save a big amount of money of you forgo renting a car during your stay. You see, car rentals can often run over a hundred dollars a day. And imagine how much you will have to spend on this one for a few days.

If you are worried on how to get around, you can always take the train or the bus. You see, Australia has a well developed public transportation system that will take you anywhere in the continent. And if you want to save more, you can always get yourself a multi-pass to avoid having to get several tickets when you go around. In case you prefer flying, there are also a bunch of low cost airlines available.

Food is all over you

If you are hungry, then you need not worry about having to look out for a fine dining restaurant. There are actually plenty of great eating places scattered around the cities. And these are reasonably priced too. You have a wide variety of options to choose from here, from fast food to fine cuisine that will suit your tastes.

If you are looking for some great tasting seafood dishes, the docks are a good place to visit. One good example is Port Jackson in Sydney. The place is actually teeming with a wide variety of seafood sold at  market prices, since they are quite close to where these are harvested. Here, you will definitely get to enjoy fishes and crabs without the huge bills.

Get rid of all the extra services

If you really want to cut your hotel expenses, then you will have to let go of the room service. And this will not only cut down your costs, but it will also encourage you to go out and explore Australia more. But of course, that doesn't mean that you have to cut them off entirely. Request for something every now and then to treat yourself.

Be Prepared For Tourist Scams

Getting an Australian tourist visa is definitely a great way to spend your vacation. The country has many sights and activities to offer, and you will definitely have a great time. However, you might want to be a bit careful, as there is always something sinister lurking around the corner.

As it is, Australia is not immune to the attacks of unscrupulous people. In fact, each year, many tourists have had their vacations ruined after falling prey to con men. Thus, it is important that you familiarize yourself with some of the most common scams, so that you can be prepared in case you encounter them.

You might not know, but a taxi is one of the most popular tools used by scammers. Since they would assume that you know very little about the country that you are heading to. Here, one of the most common tricks that they would employ is to use a much longer route in taking you to your destination, hence being able to collect a larger fair. Also, there are cons who equip their taxis with rigged meters.

The best way to deal with this one is to always get a legitimate taxi services. Many taxi companies in Australia offer online booking, so you can immediately be picked up by them the moment you arrive in the airport. In case you instead would want to only get a cab when you arrive, be sure that the driver looks honest. Also, get the details of the taxi before boarding to be sure. Carrying a road map with you will also be useful in ensuring that you are taking the right route.

Another common strategy used by a lot of scammers is that of a distraction. The con artist can use anything, from a handkerchief to gold rings, to catch your attention. He will then sweet talk you into a conversation and into a deal that would likely cost you your belongings. Sometimes, while you are still conversing with him, an accomplice of his will quickly steal your valuables without you knowing it.

The best way to deal with this one is to simply ignore the distraction. This might look snobbish on your part, but keep in mind that you are on a foreign land, so you need to be careful. In case you have no choice, then be sure that you are fully aware of your surroundings.

Lastly, always seek the help of the authorities in case you get scammed. Do this one immediately, so you will still get the chance to retrieve your items.

Client segmentation for tour guides – cruise passengers

What are cruise passengers looking for when they choose shore excursions? A comfortable but compact sightseeing tour schedule.

Cruise ships usually stop half a day to 1 day in each port. In some ports it will be 2 days. But in general the time on land is short and limited. So many cruise passengers expect to see as much as possible when choosing their shore excursions. A compact tour itinerary including must-sees is expected.

On the other hand, comfort is important. Cruise passengers are categorized as high-end travelers. They prefer comfortable experiences as like on the cruise ship. Budget is less of concern. When tour guides put together a sightseeing tour for cruise passengers, pay attention to the transportation methods, dining places, etc.

Many senior travelers choose to travel by cruise. This travel style ensures a relaxed slow-pace vacation. Thus the tour guide sightseeing tours shall be senior-friendly. If the tour is physically challenging, you may lose a big amount of potential clients.

Consider the distance from port. Some ports locate well in the city centre, where a tour guide can start guiding directly. Many others are by the sea and may take long to reach the first stop. Tour guides are not supposed to rest along the way. Use such time to introduce your city or country background, local cultures, food habits, etc. You can also take the opportunity to know a bit more about your clients and their interest. The info will help you achieving a successful tour afterwards. It is also recommended to notify interesting things spotted on the way.

Manage the time well. If a tour guide can maximize the client’s shore excursion experience, you will be rewarded and referred on by your clients. Also keep in mind the time back to the ship. Passengers cannot miss the ship. It is the same as catching a flight in the airport. So leave enough time to return to the cruise ship.

Have a look at the shore excursion packages provided by the cruise ship. See what they offer and do yours better. It is good to do competitor researches and learn from the cruise ship offer. A tour guide can thus design a sightseeing tour – more interesting and customized.

What is your tour guiding experience with cruise passengers? Welcome to share your tips.

Australian Tourism On The Steady Rise

One of the areas that is closely being monitored by Australian migration officials nowadays is the tourism sector. Indeed, with Australia being a popular travel destination for a lot of people around the world, the tourism industry is likely to expand even more. And many people are closely observing the industry as it grows.

It should be noted that the tourism industry is still pretty much on the recovery stage after the financial crisis of 2007 to 2009. Because of the slowing down of the world's economies , travel for leisure also dropped significantly. And being one of the centers of tourist travels, Australia did significantly experienced the effects of reduced tourist arrivals.

However, with the world's economy now starting to recover, tourism travel is also beginning to go up back to it's previous levels. It is interesting to note that Australia was in fact, one of the first countries to start getting up from the crisis. And with that, it was also able to to quickly resume operation for its tourism activities.

Indeed, the country has actually posted some impressive tourism figures in the last few months. According to statistics released by the government, the number of tourist arrivals have increased by at least five percent in the last three months. And officials are confident that these will go up in the future.

With that, Tourism Australia, the country's foremost tourism promotion industry have embarked on several programs aimed to further encouraging foreign travelers to visit the country. One of this is the $30 million investment made by the agency last June to promote Australian tourism in China. Tourism Australia is hoping to capture the interest of more than 46 million Chinese travelers each year, which is worth more $2 billion in the market.

On the other hand, Tourism Australia is also hoping to attract more visitors from Southeast Asia. As a start of their campaign, they have launched an Indonesian language version of the agency's official website. Tourism Australia officials are hopeful that, through this, they will be able to encourage Indonesian tourists to learn more about Australia and eventually head there. It is interesting to note that Indonesian tourist arrivals have grown significantly since last year, posting a 24 percent increase last March.

With this impressive figures and efforts, Australian tourism officials are enthusiastic that they will be able to further expand the industry. However, they said that they are still not you going to slow down in their work and even strive more to attract more travelers.