International Tourist Guide Day - February 21st

Today is the International Tourist Guide Day! You can send in pictures and a short description of what you did to mark this occasion. OurExplorer would love to publicize them and show the world what wonderful things tourist guides are doing!

South Africa Tourism Authority is offering an event under the theme “Culture as a unifying guide”. “Media is invited to experience Pretoria as a tourist destination under the guidance of a deaf tourist guide on 21 February 2011”. View Event Details

Zagreb Tourist Guide Association offers “free city tours in Croatian on Saturday 19 February. Tours start at 11 am and 12 in front of the Tourist Information Center”. View Tour Details

The Advisory Committee of the Tourist Guides in KSA have organized various activities including “training courses, workshops, information on tourism, and free tourism trips to a number of tourism and historical sites”. View More Info

What is International Tourist Guide Day?
According to World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA.org) – “February 21st. an initiative of WFTGA, the International Tourist Guide Day is held on 21st February each year. In 1990, Mrs. Titina Loizides, president of the WFTGA was involved when it was held for the first time, 15 countries participated. Since then, tourist guides in an ever growing number of countries have been giving help to their local communities, conducting tours for disabled persons, disadvantaged persons, for children, industry partners, officials and the general public. Events are also held for local tourist guides including presentations and retraining courses. It is a public relations event par excellence, drawing the attention of local authorities, fellow citizens and the media to the quality and value of the work of professional tourist guides. Each member country contributes to the success of the day in its own way; coach companies have contributed complimentary coaches, attractions and museums have opened their doors without charge. Each year, awareness grows and there is an increasing contribution by both regional and national governments to the International Tourist Guide Day. The Day is coordinated by the World Federation.”

Best Thailand Travel Guide

This Best Thailand Travel Guide combines useful information about Thailand in many aspects in order for travelers who wish to experience this country to have a brief view of the nation. The Guide will first explain about the country in general before describing what it has in each region so that travelers can decide where they want to go to make the most out of their trips.

One of the distinctive points about Thailand is the Thais. Many people know this nation as the Land of Smiles as the Thais are easy-going and always smiling. Thai people are normally kind, warm and welcoming to foreigners. Tourists can feel quite comfortable asking for directions or helps from Thai strangers during their trips. Some believe that this is the influence of Buddhism, which is the religion that approximately 90% of the population is believed in.

Besides the friendly people, the country has a great combination of unique culture, interesting long history, amazing cuisine and beautiful nature. As a result, Thailand has a vast variety of holiday destinations and activities for tourists to enjoy. Tourists can choose to experience many things in this territory from thick jungles, all-night parties, stunning beaches or something else that would appeal to everyone. Besides the tourist attractions, Thailand is also an excellent place to shop due to the incredibly low price items available. To make this article the easy and the best Thailand travel guide, the content in terms of attractions will be divided into regions, North, Central and South; due to the distinctive characteristics of each part of the country.

As mentioned, each part of Thailand has different characteristics and cultures. To the north of Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai, you will find some beautiful mountain landscape with many orchid farms and elephant training camps which would give visitors some unique experience that hard to find elsewhere. Up To Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle area, travelers can visit the hill-tribe people that still have strong native culture and rituals. With the extremely different way of living for these hill tribes, travelers can experience another world on this same planet. In addition in this area, tourists can have a chance to see nice view of Me Kong river, one of the World's greatest rivers originated from Tibet area and divide Thailand territory from Laos. Moreover, if ones wish to enjoy camping in the greenish forests up the hills, this can also be done in the northern region due to plentiful of the green areas that still beautifully exist in this part of the land.

Next is the best Thailand Travel Guide in the central part of the country. In this part, there are still a lot of natural attractions in boundless national parks with some stunning waterfalls. Additionally, there are more of the ancient cities with the existed ruins in Ayutthaya and Sukhothai that can say a lot about the long history of the nation. Last but not least, the capital city, Bangkok, is also located in this region.

To introduce Bangkok separately as it is the place where most visitors begin their journey in this country due to that Bangkok International Airport is the major arrival spot from flights around the world. Bangkok is one of the most crowded cities in the world with lots of traffic congestion, large amount of population and high-rise buildings; yet, it is the city with complete facilities, convenient transportation systems and large shopping malls and streets.

Finally for this best Thailand Travel Guide is the southern region, the slimmest and longest area of Thailand. This region is the land in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea so that beaches are the highlights of this area. Tourists are guaranteed to experience amazing beaches, stunning beautiful tropical islands and sparkling blue water. Moreover, many alternative western-standard accommodations are available from world-class hotels to backpacker places that can be matched with every taste and budget. Due to the existed beautiful reefs and underwater creatures, Scuba diving and snorkeling are normal activities visitors often choose to enjoy in this area.

There is a Thai joke saying that there are 3 seasons in Thailand: hot, hotter and hottest. Normally, most Thailand travel guides would say that the most recommended season to come to Thailand is during November to February as it is the least hot period, yet, the sun still shines beautifully. March to May is considered too hot as it is the hottest period, which could be less tolerable for visitors especially westerners. And as the rain would then arrive during June to October, it is considered as too wet in the monsoon season of Thailand. However, this Best Thailand Travel Guide would choose to also recommend travelers to consider this wet season because this would be less crowded time to visit many attractions such as well-known beaches, ancient cities or temples. The best thing is that during this time with occasional rains, travelers can pay for much less for air fares and accommodations. Well-known hotels can reduce their rates up to 50-60% so that visitors can enjoy superior facilities at minimal expenses.

Hope Bay, Antarctica

No matter how grandiose and unique, every country on earth can be readily compared with some other country. Massachusetts has features in common with Washington state. I’ve seen signature elements of the land of China repeated in New Zealand. Even Alaska, which I’ve been in love with ever since I went there for the first time twenty years ago, is not unlike the Norwegian or even Chilean fjords. But nothing - nothing but the moon! - compares to Antarctica.

I’m here for the second time in my life and it’s like treading on holy ground. We’re all aware that if something happens to the ship, we’re pretty much done for, but we can’t make ourselves fear the grandeur, the blue light sweeping off the ice or the endlessly forbidding planes that lie ahead. It’s simply mind boggling to be here; humbling, exiting and more awe inspiring than any place on earth I know.

According to the Antarctic Treaty, no country can claim this continent for itself. In that regard Antarctica is like the moon, which also can’t be owned by anyone but all of us. And that makes this place so special too. It fulfills an almost messianic role between the earth, upon which rivaling clans wage their ridiculous territorial wars, and the heavens where people exist free and freely sharing the bounties of creation without needing to claim ownership.

Draga whispers beside me that we don’t really belong in Antarctica. We’re invaders, she says, but I squeeze her closer and disagree. We humans weren’t simply born on planet earth, we’re part of it. All of us were brought forth by this planet in its entirety; all of its elements and economies, all of its weathers and area’s. We don’t own the planet and it doesn’t own us; we’re it. We are the earth, and there is no place on earth where we can or should not go.

Luckily for all of us, the Powers That Be have decided to no longer allow vessels that have no urgent business here access to Antarctic waters. The nature of our present mission prohibits me from informing the reader what it is that Draga and I are doing here, or even on which kind of ship we are, but the new treaty pretty much means that this is our last time here. If we were ever to return here, it would be to do something else, something that serves the land with a purpose great enough to warrant blasting tons of exhaust gasses into its atmosphere.

My God in heaven, could it be that we’re finally learning?

Icebergs in Antarctica waters

Icebergs in Antarctica

Hope Bay, Antarctica

Hope Bay, Antarctica



Esperanza Station at Hope Bay, Antarctica



Esperanza Station at Hope Bay, Antarctica

St Mary's Church - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

A bit smaller but much brighter and certainly more festive than the dark Anglican Church just down Ross Road, the Catholic Church of St Mary’s stands cute and enticing in the gale. The church is white and so small that the scaffolding looks more like a dental brace than a building being maintained.  Two guys in dappled aprons dab the façade in white but stop to submit explanatory howls my way. Their voices get caught in the wind and taken over the Atlantic, where they tell of the unusual persistence of painters on the Falklands. St. Mary’s Church, it so appears, was created in England in the late 18-hundreds and sent over to the Falklands as a kit. It was put here in 1899, and has stood here unaltered save for a streak of paint every now and then.

On a windy day such as today, the church shudders and creaks. Inside we feel welcomed by the cozy interior; all light brown woods and reds from the carpet and stained glass windows. At the altar is a rather small INRI, but it has an unusual expression. I stand arrested initially trying to figure out whether he has his eyes open or not, but find myself caught in a pleasant review of the familiar Bible story. After a good three decades of studying Scriptures, I still have no idea what the crucifixion means. I’m sure I know more about it than most people, but I’m also one of the very few who recognize that the crucifixion of Christ is about a whole lot more than just a theocidal execution (which is a complete mystery in its own right).

To the left stands a beautiful Madonna with child. Their faces are much more classical than that of the INRI; pious and serene, hardly human but still so royal and divine.

Quickened I leave the church and head back to my ship. From the Falklands we’re heading straight south onto Antarctica. I’ve been there once before and I’ve been looking forward to going back ever since. It’s high summer on the southern hemisphere. Let’s go look for some ice bergs!

St Mary's Church - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

Interior of St Mary's Church - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

The Last Supper over the main entrance

An unusual INRI

The INRI of St Mary's Church - detail

Madonna with Child

Madonna with Child - detail

Christ Church Cathedral - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

On Port Stanley’s Ross Road stands the smallest cathedral in the history of cathedrals. It makes me wonder what earns a church the predicate “cathedral,” and decide that it must be entirely arbitrary. But the Oxford explains that a cathedral is not just a big church but “the principal church of a diocese.” Being on a windswept pancake of an island, any old shed might be reckoned a cathedral.

The Christ Church Cathedral is the principle church of the Anglican parish of the Falkland Islands. Its interior is like all other protestant churches grimly void of anything that might violate the second commandment (make no graven images) and disturbingly adorned with symbols of nationalism and coats of arms.

The windows are stained glass - because for some reason statues are no-no’s but stained glass windows aren’t – and show scenes from the New Testament. Up front lies Bible opened on Proverbs 6. In front of the church four massive whale bones (ribs I reckon) construct an arch, which is entirely macabre now that I think of it.

I aim my nose to the gale and trudge down Ross Road. I’m sure I saw a pretty white church just a bit further up. With a little luck that one is a bit more festive than this gloomy pit.

Christ Church Cathedral - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

Interior of Christ Church Cathedral - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

Stained glass windows

Sola Scriptura

The Power of Tourist Feedback

We all understand the power of feedback. It is especially important in hospitality industry. With the quick-development of online communities and review systems, tour guides are easier to collect or share tourist feedback.

For a long-term career development, receiving feedback is better than no feedback. Negative feedback, or complaints in another word, can help a tour guide find areas of improvement. Do not be afraid of complaints. Even the top guides can not guarantee 100% satisfaction. It matters how you handle the case. Be quick to reply and address the issue. Most clients would understand from an honest and sincere explanation.

Positive feedback is great. It becomes a strong sales tool for tour guides to convert prospects into clients. Why not share it on your own website, web page, blog or social network?

How do you gather client feedback then? Do not just wait for the feedback. Everyone is busy, and you can not take it for granted that your clients could offer a feedback after the tour. You may ask for a review/feedback at the end of the tour. Or kindly remind your clients for a review/feedback in email. However, do not bother your clients if you haven’t heard back after two reminders. Otherwise it is more considered as a spam.

If you build up client feedback on third-party platform, like ourexplorer tour guide profile page, offer a simply way for your client to reflect. For example, an email reply address or a link of review page.

How do you deal with tourist feedback, positive and negative? Welcome to share.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

The Falklands rise from the fog and seem so inconsequential that it’s hard to believe that empires have gone to war over them, not so long ago. But there’s oil here and that’s not to be given up. There are also lots of penguins here, but you can’t run a car on penguins, so they’re now endangered. Whatever tourist comes to these islands comes to see these chubby birds and the birds look back visibly whishing there were more islands in the area to fled too. There aren’t any.

“We’re an hour’s flight off Chili,” says Linda. She’s guarding the port with nothing but her charm to entice whoever she’s guarding it from.

“Are you native to these islands?” I ask while handing over my shore leave pass. It seems kind of silly to be needing such a document in this place.

“I got no feathers,” she says (I chuckle politely), “But yeah, I was born here.”

She sounds like she was born just off Paddington Station and tells me all about her three children who went to the beach yesterday but who are now huddled by the radiator. There’s a gale tearing over the islands. Whatever trees there are were put here by immigrants and they flop like whips in this foreign soil. There’s also hardly anything colorful that can claim aboriginality here. I’m sure depression must be a public enemy on the Falklands and to combat it, houses and buildings are adorned in carefully applied but quite bright dyes. No cheerful smears or festive blots, just wide monochrome patches of bright green or red. As if someone put them there saying, “By George, now sit there and look festive!”

I only have a few minutes, so I brave wind and rain and dart down Ross Road just to be able to say that I’ve been on the Falkland Islands. There’s no time to go see the penguins or the linger long at any of the souvenir shops. But the curious blend of the homey English-style architecture and the remote, exile feeling of these islands makes me want to come back and live here for a year or so. Just to see the seasons change in their proper monthly order in stead of depending on my location. It’s February and high summer here, after all. Linda’s children were playing on the beach just yesterday.

The Falkland Islands rising from the fog

Arriving at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

Seaguls resting on the dock

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands

Port Stanely, Falkland Islands