Customer Reviews

The Professional Guide: Dynamics of Tour Guiding

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book gives an excellently written text, explaining all aspects of the tour guiding profession and its position in the field of the modern tourism industry. It is well structured, and with its systematic approach to the subject theme it offers an inside and reliable glimpse into the profession and lets you in on all of its secrets. Apart from being of practical value, this book represents one of the most relevant titles of professional tourism literature. It spells out various important topics relating to tourism as a whole (but always bearing in mind the guide's role and mission in the context of the wider professional environment), offering a variety of comprehensible definitions and classifications. Thank to this book, one can easily learn a lot about the tourism industry from the perspective of tour guiding.

The best and for any guide most useful part of the text is about presentation, interpretation and communication skills of professional tour guides - which have recently been defined as the 'Art of Guiding'. The author made use of very relevant and diverse bibliography without avoiding some, more or less, strictly scientific researches in the tourism field (such as the Cohen's classification of the modern guide's role). In any event, the content of the book represents a successful attempt to apply 'all-in' approach to the subject of tour guiding, for the first time ever.

It is for this that 'The Professional Guide' has to be highly appreciated by tourism professionals and people in the know of the subject. As a former tourism educator I can only warmly recommend this title to students of tourism, travel and hospitality. If you have any interest in tour guiding wherever you are, you should get this book as soon as possible. Simply, it is 'a must' for any tour guide or tour manager...

In the meantime I had the opportunity to inspect a few other available titles on the theme of tour guiding (Mancini, Braidwood et al, Reily Collins, Barbara A. Levy et al, Prince, Pastorelly etc.). After having reading and buying so many books, I am now even more convinced that 'The Professional Guide' is a unique textbook and as such an inspiring source of information, ideas, conceptions and practical suggestions. If you are looking for the most comprehensive book covering all aspects of tourist guiding, then you need look no further.

As a physical product the book is nicely realized as well, looking both 'serious' and attractive: hardcover, appropriate dimensions, well printed (with a good selection of fonts). It represents more than a well done job! This is why I would give `the sixth star' for this highly respectable book to its publisher - John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

P.S. (November 19, 2007)
So, it's been a while since I've written the review. In the meantime, I read many scientific articles on tour guiding and interpreting, such as those by McDonnell, Wu & Haywood, McGrath, Jennings & Weiler, Black, Salazar, Reisinger & Steiner, Wang, Hsieh & Huan, Bowie & Chang, Dahles etc. and almost everywhere this book and its author were cited. This convinced me, once again, that K. L. Pond's THE PROFESSIONAL GUIDE deserves our utmost appreciation. Frankly, I am anxiously waiting for the new edition of this already excellent handbook!

This book has both scope and depth. It has the historical and contemporary perspective on the subject of tour guiding. I came to this book with some knowledge of tour guiding, after bearly reading half the contents therein, I am far more equiped and knowledgable on the subject. This is a good book, it is well written, very reader friendly and interesting. Buy it I say.