#Blog7 Rural Tourism

****LET  RURAL TOURISM BE THE ONE OF YOUR DESTINATION ****

Rural tourism involves travelers visiting destinations that are away from major metropolitan areas and heavily developed tourist resorts and locations. In many instances, rural tourism involves travelers visiting small communities and experiencing elements of traditional life in those communities. Rural tourism can overlap with ecotourism, which involves travelers embarking on environmentally friendly tours to lakes, forests, jungles and other natural environments that have not yet been developed for large scale commercial tourism.

      

       Trips to rural areas can last for a few hours, for several days or even for a number of months. Some travel firms arrange guided tours to these areas but in many instances, travelers are responsible for creating their own schedules once they reach their destination. Many rural areas lack the kinds of amenities that are found in major cities such as hotels and luxury resorts. Consequently, rural tourists are often housed in farmhouses, campsites, cottages and other types of inexpensive or traditional housing. Some travel firms even arrange tours on which the participants stay with local families for the duration of the tour.

      Many remote and rural areas are economically deprived due to a lack of industry and infrastructure. Government entities in such places often promote rural tourism so that visitors are attracted to the area. The money that tourists spend boosts the local economy and in the long-term, this can create new jobs. Farmers who normally generate income by selling livestock and crops can often supplement their income by turning farmhouses in bed and breakfast locations or by creating farmland based attractions such as corn mazes, hayrides or vineyard tours. Small businesses that traditionally manufacture items such as baskets, knitted clothing and glassware for the local community can market those same goods to tourists and generate additional revenue.

       Firms and government agencies that promote rural tourism usually emphasize the point that rural communities have not been overly commercialized and many travelers enjoy visiting these regions so that they can visit traditional bars and restaurants rather than establishments that are owned by major corporations. Consequently, many rural communities have imposed laws that require business owners to maintain aged structures and use buildings for certain purposes. Such rules are designed to ensure that rural communities do not lose the charm that distinguishes these places from urban areas.

         

          Many travelers visit rural areas in order to enjoy the natural environment. To ensure that natural habitats are not disrupted by tourists, many rural communities have laws in place that require travel operators to implement recycling policies and to minimize pollution. In coastal areas, certain types of watercraft are often prohibited if those boats pose a threat to the marine life that attracts the tourists. Rules in other areas, limit tourist numbers so that visiting travelers do not frighten or disrupt the animals that live in the region.

HAVE A WONDERFUL JOURNEY .....!

#Blog6 My life in Ruins

***BEING A GREAT TOUR GUIDE AS " GEORGIA"***

               The story (My life in Ruins)  is about the girl name’s “Georgia” Young professor of History of Greece, who currently works as a tour guide for a small company. Among the busy four-day tour of the trips to places of historic vistas, Georgia have to meet the problems and it actively invites many headaches with those her tourists. However, so much heavy storm of problem hit her; she did well as a tour guide. She sometime goes wrong but she can still fix as she dose. She’s such a perfect tour guide who can handle the situation, she kind of nice to everyone even if they don’t and service as good as the tour guide supposed to do.

                In terms of the guide, her commitment to her tourists supervised experience the atmosphere of the famous tourist destinations of the country. And use that knowledge she had as a teacher to help tell the story details the places they live to make trips of these rich quality suitable for tourists who want to experience the real beauty of Greece.

                After the movie we can analyze  important  characteristics of a Tour guide as Georgia ;  Understandable, Punctual,  Friendly,  Knowledgeable, Engaging,  Interactive,  Funny,  Observant,  Good Pacing and   Flexible. Here are the top essentials for a great tour guide.

                In addition, from the movie we can obviously divide the types and characteristics of the tourist below:

-           Incentive tourists: those few lucky individuals, who get a holiday package as a reward from  his company.

-          Health or medical tourist: Those who seek special medical treatment, which is only possible   away from home.

-          Business tourist: Tourist traveling with relation to business.

-          Education tourists: Tourists traveling to a particular place in another town, city or country for   further study in order to improve his or her educational qualification.

-          Adventure tourists: Adventure tourists look for some unusual or bizarre experience.

-          Cultural tourist: These types of tourists travel to experience the essence of assorted cultures.

-          Eco-tourists: Nature loving tourists, who love to go green.

-          Leisure tourist: These tourists want to rejuvenate and revitalize with comfort.

-          Religious tourist: Religious tourist travel to sites of religious significance.

-          Sport and recreation tourist: These sorts of tourists either take active part in or just watch sports events.

-          Backpacking or youth tourist: This group of tourist is of young age and they travel with minimum luggage and on a limited budget.

-          Special Interest Tourist (STI): They nurture particular passion in different things like bird watching.

            

    From the movie and 10 basis of the tour guide I think being guide is a hard thing if I want to be without any empathy and love in profession. To be a good quality tour guide should start with love in career is the most important things, then follow the rule and also have the patience to deal with issues that come up with the situation or tourists. 

#Blog5 : Information Influence

If you are deciding to visit somewhere you interest on, how can you make sure about those destination?

                Study the case from Thailand destination example according to Thailand Development and Research Institute (TDRI) showed that “About 31 percent of international tourists obtained information about Thailand from their friends. Only 15 percent got the information from tour operators whereas about 12 percent got information from both sources. To attract those who have not yet decided their holiday destination, it is necessary to impress the tourist already in Thailand. However a survey in 1990-1991 by the Intrama World Destination Monitor put Thailand second only to Hong Kong as a place where 1,450 tour operator around the world said tourists were likely to be cheated or overcharged in Asia. India came in third. Italy was considered to be the number one country in the world where tourists were most likely to be cheated.”

               Obviously from the example case, the most influential source of information for tourists’ decision-making about their vacation is the information that obtain from their friend and tour operators. The information could be the most impact for the tourist who are making their plans for the destinations, if they absorb a good detail of the information then those information could be a earned the money to the country, but if they absorb a bad detail information then those information will be also much effect to the country because the tourism business is one main economy of each country even in Thailand. How much tourist and how worth each country is, it’s depending on how good spreading out on that country do. So the tourism organization should promote all good things the country have and also do service and whatever as good as the advertising.  

               As the example case above, From the survey in 1990 – 1991 by the INTRAMA  world destination Monitor put Thailand second as a place where the tourist were likely to be cheated or overcharged , it is the effect to the tourism in Thailand  be course when the  tourist obtain this information they will have a hard time to make decision to come to and visited Thailand

               To solving the problem of the information spreading in bad way should start from the country’s action in term of human behaviors and ethic in each to do what is right to do for the foreigner tourist, the information get from the fact, if people who get involve in the tourism industry or business realize of this, a good way in formation will be obtained and we will become the one interested destination for the foreigner tourist to making decision to come so far.

#Blog4 Specialized tourism : Festival& events

12 World Festivals You Won't Want To Miss !

1. Snow & Ice Festival — Harbin, China

When: Jan. 5–Feb. 5
Where: Harbin, China 
Why you should go: The Harbin festival is the largest snow and ice festival in the world, and it features carvings towering over 20 feet in height and full-size buildings made from gigantic blocks of ice.

2. Holi — Celebrated by Hindus Around the World

 When: March 27 (for 2014) 

Where: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other Hindu regions
Why you should go: Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It’s fun, safe, and free. Just remember to BYOD (bring your own dye).

3. Cascamorras — Baza, Spain

When: Sept. 6
Where: Baza, Spain, in the province of Granada
Why you should go: Every year hundreds of Spaniards cover themselves in grease to reenact the stealing of a famous statue of the “Virgen de la Piedad,” which took place over 500 years ago. Best of all, after the greasing, a great big party ensues.

4. Carnevale — Venice, Italy

When: Feb. 14–March 4 (for 2014)
Where: Venice, Italy
Why you should go: Carnevale, or “Carnival,” has been a Venice tradition since the 13th century. People flock from all over the world to participate in the masked celebrations, arguably making it one of the best parties on Earth.

5. Up Helly Aa Fire Festival — Lerwick, Scotland

When: Last Tuesday in January 
Where: Lerwick, Scotland 
Why you should go: This is Europe’s largest fire festival, complete with the burning of a full-scale Viking ship. Need we say more?

6. Tomorrowland — Boom, Belgium

When: June 27–29 (for 2014)
Where: Boom, Belgium 
Why you should go: Tomorrowland has quickly grown to become one of the world’s largest electronic dance music (EDM) festivals. Each year over 100,000 visitors flock to Belgium to dance the day and night away.

7. Mardi Gras — New Orleans

When: Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, March 4 (for 2014)
Where: New Orleans
Why you should go: In many ways Mardis Gras’ reputation precedes itself — if you want to party like there’s no tomorrow, New Orleans is where you belong.

8. Oktoberfest — Munich, Germany

When: Last weeks of September to the first weekend in October
Where: Munich, Germany 
Why you should go: Though there are many smaller offshoots of Oktoberfest around the world, Munich’s original fair is the biggest beer festival in the world. In 2013, more than $96,178,668 worth of beer was served every day during the festival.

9. La Tomatina — Buñol, Spain

When: The last Wednesday in August
Where: Buñol, Spain
Why you should go: As crazy as it may seem, this festival is held every year purely for fun, meaning it isn’t tied to any ancient traditions. In 1945 a few locals began throwing fruits and vegetables during a parade — and ever since then the tomato-throwing festival has continued on.

10. Albuquerque International Balloon Festival — Albuquerque, N.M.

When: Oct. 5–13 (for 2014) 
Where: Albuquerque, N.M. 
Why you should go: The Albuquerque International Balloon Festival is the largest gathering of hot air balloons in the world. Essentially it’s like Up — but better.

11. Carnaval — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

When: Feb. 28–March 4 (for 2014)
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 
Why you should go: Much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnevale in Venice, Canaval is a nonstop party, just with special addition of Brazilian flair. It’s filled with samba music, colorful costumes, and giant parades.

12. Cooper Hill’s Cheese Rolling Festival — Gloucester, England

When: May 26 (tentative for 2014) 
Where: Gloucester, England 
Why you should go: If you’ve ever wanted to watch hundreds of men run down a hill while chasing a wheel of cheese, then you’re in luck — because the Cooper Hill Cheese Roll not only exists, it’s quite the romp.