Postcard from Bishkek

Now, lots of travelers decide that they want to travel independently – some know the local languages and, in any case, it is often possible to find people with a basic understanding of English who are only too willing to get some practice.

For those who chose to take a guided tour, however, the guide plays a vital role in ensuring the success, (or otherwise), of their visit.

There are different types of guide … for example special skills and experience are required for mountaineering guides.

Some guides are employees of, for example, a Museum or other institution and conduct tours around that particular institution, and “city guides” may be individuals, either freelance or employees of the local authority, or a tour company, who specialize in giving short excursions around their city and neighbouring environs,  passing on their detailed knowledge and answering questions.

Many of the CBT (Community Based Tourism) groups throughout the country can also provide local guides who have special detailed knowledge about  their own regions.

Some specialist tours call for experts, who may not have the same language skills … for example historians that specialize in a particular period or ornithologists who conduct special interest tours …

An excusovod, (escort), on the other hand is a specialist for conducting tours – and are more than just a museum or city guide, accompanying a group on their travels.  They also have to have a detailed knowledge of the geography, history and culture of the locality and the communication skills to pass that knowledge on to those in the group, but also they can play many roles during the course of a tour:

• a source of information
• an interpreter – assisting in communication between the visitors and local population;
• an administrator and problem solver – responsible for the management of the itinerary and needing to deal with any problems that may arise;
• a representative of the travel industry, the company, and the site, city or country being visited

Guides and escorts are usually experienced people – with the knowledge skills and experience to help show the country and it features to a visitor who has limited time and opportunity to explore independently – passing on information and answering questions; enhancing the visitor’s experience by being able to go beyond the information that can be found in guidebooks or TV documentaries, (perhaps taking them “off the beaten track”), and adapting a standard presentation to meet specific individual interests.

In short: Helping the visitor to get the most out of their trip.

 

Sometimes we are asked to provide an English speaking driver as opposed to a guide.  Most drivers know a little English and there are a number who are quite proficient – but it should be remembered that their main job is driving the vehicle – they need to concentrate on this – and they should not be thought of as a “cheap” alternative to a guide.