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| Practicing social distancing and the use of face masks |
On the subject matter of managing tour groups and making tourists or visitors safe at tourist destinations or safe when they consume tourist products, it is inevitable for the methods of tourism operation not to be the same again or at least not to be the same for a period of time untill general activities return to normal.
How do we make tourists safe? Tourists and visitors can only be safe when they are managed well. How can groups be managed well? The most simple method is to strictly adhere to social distancing aside other logistics of managing groups. I will share some methods on this page.
How do we make tourists safe? Tourists and visitors can only be safe when they are managed well. How can groups be managed well? The most simple method is to strictly adhere to social distancing aside other logistics of managing groups. I will share some methods on this page.
The dream and hope of every tourism worker is for travel and tours to fully reopen in earnest and the evil covid - 19 to be a fairy tale with a happy ending.
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| Anago James Akeem Osho curating international tourists in an open space before covid - 19 |
I thought it would take a long while for international tours to return again after interruption, but Moses Chuwa, a Tanzanian tour guide made it clear to me with excitement that "Tanzania is opened to international tourists now". This is good news, but I implore the Tanzanian government to continue without interruption the safe guarantee of both the guides and the tourists. The safety of the hotel staffs, souvenir shops attendants, restaurant workers, museum staffs, etc. should be taken into account.
It is my opinion that it may take a while for international tours to fully resume, considering the grave effect of Covid - 19 on the aviation industry and tourism in general. The fear on the mind of international tourists of contracting the deadly virus in another country is scary and the government policies and discouragement of international travel through different methods should also be considered.
At the moment, no one want to be quarantined because of the stigma. A daring tourist who returned from a tour either healthy or not will still be quarantined and no one want to go through the experience if they have a choice. The temporary option for the international tourist is to stay at home and healthy. The tourist will also consider the cost of traveling as the prices of products has hiked up.
Most countries especially European countries are using covid - 19 experience and locked down to promote their local tourism and improve the sector. My opinion is that international tours will fully resume between September 2020 to April 2021.
Outi Raatikainen, a tour manager and tour guide from Jyvaskyla in Finland told me that she is concerned about how Covid - 19 epidemic has affected her tour business as all her booked tours had been cancelled. Tour companies in West Africa had similar experience, especially Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana and Senegal. The covid - 19 experience is heart wrenching for African tourism entrepreneurs as it had become difficult to be self sustainable economically without support.
Lagos state government ministry of tourism, culture and art (Nigeria), took a bold step by forming a Covid - 19 committee, tasked with the duty of assessing the impact of covid - 19 on the tourism industry in the state. The intention is to see how the government can support the tourism practitioners. If the project is judiciously executed, it will be a huge saving grace to many tourism businesses that is about to totally crumble.
As the battle against covid - 19 is gradually improved upon, it is encouraging as countries like Tanzania, Austria, Ukraine, Borneo, and others are opening up their local tourism, but the safety measures at these tourist destinations should be strictly implemented.
On how to make tourists and everyone safe at this period of covid - 19, the numbers of participants in a tour group is of special importance. A very large group should not be more than twenty, including the tour guide. For any country to open up it's local or international tourism activities, the practitioners, public, and government must adhere to terms and conditions to prevent and minimize the spread of the virus.
The tourism enterpreneurs needs government's support, both materially and financially to return to active service now and post covid - 19.
Austria opened up it's domestic tourism on the first of May, 2020, with the condition that the maximum participant in a group would be ten (10), and it includes the tour guide. About ten days later, on the 11th of May 2020, Ukraine also opened up it's tour activities with the maximum participants of eight (8) in a tour group, including the tour guide.
On the 18th of May, 2020 Slovenia opened it's recreational centers. Small tour groups are encouraged in Slovenia and safety measures like social distancing and masks are still enforced.
How can tour groups be managed well and safe during Covid - 19? I found some of the answers in how i conducted large groups during ebola pandemic in 2014, although the situation was not as terrible as covid - 19 with many deaths and the locked down character.
Before the advent of covid - 19, when ever I am touring large groups with participants as many as fifty (50) or more, i usually start the tour in an open space. I usually ask the participants to spread out.
During covid - 19, to ensure the safety of the tourists, groups should be conducted in an open space and organized in large circles and a minimum of one (1) or (2) meters to each participant.
During the Ebola saga, i avoided the congestion of the museum and other tourist products, especially any interior. So therefore, during Covid - 19, museums and other sites should be weary of congestion. Spaces should be booked ahead and government should organize a tourism task force from tourism practitioners to implement this practice in the state or country.
After spacing, i usually address the group with a microphone and amplifier. After I finish curating in the open space, the tourists, depending on their numbers will enter the interior in batches. Questions or inquiries won't be attended to in the interior. This should be responded to in the open space.
In the time and space of covid - 19, here are suggestions to keep the tourists safe:
- The regular use of face masks should be enforced.
- The numbers of participants in a group is very important and should be checked.
- Groups should be organized in large circles.
- A minimum of one (1) or two (2) meters from one participant to the other.
- Congestions of tourist sites should be avoided.
- For audible purpose, the use of the microphone and amplifier should be encouraged.
- After curating or discussion in the open space, the tourists or visitors should be allowed into the museum or attraction sites in batches. The numbers will depend on the size of the facility.
-Questions and queries are to be attended to in an open space and not in an enclosure.
Anago James Akeem Osho
Anago.tourism@gmail.com
He is a multiple award winning tour guide, tourism, historic, culture promoter, nature and heritage conservationist. He founded Benin Republic English Tour and Badagry Historical Tours. He is a seasoned Tour operator and Tour Guide Trainer. He is an executive member of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria - Lagos State Chapter. He is the president of National Guild of Nigerian Tour Guides. He is the cordinator of African Slave Ports Project. He is an Ambassador for the DNA Tested Yoruba people of Nigeria on behalf of Imperial African History and Genetic Genealogical Society, U.S.A. He has assisted thousands of Africa Diaspora in their reconnection to Africa.