Knowledge of visitor interpretation/Activities/Visitor interpretation

Fox Glacier, New Zealand

Image courtesy of TimParkinson

Objective

Describe and compare personal and non personal interpretation

Describing and comparing personal and non personal interpretation
Looking at the strengths and weaknesses of using personal and non personal interpretaion in different tourism contexts

1. Briefly describe the following techniques of personal and non personal interpretation

personal - guided tour, point duty, roving interpretation, presentations, demonstration, living history, interactive interpretation, lecture or talk, drama

non personal - print media, self guided programmes, self guiding signs, exhibits, visitor centres, museums, paintings, sculptures, buildings

audio visual devices - information poles, portable media player, closed circuit television, computer, laser disc, video, slide show, powerpoint

2. Compare and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses these types of interpretation for the following tourism scenarios

Scenario 1:

A party of three on a tour of an art gallery have hired an audio transcript describing the exhibition

Scenario 2:

You are the guide leading a group of six through a nature walk with a spoken interpretation

Scenario 3:

You are visiting a glacier (self guided) and come across a sign explaining the geological and cultural history of the area

List three strengths and three weaknesses of this type of interpretation.