Dear Fellow Local Guides,
Local Guides are often mistaken for tourist guides. I mentioned this in one of my previous posts: Growing the Community: Awareness Matters. Today, I would like to share my opinion that, although there is a clear difference between the Local Guide Program and tourist guides, Local Guides significantly support the tourism industry. They do so through their quality contributions on Maps, as well as by highlighting places of interest on social media and Connect. Here are a few of my contributions on Connect that showcase tourist places.
- Meditation Park @ Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar, India
- Kite Festival, Jaipur, India
- Butterfly Rearing Centre, Bodhgaya, India
- हजारीबाग झील, झारखंड, इंडिया
- कचहरी कब्रिस्तान, कानपुर, भारत
The Role of Local Guides in Promoting Tourism
Local Guides play a crucial role in promoting tourism by offering historical, cultural, and social insights that visitors may not easily find in guidebooks or online sources. Their firsthand knowledge of the region, traditions, and hidden gems enables tourists to explore destinations in a more meaningful and enriching way. For instance, many visitors to Bodhgaya in Bihar tend to overlook the nearby Butterfly Garden due to a lack of information, even though it is located close to the temple.
With this post, I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic. I kindly invite you to participate in the poll and share any comments you may have.
Do you agree that, as local guides, we play a significant role in promoting tourism?
- Yes
- No
Have you highlighted or showcased your city on Connect?
- Yes
- No
If you haven’t showcased your city on Connect, what was the reason for not doing so?
- I hadn’t thought about it earlier
- I haven’t had the time to do so yet
- I recently joined Connect and plan to showcase it soon
- there’s nothing noteworthy to showcase in my city
Participate in the challenge Calling All Local Guides: Show Off Your City for #GoogleMapsTurns20! 🎉