1.1.2. Guidelines for Tour Operators Intending to Provide Visits to Archeological
Sites
- The goal for tour operators is to present a site in an interesting and accessible
manner while maintaining its historic, cultural, and social value and significance.
All tours should naturally adhere to the guidelines created by site managers and
local governments;
- Tour leaders should pick sites appropriate for their clients and the nature of their
tour and make sure that the desire to give clients a unique or special experience
does not harm a site. It is important to identify and only visit sites that can
accommodate the tour groups;
- Tour leaders should keep tours and group size that the site can comfortably support;
- Tour leaders should be aware of potential dangers to the site and to the visitors.
This information should be available to visitors along with advice on how to avoid
the dangers;
- Tour operators should be aware of the physical demands that the site will make on
their clients. Is the site appropriate for disabled people, children, elderly, etc.?
- Tour operators should be aware of facilities available at site and provide this
information to the clients;
- If facilities or infrastructure at a site are below normal standards, operators
should consult site mangers to improve these facilities before making the site a
regular part of a tour package. This will both give a better experience for your
clients and help to preserve the site;
- Tour leaders should be aware of their vehicle’s impact on the environment
and the site.Make sure there are adequate and appropriate facilities to accommodate
your vehicles and appropriate infrastructure to support the traffic. If the facilities
are inappropriate, consult or cooperate with local authorities to build or upgrade
them or choose a different site;
- Make the “good practice” guide available to all concerned, before or
at the start of the tour;
- Tour operators should have a good understanding of the sites — cultural, historical,and
social significances — that are presented in an interest-generating manner
to their clients;
- Provide clients with pre-tour materials about the area and the sites that they will
be seeing;
- Clients should be educated on the cultural and historic significance of the site
and should be encouraged to follow all visiting guidelines prescribed by the authorities/site
managers;
- Tour operators should provide visitors with supplementary educational materials
and opportunities so that they understand that the site they are seeing is a part
of a larger context and that preserving the site is a step in preserving a larger
cultural heritage;
- Tour operators should impress upon clients that archaeological sites are often considered
to be sacred places by the local community and as such should be treated with respect;
- Tour operators should be aware of local attitudes, customs, traditions, and beliefs
regarding ancient sites and historic remains;
- Operators should work with local communities and try to create holistic experiences
for their clients. Community involvement will create a better experience for your
clients and will help fostering good inter-cultural relations. This could also help
with the local economic development;
- Tour operators should preferably use local tour guides;
- Tour operators should foster good relations with the local community and make sure
that clients are aware of local DO’s and DON’Ts (language, physical
contact, photography, etc.).
(Extracts from the recommendations listed in the AIA/ATTA guide, available in full
at
http://www.archaeological.org/pdfs/AIATourismGuidelines.pdf)
