Dramatisation As A Teaching Method In University Programs For Tour Guides And Interpreters

Abstract

Tour guides and heritage interpreters are central to the development of experiential tourism. This form of tourism aims at delivering memorable and personalised visitor experiences by developing activities that induce physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual connections with a specific destination, its resources and its population. In this sense, thematic approaches to heritage interpretation allow heritage resource managers to clearly convey messages by promoting awareness and respect for heritage resources. Dimensions of competency related to heritage interpretation are explored in both formal and informal Spanish education systems. Significant learning methods are designed to achieve these dimensions of competency by allowing the student tour guide to serve the subject of an activity by dramatising interpretive content. This paper describes the experience of the degree programme in Tourism Management at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Universitat Politnica de Valencia), which applies curricula that involve designing, producing and implementing dramatised tours. A critical assessment of this program is carried out to evaluate the experiences and academic progress of students and other individuals involved in the programs development.