Jakarta (ANTARA) - Tourism expert from Andalas University, Sari\nLenggogeni, believes that competency enhancement for tour guides,\nparticularly those operating on volcanoes, needs to be specific and\nsupported by government assistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI strongly support the Ministry of Tourism\u2019s programme to include\nguide training within travel safety. However, for volcanoes, the\ncompetencies need to be more specific,\u201d Sari said when contacted by\nANTARA in Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
Sari stated that the government needs to view volcanic guides not\nmerely as tour guides, but as risk communicators and first aid\nproviders.<\/p>\n
Therefore, she believes training should encompass an understanding of\nvolcanic activity status, danger zones, and various volcanic threats;\nthe ability to translate technical information into simple language for\ntourists; the ability to make rapid decisions when situations change;\nand methods for managing tourists in states of panic.<\/p>\n
Other necessary training, according to Sari, includes providing basic\nfirst aid and emergency response, weather and terrain assessment, and\nemergency digital communication, including the use of GPS, emergency\ncommunication, and tourist tracking systems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWeather and terrain assessment is crucial because climbing safety is\nnot only influenced by volcanic activity,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cEqually important is the psychological aspect of the tourists. In\ncrisis situations, guides must be able to foster protective behaviour\nrather than panic,\u201d Sari added.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Sari assessed the need for specific certification for\nvolcanic safety guiding, accompanied by refresher training and periodic\nsimulations alongside the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster\nMitigation (PVMBG), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) or\nBASARNAS, and destination managers.<\/p>\n
Another point raised by Sari was that Indonesia has the opportunity\nto become a global model regarding volcanic tourism.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my opinion, Indonesia actually has the opportunity to become a\nworld model for safe and resilient volcanic tourism. This is due to\nIndonesia\u2019s position as one of the countries located within the Ring of\nFire.\u201d<\/p>\n
While risks cannot be eliminated, she stated that Indonesia can\nbecome the best nation in understanding, communicating, and managing\nthose risks.<\/p>\n
Regarding global tourism trends, travellers are currently seeking\nnature-based tourism, adventure, authentic experiences, geotourism, and\nactivities that provide strong emotional experiences.<\/p>\n
In this context, volcanoes possess very strong attractions, ranging\nfrom landscapes, sunrises, trekking, and craters to the culture of local\ncommunities, photography, and geological and disaster education\nexperiences.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, there is an interesting paradox. The more unique a volcano\nis as a tourist attraction, the greater the need for risk management.\nTherefore, I believe Indonesia\u2019s volcanic tourism paradigm needs to\nshift from merely volcanic tourism to safe and resilient volcanic\ntourism,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She also emphasised that tourist destinations must have tourism risk\nmitigation. Management must begin during the pre-event and prodromal\nstages, which involves reading risk signs, performing mitigation, and\npreparing responses before a disaster occurs.<\/p>\n
There is also a need to strengthen crisis management strategies,\nwhere preparedness, strategy implementation, evaluation, and learning\nmust become a continuous, integrated system.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/expert-competency-enhancement-for-volcanic-tour-guides-must-be-specific-1790337676", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }