The roles of indigenous tour guides in providing authentic experience on guided tours in the Caribbean
Open Access
Author:
Haynes, Catherine
Graduate Program:
Workforce Education and Development
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
September 14, 2015
Committee Members:
William J Rothwell, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor William J Rothwell, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Wesley Edward Donahue, Committee Member Ladislaus M Semali, Committee Member John W. O'neill, Special Member
Keywords:
indigenous tour-guides Caribbean Grenada St. Lucia pathfinder entertainer authentic experience
Abstract:
This present study examined the current roles of indigenous tour-guides on the Caribbean islands of Grenada and St. Lucia. Based on a sample of 471 participants, a mixed methods approach was used to analyze responses from participants who responded to a 15 item Likert-type scale questionnaire administered face to face. The results of the questionnaire revealed that the majority of visitors indicated that the role of their tour-guide was mostly pathfinder followed by entertainer. Further analysis used in-depth interviews from tour-guides and their supervisors to gauge their perception of their roles in the visitors’ authentic experience. The interviews indicated that the majority of tour-guides and supervisors saw their roles as pathfinders. The dissertation appendices contain details of the quantitative and qualitative research instruments used in the study.
