Publications - Visitor Experiences

The following publications provide further information on how you can improve the quality of your visitor experience.

Tasmanian Experience Strategy [PDF 604KB]

The Tasmanian Experience Strategy emphasises the need to integrate Tasmania's three core visitor appeals to create extraordinary and unforgettable holiday experiences. It focuses on presentation, interpretation and customer engagement.

The manual includes:

  • An overview of its purpose and the strategies in detail
  • What is an unforgettable experience
  • Building experiences from Tasmania’s core appeals
  • Adding value to every layer of the experience
  • Economic, social & environmental benefits.

Thematic Interpretation Planning Manual [PDF 604KB]

The manual is aimed at assisting the Tasmanian tourism industry to better plan the way visitor experiences are developed. It is a tool for tourism and related businesses to enhance the way they deliver Tasmanian experiences in order to make meaningful connections with visitors.

Key points covered in the manual include:

  • Why Thematic Interpretation makes good business sense
  • An overview of Thematic Interpretation Planning
  • The steps involved in the planning process including examples and exercises.

Australian Experiences Industry Toolkit

The Australian Experiences Industry Toolkit aims to add value to your business by incorporating one or more 'Australian experiences' into your product. Tourism Australia developed the toolkit as a practical resource for all Australian tourism businesses.

Australian Experiences Framework

The Australian Experiences Framework, developed by Tourism Australia, focuses on seven 'Key Australian Experiences' which are based on Australia’s core strengths and our points of difference from the rest of the world. Communication around these key experiences will increase the level of knowledge of Australia as a destination and motivate Experience Seekers to move from preference to intention to travel to Australia.

Experiences - A Tookit for Partners of the Canadian Tourism Commission [PDF 11.6MB]

Published by the Candian Tourism Commission, the publication provides  information on how you can differentiate your tourism product in a competitive market; quick diagnostic tools to ensure that your product is aligned with the expectations of today's experiential traveller and information on how you can deliver the most memorable experiences.

Text Books

Enriching the Experience: An Interpretive approach to Tour Guiding

John Pastorelli;Hospitality Press Australia (2003)

Remember that fantastic tour you went on? What made it so memorable? In most cases it would have come down to the skills, knowledge and qualities of the guides. This book aims to provide guides with the skills and resources to create experiences like this each time they lead a tour. In creating these positive experiences, guides need to manage a vast array of intrinsic elements and relationships that occur within every tour. The interpretive approach to tour guiding is an effective way to focus on these efforts. It is an approach that is gaining increased recognition as an integral component of the way forward for learning and development programs for guides. This book provides accessible content and uses a variety of concepts, techniques, activities and case studies. Learning tools found in each chapter include: activities to help you develop and extend your understanding of the content and material covered; special focus studies that provide real information on guiding for a range of situations; and a wide range of references, sources of further information and websites for further study.

Designing Interpretive Signs: Principles in Practice

G. Moscardo, R. Ballantyne, K. Huges & S. H. Ham; Fulcrum Publishing (2007)

This comprehensive guide provides a series of principles and guidelines for effective sign design, with instruction based on research, the latest in educational and psychological theory, real world examples, and practical guidelines. A must-read for interpreters, Designing Interpretative Signs includes valuable information about choosing sign locations, attracting and keeping visitors' attention, organising information so that visitors can easily follow it, and evaluating and improving signs for a wide range of sites.

A Practical Guide for People with Big Ideas and Small Budgets

Sam H. Ham (1992); Fulcrum/North American Press

In this comprehensive guide drawing on 20 years of experience and the successes of his colleagues worldwide, Sam Ham presents a diverse collection of low-cost communication techniques that really work. The step-by-step, "how-to" approach outlined, based upon solid theoretical foundation enables readers learn not only how to communicate their ideas more forcefully but why the methods work. The guide includes more than 200 illustrations, photographs, and technical insets, plus 20 case studies carefully selected from throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Journals

Journal of Interpretation Research

The Journal of Interpretation Research communicates original empirical research dealing with interpretation and provides a forum for academic discussion about issues facing the profession of interpretation. The Journal includes lengthy research articles as well as research briefs, book reviews, and other short articles. The Journal takes a broad view of the field of interpretation and publishes manuscripts from a wide range of academic disciplines. More information on the Journal of Interpretation Research is available online.

Legacy Magazine

Legacy offers articles and columns related to current topics in interpretation. Published six times per year, each issue is packed with features, profiles of members, commentaries, and other items related to the role of interpretation in contemporary society. More information on the Legacy Magazine is available online.
Note: If you have difficulties downloading these documents and would like a printed copy please contact us on Telephone 03 6230 8235 or email reception@tourismtasmania.com.au

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