The influence of second foreign languages in the cultural tourist guiding

Abstract

Tourism is constantly evolving, and so are the typologies and different motivations of tourists to travel. The cultural tourist is increasingly demanding. He wants more information and expects to acquire knowledge when visiting a cultural ressource. One way to do this is hiring a guided tourist route, but... in which language? In this sense, if the possibility to choose is available, the mother tongue is certainly the preferred option, even though English is the international language par excellence. In an increasingly competitive sector it is essential to fit the needs of the customer and one of these is communication in his own mother tongue, hence the reason for this study.

Due to the importance of the French and German market in Spain, we will observe the use of these L₂ in the cultural tourist routes of two iconic cities, Barcelona and Seville, by means of the different platforms offering guided tours in the aforesaid cities and languages. Likewise, we will present a state-of-the-art in the tourist guiding field with special attention to the importance of L₂ knowledge, not only in the current legislations of the two autonomous communities regarding the legal authorisation to work as a tour guide, but also in the Tourism degree programs.

Through these different aspects we will be able to analyse the cultural tourist guiding and, in particular, to what extent guides are prepared to show the cultural ressources of Barcelona and Seville to French and German tourists in their mother tongue.