There are lots of debates whether a planned tour by tour guides is the best way or not. Some people say places we visit with tour guides are the most famous places in their country. Even if, though some people argue that, I strongly believe that traveling without tour guides is a more effective way than traveling with guides because, if we go to travel with guides, we cannot meet people who live in that country freely and planned travel cannot fulfill all people’s everyone's desire. While most people think this way, I strongly believe that traveling without guides is a more effective way since, with them, we cannot freely meet people who live in that country and not everybody can be satisfied with one plan.(뒤에 가면 이유가 바뀌네요 ~ and it can make us fall into a bias.)
To begin with, it’s too difficult to meet native people when we choose planned tour. The purpose of travel is not to see just beautiful scenery but to accumulate understanding or knowledge about other culture that we are not living in. Moreover, without contact with native people and seeing how they live, we cannot get understand about other culture. When we take tours with tour guides, absolutely, we completely rely on tour guides, about plans, meals and even though when time to sleep. The chance of we can approaching with other people is very slim(기회가 거의 없다) exactly prevented. In my personal experience, I have been to China twice and I toured with a group of people with tour guide. Further, I didn’t have a opportunity to talk with Chinese at all, except the time for the entrance test. I think that’s why I don’t have any impressions about China.
Secondly, planned travel with guides makes people have same or similar image about the country. We should take a look at all every planned courses before the sun falls. Additionally, places decided by tour guide are almost the same and this fact can stimulate prejudice about some countries. In some study, it is proved that people tend to memorize the country or culture with special feature. For example, many people think United States is nation of freedom because they have the Statue of Freedom Liberty in New York and it is the most famous visit place attraction(관광지) chosen by guide for travelers in New York.
In conclusion, to travel with tour guide in group is not good idea when we want to visit other countries or cultures because there is little chance to meet people living in that culture and planned travel enforce prejudice on culture. For these reasons, travel should be led by oneself for real purpose of travel, to know and understand other culture. |