Tourism English
Tourism English is nothing but English required for Tourism. English for Tourism is primarily taught as an ESP course and handled largely by commercial training institutes. This basic course teaches all the skills and The Basic English for Tourism book is a guided textbook intended to teach necessary skills in listening and speaking to the participants and it has served as a cornerstone of the training courses covering Tourism Sector and Hospitality industry.
There are various ways of teaching English in the tourism and its allied sectors. For example, one can try to learn the English in the context of services and communication required in the field of airport immigration desk, or negotiating hotel prices in booking hotels, or enquiring about transport facilities, otherwise English seems to be a burden for many. Tourism English or purpose driven English makes the learner eager and curious to learn English better. Generally speaking, if a person is good in English, Tourism English is just a cake walk for that person. The diversity of services offered in tourism sector, one need not be a specialist in all.
Since tourism is a highly complex and scattered area, internet has enabled organization of the services related to the area of tourism. The web has enabled clubbing travel destinations, transport, hotels and restaurant under one umbrella. Tourism English is slightly different from Travel English or Tourist English that is English required for short-term purpose.
Travel English or Tourist English as we understand by the term that it is likely to serve a temporary need so the English required for communication is only for short term need only. But Tourism English or English for tourism needs one to learn and use English for a specific purpose and long-term need. There are various kinds of services required in tourism and hospitality industry. In the tourism sector, one can work as a tourist guide, and he must know the words like sightseeing, monuments, galleries, bridges, towers, statues, parks, museums, entry fee to inform and guide the tourists. This is just a sample of Tourism English.
Similarly, conceirge services require one to know terms like check-in, check-out, kitchenette, twin bed, king size bed, queen size bed, jacuzzi, dryer, towels, toiletries and so on with regard to hotel rooms. Conceirge services does not end here, it incorporates information about restaurants and types of food available, booking a table for, number of people, customers and tour operators. Conceirge services often work in collaboration with travel agencies who book flights, trains, buses, cruises and cab services. So, they should be well versed with terms like flights, destinations, from, to, one way, return, round and so on.
Interestingly, there is a difference between the words tour operator and travel agency. However, the main difference lies in that the tour operator may accompany the tourists while the agency just works on behalf of the suppliers in providing with the services.