Animator in Tourism
Animation is an integral part of the modern tourist service industry and
represents a high quality service, that is, mediation between the tourist product
(service) and the tourist. The venues themselves are the resources that constitute
the foundation for the customizing of contents shaped by the animator since he
/she caters to the tourist during his/her stay at a particular tourist destination.
By way of tailoring the service to the specific needs, desires, and capabilities of
the tourist, the animator in tourism renders a high quality service. This, in
particular, is true because the contemporary tourist craves new experiences and
a personal engagement in various activities, such as cultural, sporting, and
entertaining ones; in brief, he/she wants the time spent in tourism to be useful
both for his/her physical and mental health. In addition, the tourist wants his/her
needs to be met within a brief time span. These needs, in particular, refer to the
activities he/she is deprived of in everyday life, such as the following: contact
with nature, socializing, relaxation, and other. This entails that within a tourist
center, the role of the animator is crucial for the targeted audience. The
demanding and challenging aspect of the animation job can be evinced in the
numerous and versatile needs of the tourists, which, on the other hand, are
affected by the living conditions in their domiciled country, as well as their
habits, level of education, ethnic background, culture, tradition, social and
economic status, and many other. The ultimate goal of the animator is to fully
meet the needs of the tourist so that he/she would want to revisit the same
destination again (and again).
In this monograph, the authors poignantly depict the complex nature of the
animators’ job since in addition to possessing numerous talents and skills, they
have to permanently professionally develop by way of following up the
dynamics of the intensive changes present at the tourist market. In the time of
the contemporary cutting edge technological advancement and a fast living
tempo featured by stress and tension, the time spent in tourism is a precious
time that the tourist sets aside for his/her personal needs in order to regenerate,
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recover, and ultimately freshened up resume his/her usual routine. The
substantial changes that have taken place in tourism lately mean a shorter stay at
one given time but several times throughout the year, which presupposes
mobility on the part of the animators in order to meet the needs of guests.
Therefore, the role of the animator is getting more and more demanding and
responsibility-laden if he is to proffer the requested services and thus ensure that
the guests have an activity-versatile and high quality stay.
Aware of the manifold and complex role of the animators and their teams, the
authors of this book have precisely and comprehensively included a whole
series of activities and games the animators’ teams ought to cover. This book is
important for all those educated to work in tourism whether it is in animation or
other tourism-related jobs. The authors emphasize the idea that the level of
quality is not rendered in the number of the stars a given hotel is awarded, but
rather in the expertise of a professional, a man. By virtue of this, the authors
have contributed to the recognition of the importance of these professionals and
their training - animators in the field of the contents offered by tourist centers
and hotels. The value of a highly trained, motivated, and capable professional
cannot be measured via instruments; however, subjective evaluation on the part
of the tourists is essential for the future operation of the hotel.
Through the monograph, the authors share their affluent experience and
expertise pointing to the valuable knowledge, skills, and aptitude related to the
organization and specific facets of the (tourist) animation program. This worthy
book will undoubtedly be basic and supplemental literature for professionals
trained for the needs of tourism and leisure time in general. It is my pleasure to
recommend the monograph drafted by these two authors as a text-book intended
for the needs of animation in tourism. I congratulate the authors and wish them
more co-authoring enterprises that will yield books of this high value.
Zagreb, December 10, 2012.
prof. Mirna Andrijašević, PhD.
Faculty of Kinesiology
University of Zagreb, Croatia
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