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suddenly, but that I was welcome all the same to come. I set out to go when something happened with my Ryanair flight and I never got there. But that is another story.’
Changing times
By Kenneth Hanley
‘I have been a guide for 35 years having qualified in 1986 and over the years guiding has changed in many ways. Of course, technology has advanced. When I started guiding there were no emails, mobile phones or the internet which meant chatting on the phone to get to know customers and what their interests were and what they would like to see when visiting Scotland. In the 80s visitors would be led by my expertise and open to suggestions of what would suit them. They now have a much clearer idea of what they want to experience when visiting. Nowadays many emails can be exchanged and many visitors prefer email communication before they visit and they often have a clear idea of what they would like to see based on what they have researched on the internet, or seen in the cinema. Sometimes I need to clarify what is realistically achievable and deliver the news gently that the whole of Scotland can’t be visited in a day! Now there is also the added enjoyment of being challenged with facts from the internet - no match for 35 years experience !
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