Qualifications for being a good guide-interpreter

　　Tourism is a comprehensive economic undertaking and it plays a very important role in a country's economic construction； and it is at the same time a part of foreign relations work， as it offers an effective means for people-to-people diplomacy. Failure or success of tourism industry， therefore， bears on a country's image abroad in terms of its political reputation and of the opportunity of earning foreign exchange for a country's economic construction. Tourism in China started from scratch， although China surpasses those countries where tourism is well-developed in terms of resources of tourism. China's huge amount of cultural relics， its scenery known far and wide for its quiet beauty， the splendor of its ancients art and culture， its traditional multi-national arts and crafts and food prepared on various local recipes-all these have attracted foreign visitors for a long time. However， as tourism is China has just developed， there aren't sufficent transportation and other facilities. In addition， we still have a lot of problems to be solved in the management of tourism， in the quality of service and in the quality and English level of Guide-interpreters. With all these problems gradually settled， China's tourism will surely advance to a high stage of development along the pattern uniquely Chinese.

　　In fact， Guide-interpreters are in direct service of foreign visitors and their quality and service play a decisive role in the development of tourism industry in China. Their speech and behaviour directly influence foreign visitor's mood in travelling. In a sense， the function of a four Guide is similar to that of a diplomat of the people. His or her duty is to try his or her utmost to make foreign visitors enjoy their trip in China and at the same time let them understand China's history， geography， people's customs and its cultural tradition better through their interpreting and efforts. Therefore， a tour Guide's service is the key link of tourism industry. The Guide should be the spirit of mountains and rivers， envoy of friendship，desseminator of culture and civilization of the motherland and publicity agent of the new idea and morale of socialism. If a tour Guide's service is satisfactory， foreign visitors would have a good impression of China and the Travel Agency， so that they would plan their second trip to China for other sights and furthermore， they would urge others to come along to see China with their own eyes. A travel Agency would， of course， employ ad many such competent and qualified interpreters as possible so ad to make their business thrive with each passing day.

　　A tour Guide should be able to act as an attendant， publicity agent， investigator and defender while accompanying foreign visitors. So， he or she has to have a perfect mastery of our Party's policies and political ideology，foreign language and knowledge. He or she must be honest and upright， free from corruption， prudent and careful in his or her work， diligent and assidious in his or her working style. To be more specific， a Guide must keep in mind the following fifteen Ps， three extras， four orientations， five diligences and six important characteristics before he or she can be really called a qualified Guide-interpreter.