The geopark guide system ensures the standard and quality of geopark guides and the service they provide to visitors, thus providing robust support for the conservation, education and sustainable development efforts of Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark.
What is a Recommended Geopark Guide?
- Understands the geology, ecology and culture of the geopark
- Popularises accurate earth science knowledge
- Introduces the geopark in an understandable way
- Promotes conservation and sustainable development
- Improves safety awareness of visiting geopark attractions
Aims of the Geopark Guide System
- To ensure the quality and continuous improvement of geopark guides
- To support the conservation of natural resources, geo-relics and cultural heritage
- To promote science popularisation and the appreciation of cultural heritage of the geopark communities
- To increase safety awareness among geopark visitors
- To support the initiatives and sustainable development of Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark
The Two Grades of the Geopark Guide System
1.) Recommended Geopark Guide (R2G)
This grade would encourage guides who have completed basic training to deepen their knowledge of geology, biology and cultural heritage; learn about the geopark's planning and management approach; and enhance their communications skills in order to present information in an expressive and interesting way. This would result in higher quality guide services, which is particularly important when serving overseas visitors. Candidates who pass the assessment would become provisional R2Gs. They would be granted an R2G qualification upon completion of a six-month probationary period. Subsequently, all R2Gs would have to pass a re-assessment every two years to renew their qualification.
2.) Accredited Geopark Guide (A2G)
To maintain the high standard of our guided geotours and geopark guides, and to uphold the geopark's international image, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong decided to enhance the quality of geopark guides by implementing a Geopark Guide Accreditation System. Only geotours led by accredited geopark guides will be recognised as quality geotours, and geopark guides accredited by the Council can use the title Accredited Geopark Guide (A2G). This qualification is subject to re-assessment for renewal every three years.
What are R2G tours?
- A Recommended Geopark Guide (R2G) as the lead tour guide;
- Low guide-to-participant ratio (maximum being 1:25);
- Guaranteed interpretation quality that is in line with the geopark communication concepts endorsed by the Global Geoparks Network.
To book a R2G tour, please visit the Recommended Geopark Guide website.
Dos & Don'ts in Geopark Communications
DOs
- Work towards developing the UNESCO Global Geopark brand as a high quality, global-geoheritage label working under sustainable tourism principles
- Work towards developing the UNESCO Global Geopark brand as a high quality, global-geoheritage label through effective communication
- Explore communicating the geoheritage message through unconventional yet holistic channels in addition to conventional methods
- Involve non-specialists and non-geologists, while taking care to convey accurate information
- Make it interesting and fun. In short, the message should be understandable by a 12-year-old
Don'ts
- Use complicated terms or means to convey geological knowledge, and give the impression that Earth Science is out of reach for the general public
- Do anything to alienate the public from geology and Geoparks
- Damage the Geopark’s brand and reputation gained through its affiliation with UNESCO
