Introduction
The key aspects provided in the interviews by Gmelch are closely associated with the matters of tourism and tourism management. Thus, as it is stated in some of the interview, tourists generally expect the attitude of obeisance towards them, and the workers of the tourism sphere feel themselves as the obedient servants. The aim of the paper is to analyze the interviews, arranged with various workers of the tourism industry, and either confirm or dispose this statement.
Analysis
The tourist workers, independently on the actual sphere and origin of the services should be polite with the tourists, and provide all the necessary conditions and services, required for the full fledged rest. People are expecting to relax and liberate themselves from the unnecessary troubles and cares, and going to trip, they would like to forget and not to hear of the possible formalities. Thus, as it is emphasized in Lassiter (2006, p. 51):
The workers at the airport are the ones who get to see the incoming tourists at their worst because apart from being frazzled with jetlag, the heat that they may be unaccustomed to being subjected to long cues, most still hold on to the misconceptions they have formed or heard about the country they are about to visit. As explained by one interviewee who works at the currency exchange counter, some visitors expect an attitude of obeisance and servitude from the locals.
Considering this statement, it should be emphasized that coding of this theme in various interviews is closely associated with the fact, that workers of the hotels, airports and other tourist and road objects are of either different racial background or lower social class. Especially such an attitude is observed in the destination country, where some people feel themselves as guests, but behave like ungrateful visitors. Consequently, tourists, who are generally people with sufficient financial reserves, feel themselves higher, in comparison with the service personnel. Nevertheless, the main reason of such attitude is not in the factors of race or social class. People, who pay for the expected services, expect that the performance of these services will be the highest. Moreover, they feel themselves superior. Paying money, they become clients. Clients are always right. Thus, as it is stated in Lassiter (2006, p. 56)
For the hotelier, the major concern is having repeat clientele other than middle class families who are having a once in a lifetime holiday. This means that service has to be tip top all the way if guests are to be sufficiently impressed. Thus the amicability and superior service of the hotel staff is a key point. It means that management has a greater say in how their employees act, dress and talk.
Originally, the entire attitude of tourists towards the personnel of the hotels varies essentially. It is difficult to estimate the behavior of the tourists only in accordance with these criteria, as people are different, and while some treat personnel as servants, while the others are polite and tolerant.
Conclusion
The attitude of tourists towards the personnel is defined not only by social position or racial origin. The key defining factor is the upbringing and education, as while some people are polite and tolerant, the others are rude and sometimes even violent. Consequently, the themes, coded in the interviews require additional analysis.
Bibliography
Lassiter, Luke. Invitation to Anthropology. Altamira Press, 2006
Lassiter, Luke. Invitation to Anthropology. Altamira Press, 2006