|
  |
|
|
What makes a good mystery tour?
A good mystery tour is something which will surprise and entertain, without being over-long or tiring. My experience with the Paris Tour "In The Shadow Of The Guillotine" has taught me to focus on one specific place or event (in this case, the epicentre of Paris during the events of the French Revolution. A good mystery tour enables tourists to have their OWN adventure, far from the madding crowds. I lived for 20 years in Paris, and every time I passed by the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower and saw the long queues (the bored faces, the plastic souvenirs...) it made me feel sad. Paris, Venice, New York (etc...) are so much more than 3 or 4 major tourist sites - these whole towns are an adventure! Yet after spending all that time and money to get there, tourists get herded around like cattle. Embarking on your own, self-guided mystery tour is a great way to escape those crowds.
What are the main ingredients?
1 - A Mystery
No mystery tour is complete without its mysterious destination. It's a delicate balance to achieve - participants should not know where they are being taken, yet at the same time should not feel anxious or lost. I found a way around this problem by providing a "cheat-sheet", which maps out the whole route. This is only to be used in an emergency (i.e. the participant is totally lost), but it does provide a welcome safety net which can soothe the less adventurous participant. 2 - A Narrative
More than a simple walk, a good mystery tour will contain precise, factual information about the streets and buildings visited. In the case of the French Revolution tour, participants visit the Parisian landmarks of the French Revolution whilst learning about the unfolding events of the Revolution. If there is a chronological timeline, it is best to try and stick to it, even though this may make the physical distances difficlut to maintain. 3 - A sense of Fun
People who take a mystery tour are on holiday - they want to have fun. A tour should never be heavy or pedantic, even if it covers a serious subject such as the French Revolution. Participants should arrive at the end of the tour, look at each other and say "That was fun - let's do another one tomorrow!".
Who are the main markets for mystery tours :
Tourists
The largest and most obvious market. Families, couples, individuals, seniors, children - all of these groups are potential target markets, and each could have a mystery tour tailored for them. Business Travellers
Often finding themselves stuck in a strange town for a couple of days, business travellers are a natural market for a short, stimulating mystery tour. Students
Depending on the specific content, mystery tours could become a valid educational tool for students of all ages. For those unable to visit the actual site, the photographic interface of the Paris Tour "In The Shadow Of The Guillotine" coupled with it’s pedagogical content would provide an immersive experience. Hotel Chains
Quality hotel chains seeking to differentiate themselves in a crowded market could leave an EnigmaTour in every hotel room. Taking this idea a step further, the document could be completely customized to contain ONLY the content (sponsored or not) desired by the hotel. |
Paris Tour - A Magical Mystery Tour of Paris
The Mystery Tour through Revolutionary Paris
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
The copyright for this content entitled "What makes a good mystery tour?" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
|
 |
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
