Greeters are volunteers who welcome tourists in their city or region, and show them around for free. It is a form of social tourism; the residents participate in the activities of the tourists, and tourists get to see the local life of the place visited. During a visit to the city, Greetings will not only be interesting, but also talk about their daily life in the hometown.
History
The first Greeter initiative Was New York ‘s Big Apple Greeters, founded by Lynn Brooks in 1992. [1] [2] It was Hoped que le program, sponsored by Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger , Would Improve New York’s reputation as a “dangerous , expensive and overwhelming “place by letting tourists see it through the eyes of its residents. [1] [3] This idea is spreading to a variety of tourist destinations across the world.
Participating cities and regions
The Global Greeter Network Assists Greeter destination by helping them to establish. The Global Greeter Network is growing rapidly. Currently, more than 150 cities are offering Greeter services.
- Haarlem , The Netherlands
- Aisne , France
- Adelaide , Australia
- Alencon , France
- Albi , France
- Angers , France
- Barcelona , Spain
- Belgrade , Serbia
- Berlin , Germany
- Bilbao , Spain
- Biscarrosse , France
- Bordeaux , France
- Burgundy , France
- Brest, France
- Brighton , England
- Brisbane , Australia
- Brussels , Belgium
- Buenos Aires , Argentina
- Burgundy , France
- Cairo , Egypt
- Champagne (wine region) , France
- Chicago , USA
- Ivory Coast
- Florence , Italy
- Geneva , Switzerland
- Gothenburg , Sweden
- The Hague , Netherlands
- Hamburg , Germany
- Hauts-de-Seine , France
- Helsingborg , Sweden
- Houston , USA
- Kent , England
- Kragujevac , Serbia
- Lézardrieux , France
- Lille , France
- Loix , France
- London , England
- Lyon , France
- Lys Valley, Belgium
- Mannheim , Germany
- Marseille , France
- Melbourne , Australia
- Moscow , Russia
- Mulhouse , France
- Munich , Germany
- Munster, Haut-Rhin , France
- Nantes , France
- Nancy, France
- Naples , Italy
- New Delhi , India
- Nice , France
- Niš , Serbia
- Novi Sad , Serbia
- New York City , USA
- Paris , France
- Pas-de-Calais , France
- Rennes , France
- Rhine and Ahr region and Bonn , Germany
- Selestat , France
- Saint-Germain-en-Laye , France
- Saint Petersburg , Russia
- Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Tel Aviv , Israel
- Toronto, Ontario , Canada
- Toulouse , France
- Tours , France
- Troyes , France
- Uzès , France
- Versailles , France
- Vienna , Austria
List is not complete.
The Global Greeter Network
The Global Greeter Network [ GGN ] is an informal association of Greeter destinations around the world.
Core values
The GNN has defined six core values that are shared across all participating Greeter organizations: <ref> [http://globalgreeternetwork.com
- Greeters are volunteers, a friendly face for those visiting a city / destination
- Greeters welcome and can serve small groups of up to six people
- Meeting a Greeter is free of charge
- Visitors are welcomed without any kind of discrimination.
- Greeter programs support sustainable tourism. Programs respect natural and man-made environments, it is both culturally and economically enriched to local communities. Programs for a lasting positive image of each destination.
- Greeter programs create a mutually enriching opportunity for cultural exchange, create links between ordinary people in a better world.
References
- ^ Jump up to:a b “About” . Big Apple Greeters. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013 . Retrieved September 27, 2013 .
- Jump up^ Allen, Anne Wallace (August 1, 2010). “Volunteers give free tours in cities around the world”. USA Today.
- Jump up^ Levy, Clifford J. (September 13, 1992). “Take My Hand, I’m a Stranger in Pandemonium”. New York Times.