Multicultural Strategics in Tourism

Abstract

Having catered to international tourists for years, hotel workers in many countries already recognize the need for multicultural awareness and skills. Many hotel employees in the United States, however, do not have a multicultural outlook. A study of 19 hotels that serve a large number of foreign guests found that communicating with those guests in their language is important. But speech alone is not enough, and guest-contact employees should learn about visitors' cultural expectations. U.S. hoteliers should supply their personnel with multicultural training either on their own, in conjunction with other operations, or in partnership with local college programs. Strategies for multicultural training include language training and familiarization with the body language, social systems, history, and etiquette of other cultures.