Tour Guides

Career summary

Tour guides may also be called docents or travel guides.

Tour guides talk to people and try to convince them to take the tour. They hand out brochures about their tour service and about the sites they will visit. They sell tickets and collect payments from those who want to take the tour.

Some tour guides plan and oversee an entire vacation for a large group. They schedule activities for the group, such as sightseeing, outdoor sports and recreation, and dining out. They also make time in the schedule for tourists to explore places on their own.

Some tour guides are in charge of tours at a single site, such as a museum or around a city. They guide several different groups each day rather than traveling with one particular group.

Tour guides are responsible for the groups of people they escort. They make sure no one gets lost or separated from the group. They also watch clients to make sure they follow tour rules. In museums guides make sure visitors do not touch the paintings. They tell visitors about the sites they are seeing on the tour. They answer visitors' questions and recommend additional sites for them to see. They may drive buses to transport clients around town or to new sites depending on the tour.

Tour guides have a few tasks specific to their employer. Those who travel with clients may carry clients' luggage to and from the bus. They may also collect and deliver mail and messages. Tour guides who work at sites such as museums may answer phones, type, and file. They also monitor sites to make sure they are safe for visitors.

Tour guides often guide visitors from other countries. Speaking a foreign language can be an advantage.

Related careers

This career is part of the Hospitality and Tourism cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Announcers
• Bus Drivers
• Concierges
• Interpreters and Translators
• Recreation Guides
• Travel Agents

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to tour guides.

• Conduct educational activities for school children.
• Escort groups on tours. Describe points of interest and background information.
• Answer questions about sites and recommend places to visit.
• Monitor visitors' behavior when they are touring sites.
• Register members of group tours. Provide name tags and brochures.
• Monitor facilities to make sure they are safe and pleasant for tourists.
• Plan trips based on clients' skill and ability levels.
• Provide information about wildlife habitats and regulations.
• Distribute brochures and conduct presentations.
• Provide visitors with information and directions.
• Collect fees and tickets from group.
• Teach skills and proper use of equipment.
• Develop a schedule of activities for vacation tours.
• Sell tickets and souvenirs.
• Speak foreign languages to communicate with visitors from other countries.
• Prepare supplies and equipment before trip.
• Perform clerical duties such as typing, filing, and collecting mail for vacationers.
• Drive vehicle to transport visitors to tour locations.
• Transport vacationers' luggage and travel bags.

Common work activities

Tour guides perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Perform for or work with the public
• Get information needed to do the job
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Think creatively
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Teach others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Schedule work and activities

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, tour guides:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of job-required social interaction.
• Communicate with clients weekly in person.
• Must speak publicly on a weekly basis.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.
• May on occasion be placed in conflict situations.
• Are somewhat responsible for the health and safety of those in their tour group.

Physical work conditions

• Work both indoors and outdoors, depending on the type of tour. Often work in indoor environments without heat or air conditioning.
• Work near other people, but usually have a few feet of space separating them from others.
• May wear a special uniform so clients can identify them easily.
• Depending on location, may be exposed to contaminants. This is infrequent, however.
• May travel to locations in a truck, bus, or van.

Work performance

• Must be sure that a job is done accurately. Errors could mean clients do not get to visit all the sites on their schedule.
• Sometimes make decisions that affect their clients. They consult supervisors for some decisions, but make most without talking to a supervisor.
• Are able to set some tasks for the day without talking to a supervisor.

Hours/travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• May work part time or full time, but most work less than 40 hours a week.
• May work more during the summer when more people take vacations.

Physical demands

Tour guides frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for tour guides to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for tour guides to be able to:

• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.

Skills and abilities

Tour guides need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Travel Services Management

Other programs of study to consider

• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• Hospitality Management
• Language Interpretation and Translation

Training

To work as a tour guide, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required beyond high school. However, some tour guides learn skills through programs offered by two-year colleges and travel associations. In this type of program you study geography, history, and communications. It is also helpful if you learn a language other than English. Training programs last about nine months.

On-the-job training

Many tour guides receive informal, on-the-job training from an employer or experienced worker. On the job, you learn customer service and site history or geography. Training may last from a few months to a year, with shorter training times more common.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements . You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Communications
• Geography
• Hospitality
• Public Speaking
• US History

Many tour guides are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers look for tour guides who are enthusiastic and interested in helping others. They also look for people who can speak foreign languages and are familiar with other cultures. Employers also look for people who have good communication skills.

Applicants usually need to have customer service skills and knowledge of the subject or area to be toured to be considered for many jobs. These skills and knowledge can be gained through education or experience or a combination of both. Some employers prefer to hire workers who are over 21. Tour guides should enjoy talking and leading large groups of people. The ability to handle difficult situations calmly is also important.

Tips

Work as a volunteer for a museum. A background in history, geography, archaeology, foreign languages, or sociology may be helpful, depending on the subject of the tour. Certification programs for travel professionals offered through the Travel Institute  may also be helpful.

#Checked section and changed name of organization in OR section that offers certs, 4/5/07, CJ. Checked info 4/20/09 & 5/5/11, 4/14/15, 2/21/17, 3/11/19 cj.

Licensing/certification

A current Washington State driver's license may be required.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Tour Guides and Escorts 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Wages vary by the time of year. During peak tourist seasons, tour guides have many opportunities to work overtime and earn higher wages. However, they may not work at all during some of the winter months. Wages also vary by area of the country.

Most tour guides receive free meals and hotel rooms while conducting tours. They may also receive a small stipend to cover their personal expenses.

Tour guides may receive benefits, such as paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. They may also receive discounts from hotels and airlines. Self-employed tour guides must provide their own insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

Outlook for Washington State depends on general economic conditions and growth of the tourism industry. Personal income, the amount of leisure time people have, and availability of low-cost travel services affect demand. Employment demand may vary by the area of the state.

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About 14% of tour guides are self-employed.

Major employers:

• Museums
• Tour companies
• Sightseeing companies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is expected to grow quickly. The need for tour guides depends on the state of the economy. When the economy is strong, people have money to spend on vacations. When the economy is weak, fewer people travel. As the population ages, older citizens will travel more and are likely to hire tour guides or go on group tours. In addition, travelers may try to save money by following tour books instead of hiring tour guides.

Other resources

Hospitality Careers Online 

National Association for Interpretation 
230 Cherry Street, Ste 200
Fort Collins, CO 80521

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council 

The Travel Institute 
945 Concord Street
Framingham, MA 01701
800.542.4282
781.237.0280

Tourism Cares 
20 Vernon Street
Norwood, MA 02062
781.821.5990

Travel and Tourism Research Association 
5300 Lakewood Road
Whitehall, MI 49461
248.708.8872

United States Tour Operators Association 
345 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1801
New York, NY 10001
212.599.6599

US Travel Association 
1100 New York Avenue NW, Suite 450
Washington, DC 20005
202.408.8422

References

Career cluster

• Hospitality and Tourism

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Tour Guides and Escorts (39-7011.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Escort (353.667-010) 
• Guide (353.367-010) 
• Guide, Establishment (353.367-014) 
• Guide, Plant (353.367-018) 
• Guide, Sightseeing (353.363-010) 
• Museum Attendant (109.367-010) 
• Page (353.367-022) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Enterprising/Artistic

COPSystem

• Service Skilled