Becoming a tour guide

Many people dream of travelling for a living, but what does it actually involve?

Tour guides accompany visitors on tours, providing special information on places of interest, and managing the schedule for the tour.

Starting out

While you can work as a tour guide without formal qualifications, entry to the occupation may be easier if you can show you are qualified and you may like to consider taking a course. Options vary, but the Centre for Further Education offers a General Certificate in Guiding along with more specific subjects such as Guiding a 4WD Tour and Guiding a Ski Tour. You will also get some informal training on the job.

Many would-be guides start out as volunteers, working in a place they know well, showing tourists around. Experience in a related field such as hospitality is generally looked on favourably by employers in the travel industry.

Skills and qualities needed

While everyone brings their own personality to the job, there are some basic qualities that all tour guides should possess:

Energy and enthusiasm are an absolute must - when the day's tour is done, a guide still needs to study commentary and confirm the next day's activities, so you will often need to operate on very little sleep.                          

• A friendly personality is needed when interacting with clients, tour operators and the general public.

• An insight into a wide range of cultures helps a guide negotiate all kinds of issues, not only in the place being visited, but also among the people on the tour.

• Knowledge of emergency procedure and the ability to remain calm in a crisis will stand any tour guide in good stead. Your confidence as tour leader will filter down to the group.

• The ability to handle any tricky questions that arise is a crucial component of the role. If you're stuck for an answer, you should be able to find the information and follow up.

Know the reality

Life as a tour guide often requires long spells away from home. Some find that busy times at work fall on holidays they would like to spend with loved ones. Burn-out is also a factor to consider but it does not mean the end of a career in travel. There are often openings for roles in product development and sales within the industry; experience as a guide will stand you in good stead for these.

 

Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

1. Answer aren't necessary to become a tour guide but they can help.

2. If you have worked in Answer, it may help your chances of employment as a tour guide.

3. Tour guides must be prepared to work despite a lack of Answer.

4. An understanding of different Answer will help a tour guide manage groups of people.

5. Dealing with difficult Answer is part of working as a tour guide.

6. Being a tour guide may lead to a position in Answer or in putting together new tours for customers.