All About Travel Guides

Travel Guide Job Description Plan, organize, and conduct long distance travel, tours, and expeditions for individuals and groups.

Life As a Travel Guide

• Sell or rent equipment, clothing, and supplies related to expeditions.
• Attend to special needs of tour participants.
• Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.
• Sell travel packages.
• Lead individuals or groups to tour site locations and describe points of interest.
• Administer first aid to injured group participants.

What Every Travel Guide Should Know

Below is a list of the skills most Travel Guides say are important on the job.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Types of Travel Guide Jobs

• International Guest Coordinator
• Tour Coordinator
• Cruise Agent
• Cruise Guide
• Guide

Job Outlook for Travel Guides

In the United States, there were 3,600 jobs for Travel Guide in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 200 new jobs for Travel Guide by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 600 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Travel Guide are Maryland, Utah, and Iowa. Watch out if you plan on working in North Carolina, Washington, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What Tools do Travel Guides Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Travel Guides may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Web browser software
• Microsoft Access
• Word processing software
• Data visualization software
• Facebook
• Tableau
• Global Positioning System GPS software
• Financial accounting software
• Customer information databases
• Travel Agent CMS

How do I Become a Travel Guide?

What education is needed to be a Travel Guide?

What work experience do I need to become a Travel Guide?

Related Careers

Those thinking about becoming a Travel Guide might also be interested in the following careers:

• Lodging Managers
• Door-To-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers
• Residential Advisors

Career changers with experience as a Travel Guide sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

• Photographers
• Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Bblackpsu via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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