ALL ABOUT A TOURIST GUIDE

What is a Tourist Guide?

A person who guides visitors in the language of their choice and interprets the cultural
and natural heritage of an area which person normally possesses an area-specific
qualification usually issued and/or recognised by the appropriate authority.

Tour Guides are responsible for helping people to visit unfamiliar areas. They
usually make special trips with groups of tourists in order to show them important
places of cities. Their work is very useful for visitors who are for the first time in
some areas, because these professionals are very knowledgeable and provide
valuable information to people. They may work in travel agencies or museums.

A Tour Guide’s Responsibilities :

 Describe points of interest around the city to the group and answer any
questions, which requires learning a comprehensive history of each check
point
 Provide directions to visitors who would like to check out a specific area at a
later date, and provide information related to lodging, food and other
amenities
 Monitor the behavior of the group, especially when young children are in it,
and ensure everyone remains in compliance with the rules
 Distribute materials to the group at the beginning of the tour, which includes
audio headsets and brochures
 Greet visitors as soon as they get on board the bus, and show people to their
seats if necessary
 Be willing to put own spin on tour points, such as making jokes and providing
insightful commentary
 Work with management to develop new tour routes based on sites visitors
have expressed interest in
 Maintain a positive, friendly demeanor at all times

Tour Guides usually perform many of the following tasks:

• Describing places to people.

• Greeting tourists groups.
• Providing safety devises.
• Escorting groups of people on cruises.
• Providing directions to tourists.
Job Duties and Tasks for: "Tour Guide and Escort"
1) Conduct educational activities for school children.

2) Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest

such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.

3) Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.

4) Monitor visitors' activities in order to ensure compliance with establishment or tour

regulations and safety practices.

5) Greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges and/or safety
devices.

6) Distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment

processes and operations at tour sites.

7) Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.

8) Provide for physical safety of groups, performing such activities as providing first aid
and directing emergency evacuations.

9) Research environmental conditions and clients' skill and ability levels in order to plan
expeditions, instruction, and commentary that are appropriate.

10) Provide information about wildlife varieties and habitats, as well as any relevant
regulations, such as those pertaining to hunting and fishing.

11) Collect fees and tickets from group members.

12) Teach skills, such as proper climbing methods, and demonstrate and advise on the
use of equipment.

13) Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas.

14) Solicit tour patronage and sell souvenirs.

15) Speak foreign languages in order to communicate with foreign visitors.

16) Assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure.

17) Drive motor vehicles in order to transport visitors to establishments and tour site
locations.

18) Perform clerical duties such as filing, typing, operating switchboards, and routing
mail and messages.
PHOTOS OF A TOUR GUIDE
 A TOURIST GUIDE
 What is a Tourist Guide?
Tour guides escort people on sightseeing trips and tours of particular countries, cities, historical
sites, monuments, and tourist attractions. They provide information about the history and
culture of a particular place. On some tours, they may drive vehicles, organize accommodation,
travel tickets and entry to attractions, provide first aid if required and carry luggage. In WA, they
may take visitors on tours of Perth's Bell Tower or Kings Park, lead outback tours, conduct wine
tours of the south west or provide history on local Indigenous culture. Tour guides show
groups round attractions such as historic monuments, cultural centers and beauty spots,
and provide them with background information to help them make the most of their visit.
They may work with day-trippers or on walking tours, or support tourists on longer visits
that involve overnight stays, perhaps to rural or remote locations. Tour guide jobs
sometimes also call for chauffeuring and language skills.

A Tour Guide’s Responsibilities :

 Organize tours by groups or individuals in coaches, cars or on foot
 Look for an area that can generally be of great interest to a group or a particular group of
people
 Communicate with the group/s or their representative/s about the details of the tour –
assembly time and place, destination, accommodation, transportation, immigration
concerns (if the tour is set abroad) and costs
 Arrange the necessary permits or letters of communication to the area of destination before
the tour
 Finalize all the details with the tour group or their representative
 Offer specialist knowledge on subjects like history, arts and sciences, designs and
architecture
 During the tour, communicate with your tour group in a cheerful and engaging manner
 Lead the tour group to points of interest and at the same time provide useful and interesting
information in whatever medium – written, oral or through electronic presentations
 Always make sure of the safety and convenience of your tour group
 Make sure all the members of the tour group follow the schedules set
 Communicate with the appropriate officials in your tour destination – like the police,
medical institution or tour destination officials
 Make sure of the hotel accommodation in case the tour is schedule for more than a full
working day
 Make sure that the tour group will be sent home as safely as possible
 Job Duties and Tasks for: "Tour Guide"

 Attending briefing meetings with the Tour Manager about important information
about the tour group (e.g. age group, interests, and special needs).
 Greeting tourists before starting the tour:
 Learning their names;
 memorizing their faces; and
 checking the number of people in the group.
 Explaining emergency procedures to the group and making sure they understand
them.
 Distributing promotional material about the trip to the tourists.
 Escorting individuals or groups on sightseeing trips:
 Providing information about the history and culture of the places they visit;
 describing points of interests; and
 answering questions tourists may have.
 Managing groups of up to thirty people:
 Being able to keep the group focused;
 making sure no one gets lost or left behind; and
 making sure the group is safe.
 Driving a motorized vehicle like a bus or a boat when necessary.
 Making sure that the group adheres and follows local laws, regulations, or rules of
specific destinations.
 Responding to emergency situations:
 Providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or first aid to tourists if needed;
 remaining calm during stressful situations; and
 handling a group of panicking people.
 Assisting tourists with special needs like senior citizens, people with disabilities,
and people with small babies.
PHOTOS OF A TOUR GUIDE