What Do Tour Guides and Escorts Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Tour Guides and Escorts escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries. They also describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.

Other tasks include:

• Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
• Conduct educational activities for school children.
• Monitor visitors’ activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
• Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
• Greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges or safety devices.
• Drive motor vehicles to transport visitors to establishments and tour site locations.

We asked Tour Guides and Escorts how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Tour Guides and Escorts assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure. They greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges or safety devices.

A typical day for a Tour Guide and Escort will also include:

• Solicit tour patronage and sell souvenirs.
• Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
• Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
• Provide information about wildlife varieties and habitats, as well as any relevant regulations, such as those pertaining to hunting and fishing.
• Distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment processes and operations at tour sites.

We asked some Tour Guides and Escorts a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	50% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	48% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	62% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	57% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	7% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	29% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Tour Guides and Escorts also teach skills, such as proper climbing methods, and demonstrate and advise on the use of equipment. They may also provide information about wildlife varieties and habitats, as well as any relevant regulations, such as those pertaining to hunting and fishing.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Tour Guides and Escorts Conduct educational activities for school children. They might also Distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment processes and operations at tour sites.

In addition, they Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients’ skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.

To some Tour Guides and Escorts, it is also their responsibility to Monitor visitors’ activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Tour Guide and Escort, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes397011.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/travel-agents.htm