What Do Travel Guide Do?

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

What Do Travel Guides Do On a Daily Basis?

• Explain hunting and fishing laws to groups to ensure compliance.
• Evaluate services received on the tour, and report findings to tour organizers.
• Instruct novices in climbing techniques, mountaineering, and wilderness survival, and demonstrate use of hunting, fishing, and climbing equipment.
• Sell or rent equipment, clothing, and supplies related to expeditions.
• Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.
• Provide tourists with assistance in obtaining permits and documents such as visas, passports, and health certificates, and in converting currency.

Travel Guide Required Skills

When polled, Travel Guides say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Related Job Titles

• Cruise Consultant
• Guide
• River Guide
• Hunting and Fishing Guide
• Destination Coordinator

Travel Guide Job Outlook

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 3,600 jobs in the United States for Travel Guide. 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.

Tools & Technologies Used by Travel Guides

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Travel Guides:

• 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

Becoming a Travel Guide

Education needed to be a Travel Guide:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those interested in being a Travel Guide may also be interested in:

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

Are you already one of the many Travel Guide in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• 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.