Definition
A tour guide (or tourist guide) provides assistance, information and cultural, historical and contemporary heritage interpretation to people on organized tours, individual clients, educational establishments, at religious and historical sites, museums, and at venues of other significant interest. They (normally) have a recognized national or regional tourist guide qualification.
The CEN (European Committee for Standardization) definition for "tourist guide" (part of the work by CEN on definitions for terminology within the tourism industry) is: Tourist guide = 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 recognized by the appropriate authority, March 2010
CEN also produced a definition for "tour manager": Tour manager = person who manages and supervises the itinerary on behalf of the tour operator, ensuring the program is carried out as described in the tour operator's literature and sold to the traveler/consumer and who gives local practical information.
In Europe, tourist guides (tour guide being initially a term primarily used in the US market) are represented by FEG, the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations and outside Europe by WFTGA.
The tourist guiding qualification is specific to each and every country; in some cases the qualification is national, in some cases it is broken up into regions. In all cases it is embedded in the educational and training ethic of that country. The Art of Guiding is a skill; it is the skill of selecting information and varying it for different audiences; it is the skill of presenting it in a simple and precise way; it is the skill of allowing the visitor to see and to understand; it is a skill which, if well performed, is invisible.
Being a tour guide is a fun job but don’t be misled into believing that ‘just anybody’ can be a good tour one. Its’ an exciting job that introduces you to people and places average travelers and tourist never experience, but it also requires solid skills and knowledge. Learn how to do it right and you’ll have your pick of choice destinations and adventures.
1. 1. Understand the content and facilities listed in the tour package
2. 2. Checking completeness of the documents travel
3. 3. Driving both tourist groups and individuals traveling by bus, train, ship, aircraft, and other forms of transport
4. 4. Provide an explanation of the travel plans and destinations and provide an explanation of rules on visas, passport, health information, accommodation, transportation, and so forth
5. 5. Provide guidance on interesting destinations
6. 6. Helping carry tourists at the time of your tour
7. 7. Giving instructions to comply with rules or regulations set by the government and agencies/companies
8. 8. Assist relevant officers to contact if there are tourist hurt in transit, accident, theft, and other disasters
9. 9. Ensure the satisfaction of all tourist on vacation as a whole
10. 10. Confirming/ordering parts mandaroty tour event
11. 11. Lead the delivery of the arrival and departure from the hotel ( check in/out)
12. 12. Conducting a series of tours including the tour half day / full day, night tours, places of interest, and special tours
13. 13. Offering optional tour as a travel agency regulations
14. 14. Making travel administration reports including financial reports
FUFUNCTION
1. 1. Guiding tourist traveling together to achieve its intended purpose in accordance with the task guide
2. 2. Provide information, if need be an interpreter on the trip as whole, especially regarding tourism objects are visited
3. 3. Introducing the things that ne feeling for tourist or who need to know and encountered during the trip
4. 4. Provide advice to do something action or activity that may arise and nothing to do with the trip being his/her guiding
tourist guiding qualification is specific to each and every country, in some cases the qualification is national, in some cases it is broken up into region. In all cases embedded in the educational and training ethic of that country. The art of guiding is a skill, it is a skill of selecting information and varying it for different audiences, it is a skill of presenting it in a simple precise way, it is the skill of allowing the visitor to see and to understand, it is a skill which, if well performed, is invisible.
1. Step 1
Make sure you have solid people skills as well as infinite patience. Be honest about weather you’re comfortable being “on” for 10, 12, even 18 hours a day. That’s more important than knowing all about art, history or geography.
2. Step 2
Get trained and certified at a school for tour guide, such as International Tour Management Institute. Although this isn’t essential. These schools may help land a job.
3. Step 3
Get heard by a tour company. The larger the company, the more work you’ll have and the more chance to travel to exotic parts of the world.
4. Step 4
Sign on with a company headquartered in your own country if you want to go abroad. It’s easier than getting a work permit with a foreign company.
5. Step 5
Expect to operate as an independent contractor rather than an employee, especially with smaller companies. Although you’ll have to arrange your own insurance coverage, think how much you’ll save while you are working and the company is covering your hotel, meals, and transportation.
6. Step 6
Research the area you’ll be touring extensively. Companies provide some basic information, but it’s good to do homework on your own. You’ll have more confidence, and people on your tour will appreciate your expert touch which may lead to bigger tips and word of mouth recommendations from your clients.
7. Step 7
Be a master of organization you need to juggle your time and handle details such as getting through custom and finding lost luggage (see I get organized, 3 Write and Effective to do list and 423 Prevent Lost Luggage). You’ll be in charge of transportation logistics, accommodations (finding hotels or setting up camp), meal, equipment, repairs and maintenance, and more.
8. Step 8
Stay calm when other people aren’t. You have to handle all emergencies, whether a monsoon hits, the bus breaks down, a client has a meltdown or the hotel is overbooked.
9. Step 9
Plan for a minimum of personal free time on a trip. That’s just as well: Once y ou take care of all the arrangements and everyone else’s needs. You’ll have very little energy and time to go exploring on your own or even do your laundry.
10. Step 10
Be aware that you set the tone of a trip. If you’re up beat and enthusiastic, others will join in and have fun.
