What are the Different Tour Guide Jobs?

There are two types of tour guide jobs: those in which the tourists approach the guide and those in which the guide follows the tourists from their starting point. This usually means that the tour guide is also the travel planner, or is at the very least heavily involved in the planning process. This is the type of tour guide with the most responsibilities. Other tour guide jobs simply entail demonstrating attractions in a city or tourist area where the guide already resides. Destination-based tour guide jobs are what they’re called.

The most common type of tour guide job is one that is based on a specific location. As the name implies, these guides simply stay in the same place, work a regular shift, and show visitors things they are familiar with. This type of tour guide has the advantage of having local knowledge of the area. They may also have the connections to gain access to places that many people would otherwise miss out on. The disadvantage is that these guides are not always available for advice and guidance, and they will be visiting the same places over and over again, which may become tedious for some people.

Working as a travel tour guide entails traveling with a group of people. In some cases, such as European and American bus tours, the entire itinerary is planned in advance. The guide simply follows along to explain what will happen next on the journey and what to expect. The guide will, in most cases, be very familiar with the fixed route, having walked it multiple times with various groups. This also aids in establishing a sense of familiarity with the locations visited. These tour guides may also work on cruise ships, where they take passengers on excursions to various ports of call.

A different type of travel tour guide job entails the tour guide planning the entire itinerary. This frequently occurs when social groups or organizations sponsor tours to various locations. In that case, the tour guide is in charge of not only finding interesting places to visit, but also of arranging lodging and all transportation. In many cases, the guide will work with a third-party vendor to coordinate all of these details.

Because this type of work appeals to so many people, finding jobs as a tour guide can be difficult. Working in national parks or other tourist attractions during the summer is a good place to start. If full-time employment is a goal, these seasonal tour guide jobs provide an opportunity to gain experience and build contacts. Furthermore, because more guides are needed during peak tourist seasons, seasonal jobs are often easier to come by. These jobs could be classified as a different type of tour guide job.