Travel tour guide

Duties and responsibilities

Tour guides work in the travel industry, giving guided tours to groups of visitors. They are experts on the history of the location and offer their tour groups interesting or enlightening information about points of interest at nature attractions, historic sites, museums, scenic locations, and other travel destinations. Guides may give walking tours, bus tours, or even lead river tours on a boat. Often hired by visitors' bureaus or travel companies, tour guides are typically residents of the region in which they give tours.

Salary

Salaries start from $17,110 and go up to $37,550.

Education

Candidates who want to become a Tour Guide should have the minimum of a high school diploma or its equivalent in order to secure employment. In addition, some large cities such as Washington DC and New York require candidates who want to become a Tour Guide to secure licensure. Some possible requirements that need to be met in order to attain licensure include passing a background check and passing a licensing exam. Candidates should have the ability to read and write proficiently in order to prepare for and take the exam. Licensing exams can ask questions regarding a city's history, specific places, buildings and attractions. In addition, some Tour Guides may have the opportunity to learn about their field by receiving on the job training from their employer. Training is provided by the company and candidates may have to continue taking training courses through their career in order to brush up on their knowledge.

Reflection

I would definitely love to become a traveling tour guide.