Career Overview
Plan, organize, and conduct long-distance travel, tours, and expeditions for individuals and groups.
Also Known As
- Guide
- Tour Escort
- Tour Manager
- Travel Consultant
Alternate Job Titles
- Adventure Guide
- Alpine Guide
- Cruise Agent
- Cruise Consultant
- Cruise Coordinator
- Cruise Counselor
- Cruise Director
- Cruise Guide
- Destination Coordinator
- Destination Imagination Coordinator
- Dude Wrangler
- Event Guide
- Experience Guide
- Guide
- Hunting and Fishing Guide
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.
- Plan tour itineraries, applying knowledge of travel routes and destination sites.
- Resolve any problems with itineraries, service, or accommodations.
- Attend to special needs of tour participants.
- Sell travel packages.
- Evaluate services received on the tour, and report findings to tour organizers.
- Give advice on sightseeing and shopping.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Service Orientation
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Persuasion
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Social Orientation
- Cooperation
- Adaptability
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Structured query language SQL
- Tableau
Tools & Equipment
- Animal sound lures
- Camping tents
- Climbing carabiners
- Climbing harnesses
- Climbing helmets
- Climbing ropes
- Computer laser printers
- Cordless microphones
- Digital video cameras
- Electronic maps
- Emergency first aid kits
- Equipment trailers
- Hunting rifles
- Hunting shotguns
- Motor coaches
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Contact With Others
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Tour Guides and Escorts
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: Varies
Travel Agents
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $48,450
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $41,460
Concierges
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $37,320
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $31,150
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.