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Career Description

Escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.

What Job Titles Tour Guides and Escorts Might Have

• Historical Interpreter
• Museum Guide
• Tour Guide
• Docent

What Tour Guides and Escorts Do

• Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
• Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
• Conduct educational activities for school children.
• Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
• Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
• Greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges or safety devices.
• Distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment processes and operations at tour sites.
• Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.
• Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas.
• Drive motor vehicles to transport visitors to establishments and tour site locations.
• Collect fees and tickets from group members.
• Assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure.
• Provide for physical safety of groups, performing such activities as providing first aid or directing emergency evacuations.
• Train other guides and volunteers.
• Perform clerical duties, such as filing, typing, operating switchboards, or routing mail and messages.
• Solicit tour patronage and sell souvenirs.
• Speak foreign languages to communicate with foreign visitors.
• Teach skills, such as proper climbing methods, and demonstrate and advise on the use of equipment.

What Tour Guides and Escorts Should Be Good At

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

What Tour Guides and Escorts Should Be Interested In

• Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

What Tour Guides and Escorts Need to Learn

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.