Tour Guide
The Meaning and Classification of Tour Guide
Description of Today’s Tour Guides
Guides * The orphans of the travel industry (somewhat hidden within the trade) * Operate independently as freelancers * Work for agencies or organizations on a part-time basis * Have limited amount of work and income available (due to seasonal and part-time nature of work) * Do not bear the expense of running a small business such as incorporating, advertising, and renting separate offices and equipment * Have “Hidden” status (most often guides are retired, work a second job, or fill other freelance positions such as writing, consulting or teaching)
Definition of Tour Guide
Tour Guide * Is one who conducts a tour or one with a broad knowledge of a particular area whose primary duty is to inform * Is an individual who is licensed by the local government and accredited by the Department of Tourism to guide tourists, both foreign and domestic, for a fee, commission, or any other form of lawful remuneration (Tour Guide Code of 1987, DOT) * Synonyms for tour guide used within the industry: Tourist Guide (commonly used in Europe and many other parts of the world)/ Local Guide/ City Guide * Outside the tourism industry: the term tour guide is widely used to describe the various professionals who are engaged in guiding people, including tour managers, docents and interpreters
Note:
It is difficult to use only one job description for tour guiding because tour guides perform several functions in practically every kind of place one can visit. (Some are self-employed and create and market their own tours, while others are employed by travel agencies and conduct predesigned tours. Though still, others are employed by corporations, or through local, state, provincial or national governments)
* Scope of a guide’s function and expertise varies from tours of a specific piece of art, to a room, to a large metropolitan area, to a region of
Description of Today’s Tour Guides
Guides * The orphans of the travel industry (somewhat hidden within the trade) * Operate independently as freelancers * Work for agencies or organizations on a part-time basis * Have limited amount of work and income available (due to seasonal and part-time nature of work) * Do not bear the expense of running a small business such as incorporating, advertising, and renting separate offices and equipment * Have “Hidden” status (most often guides are retired, work a second job, or fill other freelance positions such as writing, consulting or teaching)
Definition of Tour Guide
Tour Guide * Is one who conducts a tour or one with a broad knowledge of a particular area whose primary duty is to inform * Is an individual who is licensed by the local government and accredited by the Department of Tourism to guide tourists, both foreign and domestic, for a fee, commission, or any other form of lawful remuneration (Tour Guide Code of 1987, DOT) * Synonyms for tour guide used within the industry: Tourist Guide (commonly used in Europe and many other parts of the world)/ Local Guide/ City Guide * Outside the tourism industry: the term tour guide is widely used to describe the various professionals who are engaged in guiding people, including tour managers, docents and interpreters
Note:
It is difficult to use only one job description for tour guiding because tour guides perform several functions in practically every kind of place one can visit. (Some are self-employed and create and market their own tours, while others are employed by travel agencies and conduct predesigned tours. Though still, others are employed by corporations, or through local, state, provincial or national governments)
* Scope of a guide’s function and expertise varies from tours of a specific piece of art, to a room, to a large metropolitan area, to a region of