Tour Guides and Escort Career

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


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Tour Guides and Escort Career

What Tour Guides and Escorts do:

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

What work activities are most important?

Importance Activities

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Holland Code Chart for a Tour Guides and Escort