How to Become a Tour Guide

A tour guide is a professional who introduces a destination or site to people and helps them make the most of their visit. They usually accompany visitors for just a few hours as opposed to several days.

Many tour guides work as freelancers with flexible working hours, although there’s also the option to get employed as a tour guide. You could work as a tour guide for state or local governments or companies in a wide range of industries.

What does a tour guide do?

A tour guide’s responsibilities will vary depending on their employment type and the companies they work for. However, most professional tourist guides have the following duties:

• Welcome tourists and get to know them before the tour starts
• Explain the tour schedule
• Inform tourists of emergency services and safety devices
• Give tourists educational materials about the places they’re visiting
• Explain historical and cultural details about a place
• Offer recommendations for local restaurants and shops
• Act as a translator and interpreter if required
• Protect tourists in the event of an emergency
• Assess a group’s mood and ensure everyone is having a good time

Types of tour guides

There are several tour guide specializations to choose from. Do research on each of them and pick one that interests you the most:

• City guide
• Museum guide
• Nature guide
• Adventure guide
• Historical site guide
• Park guide
• Walking tour guide
• Food and drink guide
• Cultural guide
• Academic tour guide

To get a better feel for what different tour guides do on a day-to-day basis, it’s worth going on an actual tour as a visitor so that you can gain firsthand experience.

Tour guide vs. tour director

A tour guide usually joins a tour group for a few hours of their trip and gives them an in-depth commentary on a specific location, such as a city, museum, or natural park. They can provide insight and knowledge of the tourist attraction from the perspective of a local.

By contrast, tour directors often stay with a particular tour group throughout their entire trip, which can be several days or even weeks. They’re responsible for navigating the logistics of the trip and managing the group’s dynamics.

Tour directors share some of the responsibilities of a tour guide, but they generally also have any of the following additional tasks:

• Plan tour routes and make sure the tour goes smoothly
• Get to know the people in a tour group and understand their specific needs
• Tend to the tourists’ needs throughout the journey
• Purchase tickets when necessary
• Correspond with relevant parties, such as hotels, restaurants, and tour guides
• Contact tour group members before the trip and answer their questions
• Ensure tourists are being transported to the correct location
• Have backup activities prepared in case of dire weather conditions or site closure

You don’t need a degree or even formal training to become a tour guide, but you do need to possess certain skills and knowledge to get your first gig as a travel tour guide and start building a good reputation.

Necessary skills

To be a good tour guide, you should possess the following skills:

• Leadership: As a local guide, you need to make sure everyone feels comfortable around you and is having a good time, all while being assertive when you lead the group.
• Public speaking: Being able to talk confidently and articulately in front of a group of people is crucial to being a tour guide.
• Storytelling: You not only have to learn and memorize details of local attractions and landmarks but also deliver them in an interesting manner to visitors.
• Communication: Great communication skills help you get along with your clients, establish your authority, and prevent conflict.
• Organization: In addition to being organized and punctual, you should also have enough flexibility to handle any unexpected events that may occur.
• Knowledge acquisition: Constantly acquiring new knowledge about the places you’re introducing ensures your tours stay relevant and exciting.
• Problem-solving: Your tours may sometimes go awry, and as the leader of the group, you should be equipped to deal with any issues that arise.
• Customer service: Ensuring customer satisfaction is important in this industry, and the key to achieving that is to always be empathetic and friendly.

When it boils down to it, you need to be personable and love working with people to take on this job. Cultural sensitivity and awareness are also important, as you’ll likely spend a lot of time interacting with people with different backgrounds.

Licensing

Depending on where you live, you may need to meet certain legal requirements to become a tour guide, such as getting a tour guide license or becoming a certified tour guide. This is because individual state and local governments may have regulations surrounding who can call themselves a tour guide and offer tour services.

For instance, to lead groups in New York City, you must be 18+ years old and obtain a sightseeing guide license, which involves taking an exam. 1 Research whether your state or jurisdiction requires a tour guide license before you start looking for a job.

We’ll walk you through the steps you need to take to get the ball rolling on your tour guide career.

1. Get proper training

A college degree isn’t required for tour guides, but it’s a good idea to get some foundational tour guide education to prepare for your new role. If you do have a degree or you’re currently working toward one, then this can also be a valuable stepping-stone in your tour guide career.

For instance, having a degree in tourism or hospitality can help you stand out among your competitors. Similarly, if you’re applying to become a museum tour guide, then it’s beneficial to have a relevant degree, such as a fine arts or history degree.

If you don’t have the time and resources to complete a degree, you can still undergo training by signing up for a tour guide course or training program. Many professional associations offer both on-site and online training options for tour guides.

2. Join professional tour guide associations

Joining a professional association for tour guides can have several advantages when you’re just starting out as a tour guide. You can get access to networking opportunities, gain credibility, acquire new knowledge or skills, and even access exclusive travel guide jobs.

Here are a few popular tour guide associations to consider joining:

• America Tour Guide Association
• World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations
• International Association of Tour Directors and Guides
• National Tour Association

There are also countless local and state-level tour guide associations available that you can look up and join, such as the Guides Association of New York City and the Chicago Tour-Guide Professionals Association. Check for tour guide associations in your state or city for the most relevant results.

3. Make connections with local companies

Getting hired by a local tour company is the easiest route to becoming a tour guide. But even if you want to go solo right off the bat, a good place to start is by reaching out to local business owners and finding ones who are interested in partnering with you.

With these types of partnerships, everyone wins. You could get hired by the company as their tour guide, or you could strike a deal for lower admission or product prices in exchange for bringing them more business.

4. Get listed in tour guide directories

If you’re working as an independent or freelance tour guide, you’ll want to register for major tour guide directories and platforms. This will help tour groups and individuals find your services.

Here are a few popular options to consider:

• Viator
• GetYourGuide
• ToursByLocals

Another benefit of being listed on these websites is that visitors who’ve taken your tours will be able to leave you reviews. Good reviews will expand your reach, get you more business, and increase your earning potential.

5. Make your tours stand out

Because reviews and testimonials have such a prominent influence on your reputation as a tour guide and how much business you get, the most successful local tour guides go above and beyond to ensure their customers have an amazing and unforgettable tourist experience.

A big part of this is making your tours stand out from what competitors are offering. Think about small tweaks you can make to your tour itineraries or provided services. Add-ons like photo packages can increase customer satisfaction while also allowing you to earn an extra few bucks.

Additionally, you should always make an effort to establish a good relationship with your customers. Prioritize safety, and try to get to know the tourists in each group you lead. Find out what they’re interested in, and help them get the experiences that they’ll cherish the most.

Being a tour guide is a great side hustle if you have an outgoing personality and are passionate about learning new knowledge and passing it on to other people. However, it’s not for everyone. Think about all the advantages and disadvantages of a tour guide career before you get started.

Some companies offer fun perks for tour guides, such as free or discounted products or services or even free travel or accommodation. The job itself also offers the chance to hone your leadership and public speaking skills, both of which are valuable in other lines of work.

However, if you plan to work independently, you’ll have to deal with a few drawbacks, such as a lack of employee benefits (like health insurance or paid time off) and the added responsibility of paying your own income taxes and self-employment taxes. Starting your own tour company also requires more time and effort than just getting a tour guide job.

How much does a tour guide make?

Your earnings can vary widely in this industry. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean wage for employed tour and travel guides in May 2022 was $18.17 per hour, with most salaries falling in the range of $11.25–$26.51 per hour. 2

In comparison, freelance tour guides generally earn more. One estimate puts the average freelance tour guide salary in the US at $28 per hour. 3 While starting your own touring business comes with financial risk, there’s no limit to how much you can potentially earn.