Tour Guides and Escorts
Tasks Include:
- Conduct educational activities for school children.
- Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
- Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
- Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
- Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
- Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas.
- Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢; US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet28)
Projections Quick View:
Virginia: No Data
National: No Data
Education
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Job Zone:
Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Income Range:
No Data
Median Earnings:
National
No Data
State
No Data
Regional
Tour Guides and Escorts
Description
Career Cluster: | Hospitality & Tourism |
Escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Education
Required Level of Education
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) = 30.96%
- Bachelor's Degree = 30.03%
- High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) = 21.82%
- Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) = 7.74%
- Less than a High School Diploma = 4.08%
- Master's Degree = 2.14%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. = 1.71%
- Some College Courses = 1.52%
Related Work Experience
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 39.01%
- None = 22.06%
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 14.06%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 8.32%
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years = 7.74%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 4.77%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 4.03%
On-Site or In-Plant Training
- Up to and including 1 month = 28.93%
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 16.92%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 15.14%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 14.59%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 14.35%
- None = 10.08%
On-the-Job Training
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 27.82%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 27.18%
- Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month = 22.04%
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 15.20%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 7.76%
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Tasks
Core Tasks Include:
- Conduct educational activities for school children.
- Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
- Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
- Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
- Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
- Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas.
- Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.
Supplemental Tasks Include:
- 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.
- Provide for physical safety of groups, performing such activities as providing first aid or directing emergency evacuations.
- Provide information about wildlife varieties and habitats, as well as any relevant regulations, such as those pertaining to hunting and fishing.
- Collect fees and tickets from group members.
- Teach skills, such as proper climbing methods, and demonstrate and advise on the use of equipment.
- Solicit tour patronage and sell souvenirs.
- Speak foreign languages to communicate with foreign visitors.
- Assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure.
- Drive motor vehicles to transport visitors to establishments and tour site locations.
- Perform clerical duties, such as filing, typing, operating switchboards, or routing mail and messages.
- Train other guides and volunteers.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Tools and Technology
Tools Include:
- Electronic charts or maps or atlases (ActiveMap Tour Guide software)
- Mobile phones (Cell phones)
- Desktop computers
- Facsimile machines (Fax machines)
- Emergency medical services first aid kits (First aid kits)
- Electronic charts or maps or atlases (Intelligent Spatial Technologies iPointer Tour Guide software)
- Microphones
- Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers (Personal digital assistants PDA)
- Passenger or automobile ferries (Tour boats)
- Busses (Tour buses)
- Touring bicycles
Technologies Include:
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Centaur Systems Centaur Travel Business Management System TBMS software
- IBS Software Services Tour Partner
- RBS GoTour Online
- Softrip Travel Software System
- TourTech Systems TourTools software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Microsoft Access
- Electronic mail software
- Email software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Internet browser software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Mobile location based services software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Office suite software
- Microsoft Office software
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Word
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Knowledge
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
85.50 | 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. |
78.25 | English Language | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
65.75 | History and Archeology | Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures. |
55.75 | Communications and Media | Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. |
54.50 | Education and Training | Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Skills
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
72.00 | Speaking | Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
56.25 | Active Listening | Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
56.25 | Social Perceptiveness | Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
53.00 | Service Orientation | Actively looking for ways to help people. |
50.00 | Reading Comprehension | Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
50.00 | Monitoring | Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
50.00 | Coordination | Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
50.00 | Time Management | Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Abilities
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
78.00 | Oral Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
75.00 | Oral Comprehension | The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
72.00 | Speech Clarity | The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
53.00 | Written Comprehension | The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
53.00 | Far Vision | The ability to see details at a distance. |
53.00 | Speech Recognition | The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
50.00 | Problem Sensitivity | The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. |
50.00 | Near Vision | The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Work Activities
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
82.25 | 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. |
80.75 | Getting Information | Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
75.00 | 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. |
74.75 | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events | Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
73.50 | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships | Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
65.50 | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
57.25 | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others | Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
57.25 | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge | Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
53.75 | Training and Teaching Others | Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
53.50 | Making Decisions and Solving Problems | Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Work Styles
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
83.75 | Self-Control | Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
83.00 | Adaptability/Flexibility | Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
82.00 | Cooperation | Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
81.50 | Concern for Others | Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
80.75 | Dependability | Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
77.00 | Attention to Detail | Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. |
76.25 | Achievement/Effort | Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. |
75.50 | Social Orientation | Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. |
73.75 | Persistence | Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. |
73.50 | Integrity | Job requires being honest and ethical. |
72.75 | Independence | Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. |
70.00 | Initiative | Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. |
69.25 | Stress Tolerance | Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. |
62.25 | Leadership | Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
52.75 | Innovation | Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. |
52.50 | Analytical Thinking | Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Work Values
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
77.83 | Relationships | Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Work Context
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
89.80 | Public Speaking | How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job? |
89.80 | Face-to-Face Discussions | How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
89.00 | Contact With Others | How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? |
87.40 | Deal With External Customers | How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? |
84.20 | Work With Work Group or Team | How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? |
82.80 | Physical Proximity | To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? |
81.20 | Freedom to Make Decisions | How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? |
79.80 | Coordinate or Lead Others | How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? |
78.20 | Structured versus Unstructured Work | To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? |
76.40 | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? |
76.00 | Spend Time Standing | How much does this job require standing? |
72.80 | Frequency of Decision Making | How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? |
71.00 | Spend Time Walking and Running | How much does this job require walking and running? |
68.60 | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? |
68.20 | Time Pressure | How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? |
65.40 | Electronic Mail | How often do you use electronic mail in this job? |
65.00 | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? |
61.80 | Telephone | How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? |
55.20 | Outdoors, Exposed to Weather | How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions? |
50.80 | Responsible for Others' Health and Safety | How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Overall Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Job Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
- Examples
- These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Related Occupations
Related Occupations
The related occupations here have similar general capabilities and interests; career explorers may also be interested in the related occupations:- Travel Guides
- Park Naturalists
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
- Travel Agents
- Historians
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
- Recreation Workers
- Curators
- Concierges
- Self-Enrichment Teachers
- Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Instructional Coordinators
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
- History Teachers, Postsecondary
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants
- Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
- Passenger Attendants
Careers in Travel & Tourism Pathway:
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
- Tour Guides and Escorts
- Travel Agents
- Travel Guides
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
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CareerOneStop Hospitality & Tourism Videos
Overview
Occupations
The data sources for the information displayed here include: New York State Department of Labor; New Jersey Department of Labor; California Occupational Information Coordinating Committee; CareerOneStop. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Proficiency Ratings
These proficiencies are scored on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being not
important to the job and 5 being extremely important to the job.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Titles
- Admitting Office Escort
- Alpine Guide
- Art Museum Aide
- Art Museum Docent
- Deckhand
- Discovery Guide
- Docent
- Driver/Guide
- Education Specialist
- Environmental Educator
- Escort Service Attendant
- Establishment Guide
- Fishing Guide
- Guide
- Historical Guide
- Historical Interpreter
- Historical Site Guide
- Hunter Guide
- Hunting and Fishing Guide
- Hunting Guide
- Interpreter
- Interpretive Program Coordinator
- Licensed Guide
- Mountain Guide
- Museum Assistant
- Museum Attendant
- Museum Docent
- Museum Educator
- Museum Guide
- Museum Tour Guide
- National Park Tour Guide
- Outdoor Guide
- Page
- Plant Guide
- Presenter
- River Guide
- River Rafting Guide
- Science Interpreter
- Sightseeing Guide
- Site Interpreter
- Student Ambassador
- Tour Bus Driver/Guide
- Tour Conductor
- Tour Coordinator
- Tour Driver
- Tour Escort
- Tour Guide
- Tour Narrator
- Tourist Escort
- Tourist Guide
- Whitewater River Guide
- Wilderness Guide
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)
Tour Guides and Escorts
Related Schools
- Averett University
- Bluefield University
- Bridgewater College
- Christopher Newport University
- Eastern Mennonite University
- Emory & Henry College
- George Mason University
- Hampden-Sydney College
- Hampton University
- Hollins University
- James Madison University
- Liberty University
- Longwood University
- Mary Baldwin University
- Marymount University
- Norfolk State University
- Old Dominion University
- Patrick Henry College
- Radford University
- Randolph College
- Randolph-Macon College
- Regent University
- Roanoke College
- Shenandoah University
- Southern Virginia University
- Sweet Briar College
- University of Lynchburg
- University of Mary Washington
- University of Richmond
- University of Virginia's College at Wise
- University of Virginia-Main Campus
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia Military Institute
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Virginia State University
- Virginia Union University
- Virginia Wesleyan University
- Washington and Lee University
- William & Mary
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NETâ„¢. (Using onet28)