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Tour Guide

Tour guides escort people on sightseeing, educational or other tours and describe points of interest.

Tasks & duties

Tour guides may do some or all of the following:

describe and explain points of interest on the tour, in English or other languages
arrange entry to places such as museums, government buildings and exhibitions
answer questions and give out written information
arrange accommodation and meals
prepare meals
check and store tourists' bags
drive a vehicle such as a bus or coach
act as an interpreter
market the business (if it is a privately owned tour company)

Specialisations

Tour guides may work as:

guides or hosts at a particular attraction
guides who take people on tours of a day or less
tour managers who travel with a group for up to a month

Skills & knowledge

Tour guides need to have:

knowledge of the route to be covered and attractions of interest to tourists
knowledge of New Zealand culture, history, society, geography, flora and fauna
research skills, to collect information about the tour route and/or destinations and attractions
leadership skills
communication and public speaking skills
problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
knowledge of safety procedures, and crisis and risk management skills
an understanding of appropriate behaviour when dealing with people from other cultures
an understanding of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
planning, organisational and time management skills
sales skills
basic maths skills

Tour guides who manage a company need to have business skills.

Entry requirements

In most cases, there are no specific requirements to become a tour guide, as skills are gained on the job.

Some employers, particularly those that provide bus tours, prefer to hire people who are at least 23 years old. This is because these tour guides have a higher level of responsibility for their clients' safety.

Tour guides who drive passengers need special licences

Tour guides who drive passenger vehicles need to have held a Class 2 or a Class 4 driver's licence (depending on the size of the bus) for at least six months.

You also need to have a 'P' (Passenger) endorsement on your licence, which shows you can carry passengers.

Tour guides for Chinese groups need specific training

Guides who want to escort tour groups from China need to meet certain requirements set by Tourism New Zealand.

Secondary education

Useful subjects include maths, Asian or European languages, Māori, physical education, and tourism.

Tertiary education

There are no specific tertiary requirements for tour guides. Some employers may prefer to hire people who have a tourism qualification, whereas others prefer to employ someone and then offer them workplace training.

Training on the job

Skills such as first aid, basic team rescue, fire-fighting and cultural etiquette may be learned on the job.

Some employers support their staff to undertake formal training through the Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO) towards a: