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Tourist guide

  • Hours

    Variable

  • Starting salary

    Variable

If you are good at public speaking, and are interested in history and the arts, this could be the ideal job for you.

Tourist guides show visitors around places of interest, such as towns and cities, historic buildings, gardens, religious sites or museums and art galleries.

In this job it will help you if you have good communication skills and like working with people. You will also need to have a good memory for facts, figures and events.

There aren't any specific entry requirements to get into this job, but many employers would ask for a good general standard of education. However, there are courses in tourist guiding you can do that could help you develop the skills you would need.



The work

As a tourist guide you could:

  • work in one place such as a castle or historic house, or
  • accompany groups on day tours to interesting places or sites.

You would escort groups around the site or area, and give information about history, purpose, architecture or other points of interest.

Guided tours could be:

  • sightseeing tours
  • tours for special interest groups
  • themed walks.

You could also work as a 'driver guide', taking small groups of tourists on guided tours around places of interest in a car or minibus.


Hours

Your hours would vary depending on the job. Seasonal work is common, and you may be able to work part-time. You could work 40 hours a week or more during the tourist season. As a guide in an historic building, you may have regular hours while for other types of work your hours will be more variable. You are likely to work at weekends and sometimes in the evening.

You would usually spend most of your working time on your feet, and could work indoors or outdoors.


Income

Rates of pay vary depending on the employer and the location. Most tourist guides are self-employed and charge fees. See the Association of Professional Tourist Guides website for details of recommended fees for qualified guides.


Entry requirements

You would not need any set qualifications to start training as a tourist guide, but you would need a good standard of general education.

It would be an advantage if you have experience in jobs that involve dealing with the public and giving presentations. It could be useful if you speak a foreign language fluently, but this is not usually essential.

You can do courses and take exams which are accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding. Depending on the type of guiding you want to do, you could work towards qualifications such as:

  • Level 2: Fixed Route Commentary, Interpretation and Presentation – for paid or voluntary work, guiding visitors round attractions such as galleries, cathedrals or stately homes, or on fixed route tours such as river trips and open top bus trips
  • Level 3 Flexible Route Commentary, Heritage Interpretation and Presentation – for work as a guide in areas such as city and town centres, or in visitor attractions, historic buildings or heritage sites
  • Level 4: Blue Badge in Tourist Guiding – for all aspects of guiding.

In some places, such as Westminster Abbey and York Minster, Blue Badge guides are the only guides allowed (apart from in-house staff).

Courses are run by local and regional tourist bodies, colleges and other institutions. Visit the Institute of Tourist Guiding website for details of accredited courses. See the Guild of Registered Tourist Guides website for details of regional tourist boards.

Most courses are around 20 weeks long, although some can take up to two years. They are part-time, with evening lectures and practical training at weekends. Blue Badge courses in London run once a year, but in other areas they only run when there is a demand for guides.

If you work on a site where in-house guides are employed, you may receive training from the owner of the site.


Training and development

As a qualified tourist guide, you would be expected to develop your knowledge by taking part in training programmes arranged by professional associations such as the Guild of Registered Tourist Guides.

You may also be able to work towards qualifications like:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Travel and Tourism Destinations
  • Level 2 Award in UK Travel and Tourism Destinations
  • Level 3 Certificate in UK Travel and Tourism Destinations
  • Level 3 Certificate in UK Tourism.

As a member of the Institute of Tourist Guiding, you will be able to join their programme of continuing professional development (CPD). See the Institute's website for details.


Skills and knowledge

To be a tourist guide you should have:

  • an interest in working with people
  • confidence to speak to groups of people
  • excellent communication skills, and a clear voice
  • the ability to present information in an interesting way, even when repeating the same tour many times a day
  • a good memory for facts, figures and events
  • an interest in the arts, history and other related subjects, such as architecture.

More information

Institute of Tourist Guiding (Opens new window)
Coppergate House
16 Brune St
London
E1 7NJ
Tel: 020 7953 8397
www.itg.org.uk

People 1st (Opens new window)
2nd Floor
Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 01895 817 000
www.uksp.co.uk/ (careers information)
www.people1st.co.uk

Association of Professional Tourist Guides (Opens new window)
33-37 Moreland Street
London
EC1V 8HA
Tel: 020 7780 4060
www.aptg.org.uk

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides (Opens new window)
The Guild House
52d Borough High Street
London
SE1 1XN
Tel: 020 7403 1115
www.britainsbestguides.org


Opportunities

Many tourist guides are self-employed, working for tour operators or coach firms. Other employers include organisations such as the National Trust and English Heritage, and owners of visitor attractions and historic properties.

In some jobs you will only work during the summer, or work part-time as a guide alongside another career.

As an experienced guide you could work for a tour operator as a tour manager.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The travel and tourist services industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The hospitality, travel and tourism sector incorporates the following industries: contract food service providers, events, gambling, holiday parks, hospitality services, hostels, hotels, membership clubs, pubs, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, tourist services, and visitor attractions. The sector accounts for a workforce of 2.1 million, most of which are based within the restaurants, hospitality services, and pubs, bars and nightclubs industries. The roles within the sector are extremely diverse and include managers, technical staff, front-of-house staff, back-of-house staff, and non-core staff.

The travel services and tourist services industry can be divided into:

  • Travel services – these support the wider travel and tourism sector and include, for example, Thomas Cook, TUI, Co‐operative Travel Group, and STA Travel
  • Tourist services – these support inbound and domestic tourism and comprise:
    • National and regional tourist boards e.g. Visit Scotland, London Tourist Board
    • Tourist Information Centres
    • Inbound and domestic tour operators

The industry is also responsible for a large number of tourist guides that can be found at visitor attractions and on coach and independent tours.

Key facts:

  • There are 119,800 people working in the travel and tourist services industry.
  • The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 4 qualification (35%).
  • 4% of the workforce has no qualifications.
  • The majority of the workforce is female.
  • The majority of the workforce is employed full‐time.

[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]

Jobs in the industry range from: travel agent, tour guide, blue badge tour guide (level 4), business travel agency manager, home‐working travel consultant, tour operator, resort manager, tourism officer, and tourist board manager.


National and regional data

East Midlands – There are approximately 6,300 people working in the travel and tourist services industry in this region, of which:

  • 84% work full‐time
  • 53% of the workforce is female
  • 81% of the workforce is white
  • 22% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
  • 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

As the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as a whole, there are an estimated: 500 travel agency managers; 1,500 travel agents; and 400 travel and tour guides.

East of England – There are approximately 8,200 people working in the travel and tourist services industry in this region, of which:

  • 52% work full‐time
  • 64% of the workforce is female
  • 97% of the workforce is white
  • 20% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
  • 33% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

As the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as a whole, there are an estimated: 4,900 travel agents; and 1,000 travel and tour guides.

London – There are approximately 16,000 people working in the travel and tourist services industry in this region, of which:

  • 85% work full‐time
  • 52% of the workforce is female
  • 84% of the workforce is white
  • 24% of the workforce is 30‐34 years
  • 55% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 and above qualification

Taking the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as a whole, there are an estimated: 2,900 travel agency managers; 6,700 travel agents; and 1,400 travel and tour guides.

North East – There are approximately 5,700 people working in the travel and tourist services industry in this region, of which:

  • 52% work full‐time
  • The majority of the workforce is female
  • 23% of the workforce is 30‐34 years
  • 52% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

North West – There are approximately 12,000 people working in the travel and tourist services industry in this region, of which:

  • 84% work full‐time
  • 65% of the workforce is female
  • 96% of the workforce is white
  • Equal proportions of the workforce are aged 20‐24 years (18%) and 30‐34 years (18%)
  • 31% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 or above qualification

As the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as a whole, there are an estimated: 5,700 travel agents; and 1,500 travel and tour guides.

South East – There are approximately 19,200 people working in the travel and tourist services industry in this region, of which:

  • 77% work full‐time
  • 68% of the workforce is female
  • 91% of the workforce is white
  • 32% of the workforce is 30‐34 years
  • 36% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 or above qualification

As the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as a whole, there are an estimated: 2,300 travel agency managers; 7,600 travel agents; and 3,700 travel and tour guides.

South West – There are approximately 5,100 people working in the travel and tourist services industry in this region, of which:

  • 75% work full‐time
  • 82% of the workforce is female
  • 18% of the workforce is 55‐59 years
  • 43% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 or above qualification

As the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as a whole, there are an estimated: 2,700 travel agents; and 1,700 travel and tour guides.

West Midlands – There are approximately 6,800 people working in the travel and tourist services industry in this region, of which:

  • 60% work full‐time
  • 74% of the workforce is female
  • 91% of the workforce is white
  • 24% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are approximately 7,200 people working in the travel and tourist services industry in this region, of which:

  • 56% work full‐time
  • 60% of the workforce is female
  • 23% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
  • 33% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

Northern Ireland – There are approximately 43,900 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Northern Ireland, of which 1,418 work in the travel and tourist services industry in 100 establishments. Details as follows:

  • The majority of the workforce is female and full‐time
  • 50% of the workforce is aged 20‐24 years
  • 63% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 qualification

Scotland – There are approximately 183,500 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Scotland, of which 6,847 work in the travel and tourist services industry in 900 establishments. Details as follows:

  • The majority of the workforce is female and full‐time
  • 28% of the workforce is aged 25‐29 years
  • 34% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 qualification

Wales – There are approximately 86,100 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Wales, of which 5,569 work in travel and tourist services industry in 500 establishments. Details as follows:

  • The majority of the workforce is female and full‐time
  • 32% of the workforce is aged 16‐24 years
  • 46% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

Career paths


Further sources


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