Career & application guide

Travel Guides

Get to know the work, the skills that matter, and how to prepare your next application.

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What do travel guides do?

Plan, organize, and conduct long-distance travel, tours, and expeditions for individuals and groups.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

  • Cruise Counselor
  • Guide
  • Naturalist Guide
  • Tour Coordinator
  • Tour Escort
  • Tour Manager
  • Tour Operations Specialist
  • Tour Operator

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

  • Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.
  • Plan tour itineraries, applying knowledge of travel routes and destination sites.
  • Resolve any problems with itineraries, service, or accommodations.
  • Attend to special needs of tour participants.
  • Sell travel packages.
  • Evaluate services received on the tour, and report findings to tour organizers.
  • Give advice on sightseeing and shopping.
  • Administer first aid to injured group participants.

Prepare an application for this occupation

  1. Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
  2. Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
  3. Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
  4. Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

Ready to plan your search?

Start with travel guides as your target. You can change your role in the quiz and tell us your location and work preferences.

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