Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR24-2S-2021-2022

College: Forestry, Environment and Resources Management

Campus: Bayombong

DEGREE PROGRAM BSECO COURSE NO. ECOTOUR 24

SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE Tour Guiding and Escorting

YEAR LEVEL 3 TIME FRAME 3 hrs WK NO. 1 IM NO. 2

I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE

Unit 1. Introduction to Tour Guiding

II. LESSON TITLE

Introduction to Tour Guiding

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

Unit 1 introduces the learners to tour guiding as a profession. It provides a discussion on the core
concepts in tour guiding services, including the definition of tour and tour guiding. The unit likewise
describes the types of tour guides in the past and at present, as well as the career opportunities in tour
guiding.

IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to explain the basic concepts in tour guiding
services, identify the roles of a tour guide, discuss the history of tour guiding in the world and in the
Philippines. Explore opportunities for tour guiding services as a career and discuss the relevance of the
course.

V. LESSON CONTENT

Lesson 2. History of Tour Guiding

History of Tour Guiding

The roles that tour guides play have changed over time. Zenaida Cruz (2008) provides an
account of the evolution of these roles throughout history.

Ancient Times

Tour guides have been around since the ancient times when travelers found the need for guides
who could help them in their journey. The information that guides provide were prized by many
historians, including Herodotus who valued guides who could recite “with great authority, dates,
dialogues, and other specifics about people who had lived hundreds of years ago.” Homer’s literary
piece Iliad mentioned guides who showed the battlefields and the shores where the Greek ships
arrived. (Cruz 2008, 13).

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 1 of 4

“In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this
material may be reproduced for educational purposes only
and not for commercial distribution”
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR24-2S-2021-2022

Dark-Middle Ages
With the fall of the Roman Empire, this period is regarded as a dangerous time in European
history. Thus, the period emphasized the guides’ role as safety escorts for travelers, including pilgrims
and businessmen.(Cruz 2008, 14)

Renaissance

During the Renaissance, guides took a more demanding role – that of an educator or a mentor
in addition to the role of protector- when the Grand Tour became a fashion as a rite of passage for sons
of well-to-do Europeans. A carefully appointed guide served as the young man’s tutor and chaperone
as he went on a journey through a prescribed route from England through France, Germany, Austria,
Switzerland, to Italy, which was the final destination. After which, the student would return and be
welcomed home as a gentlemen. (Cruz 2008, 14)

Modern Age

No evidence exists of organized training for guides before the 20 th century other than the
company training given by the Thomas Cook Travel Agency (Wei Hu 2007). England is one of the first
countries to regulate and train guides when authorities were prompted by the guides’ aggressive
competition with each other for the business that tourists bring in the 1930s. today, many countries train
and accredit guides to maintain standards and professionalism.

Nonetheless, even though the guide’s roles have evolved over time, the history of the tour
guiding profession still confirms the roles that tour guides play even to this day: as communicator,
educator, and shepherd who takes care of the tourists.

Career Opportunities in Tour Guiding

How can one become a tour guide nowadays? In the Philippines, the Department of Tourism
(DOT) (1995) defines a tour guide as “an individual who guides tourists, both foreign and domestic, for
a fee.”

According to the DOT’s Rules and Regulations to Govern the Accreditation of Travel and Tour
Services (1995), the requirements for the issuance of accreditation to a tour guide are the following:

1. Proof that the applicant has passed a seminar for tour guides duly conducted by the Department, or
other agencies duly authorized by the Department to conduct the seminar.
2. Certificate of good health issued by any duly accredited government physician
3. Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
4. In the case of alien applicants, valid visa from the Bureau of Immigration and the proper permit from
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
5. Mayor’s permit or municipal license
6. Latest Income Tax Return
7. Such other documents that DOT may require from time to time

The Mayor’s permit is necessary because it identifies the place where the tour guide works. As
mentioned in the WFTGA definition, a tour guide’s qualification should be “area-specific”.

Types of Tour Guide

Nowadays, there are different types of employment opportunities as tour guides. Here are the
types of guide based on how they earn:

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 2 of 4

“In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this
material may be reproduced for educational purposes only
and not for commercial distribution”
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR24-2S-2021-2022

Employed Guides

Employed guides are those employed by a company who earn a regular wage whether there
are clients or none. These companies include the government, private travel agencies, museums, and
industries that run their own tour facilities. Based on an average of 16 tours per month, a tour guide in
the Philippines can earn P16,000 to P40,000 per month. Tour guides can also earn from tips or
monetary gifts from clients in addition to the regular wage, if the employer allows. Tips can range from
P100 to 100USD per tour.

Freelance Guides

Freelance guides are entrepreneurs who, like other businessmen, depend on the influx of
clients to earn. These are self-employed guides who make and sell their own tours.

Docile or Volunteer Guides

Docile or volunteer guides are unemployed guides who are mostly hobbyists such as retirees
and environmental advocates. They earn non-monetary rewards such as friendship, experience, and
cultural exchange. Some volunteer guides accept tips too.

Here are the types of guide based on their specialization:

Plant Guides

Plant guides are employed by corporations, usually as part of the public relations department.
They conduct tours in the company’s plant or factory, with the primary aim of uplifting the company’s
public image by educating visitors about their business goals and operations. In a way, they are like
museum guides who specialize in a particular collection.

Adventure Guides

Adventure guides are, first and foremost, hobbyists who love a particular sporting acitivity and
introduce this activity to the tourists. They require a special skill set, including those related to guest
safety. In the Philippines, for instance, cave guides undergo an accreditation process that is different
from that of a city guide.

City Guides

City guides specialize in a particular city or province. They guide tourists to see the city’s places
of interest while providing information on its history and heritage, and their relevance to the country’s
socio-economic development. City guides may be freelancers, government employees, travel agency
employees, or volunteers.

Other types of guides include golf guide, shopping guide, special interest guide, and cultural and
heritage guide, all of whom specialize in a particular activity, collection or location.

Relevance of the Tour Guiding Course

Tour guiding can be a rewarding occupation, especially in areas frequented by tourists. Some
tour guides earn enough from tips alone. There are tour guides in Manila and Cebu who regard tour
guiding as a lifelong career. They have raised their families through tour guiding proceeds. Some have
risen up the corporate ladder and rose to executive positions in their companies.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 3 of 4

“In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this
material may be reproduced for educational purposes only
and not for commercial distribution”
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ECOTOUR24-2S-2021-2022

Whichever path they choose, ,most tour guides remain steadfast in their dedication to the
profession for the non-monetary gratifications, such as meeting people and learning about other
people’s cultures as well as their own.

Tour guides play an important role in the multibillion-dollar tourism industry. Tourism cannot
progress without trained manpower. As professionalism is one of the core elements of tour guiding, it is
imperative to provide a well-defined program for training aspiring tour guides. The inclusion of tour
guiding as one of the specialization tracks in the K to 12 curriculum in the Philippines is therefore a
significant advancement toward harnessing the potentials of tourism growth in the country.

II. EVALUATION (Note: Not to be included in the student’s copy of the IM)

III. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Answer the question in your own words.

1.Based from what you read about the history, can you summarize important details how tour guiding
started.

Note: Please upload, submit, or turn in your work to our Google classroom.

IV. ASSIGNMENT

None

V. REFERENCE/S

Angeles, Marie V. (2021). Global Culture and Tourism Geography. Sta. Cruz Manila

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 4 of 4

“In accordance with Section 185. Fair Use of a Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this
material may be reproduced for educational purposes only
and not for commercial distribution”