TOUR

GUIDING

CHAPTER 1
 • Explain the meaning of tour guide

Learning • Describe the different types

• Know the trainings needed to

Objectives become a tour guide

• Discussthe role of the tour guide
At the end of this chapter you will be • Discuss the necessary skills to
able to
become a tour guide
What is your Idea of a
Tour Guide?
 Description of
Today's Tour Guide
• Guides have been called the orphans of the travel industry
because they are somewhat hidden within the trade.

• Most guides cannot bear the the expenses of running their own
business such as incorporating, advertising and renting spaces
and equipment.

• Most guides are either freelancers part timers and retired

workers since tour guiding may not be a well paying job,
• A Tour Guide is one who conducts tours or one with a broad
knowledge of a particular area whose primary duty is to inform.

• According to the tour guide code of 1987 by the Department of

tourism "A tour guide is an individual who is licensed by the local
goverment and accrdited by the DOT to guide tourist both foreign
and domestic for a fee, commission, or any lawful renumertaion"

• It is difficult to use only one job description for tour guiding

because tour guides perform several functions in practically
every kind of place one can visit.

• Other guides are employed by the travel industry and

conduct predesign tours. Others are employed by
corporations.
• The scope of a tour guide's function and expertise varies from tours of a specific piece
of art, to a room, to a large metropolitant area, to a region hundreds of miles.

• A tour guide's expertise is usually determined by geography or

history. Some guides extend their knowledge to the history of the
whole region.

• A tour guide is primarily an educator in contrast with the tour

manager whose role has more administrative and social aspects.

• A tour session typically last for a few hours but there are some
cases where the tour guide will remain for days as long as the
tourist are still in the area.

• There are no fix rules about tour guiding

Department of tourism Automated Seminar/
Training for guides

• The kind of training conducted by the DOT for tour

guides are specifically designed based on the kind of
demand for a particular tour guide in the area.
• Regional trainings can last to months. Daily topics are
presented with enthusiasm, they are also required to take
assesments, exams, oral and written validations, role
playing, video critiquing and other means used to assess
a participant.
d
Accreditation defined
• Accreditation is the certification issued by the
Department of Tourism, that the holder is recognized by
the Department, as having complied with the minimum
15
standards for the operation of the established concern.

• Before the implementation of RA 7160 ( Local

Government Code of 1991) the DOT carried the task of
licensing and accreditation of tourism establishments
and personnel including tour guides Now licensing are
given to LGUs but training and accreditaton are given
by DOT..
"An act of declaring a National Policy
for tourism as an engine of

INVESTMENT,
EMPLOYMENT, GROWTH
AND NATIONAL Another law passed which
DEVELOPMENT was still ongoing was the RA
And strenghtening the Department 9593 which stated that
of Tourism and its attached agencies
to effectively efficiently implement
that policy, and appropriating funds"
Academic requirements • Tour guiding being a profession should be backed
up by proof of educational capability in the form
for a Tour Guide of certificates, diplomas and other related claim of
attending secondary, tertiary, technical education
and enhancement seminars

• Here are other requirements

⚬ 72 Units earned and completed
⚬ Fluency in foreign language is a plus
⚬ Fluent in english:

• Local community guides are also given bic

awareness to seminars even without finishing a
secondary education.
 • A well rounded - personality and high moral and
Personality Requirementsetical standards are part of the personality
requirements expected of a personal tour guide.

• That is the most important aspects more than

education and it is the essence of a tour guide.
• Given this kind of description of an effective
professional tour guide, one has to posses a total
personality with particular character traits and
behavior, trained to develop the skills of
communication continously and to learn how to
perform ta which are sometimes beyond the call of
duty sometimes.
 Qualities of an
Other Skills
effective Tour Guide
• Love of country
• People loving
• Open mindedness
• Patient
• Honesty
• Leadership skills • Reasonable
• Punctual
• Organizational skills • Polite
• Resourcefulness
• People Skills • AssertiveFair
• Tactfulness
• Decisiveness • Good
• Selfconfidence
communicator
• Enthusiasm
• Humor
• Patience
• Humble
Types of Guides

• URBAN GUIDES. They are those who take

pleasure in telling the story of the region.
Most of them are freelaners who contract
their work by tour to tour basis but some of
them are full timers. They are expert in
their fields.
• Government Guides. The national
government employ guides to show the
cultural, political and scenic facilities to
visitors. Cities and employ part time or full
time guide depending on the need. Some of
them prefer people who knows more than 1
language.
• Driver Guides. They conduct tours while
driving, The dual role is quiet common but
it is Illegal in some areas. Driving is a big
enough responsibility and they do not need
another responsibility as a distraction. The
combined role is also considered as a
disservice to visitors.
• Business or Industry Guides. Several
corporations, large or small, hire guides to
conduct tours to their facilities to educate
visitors, promote their business or industry
and uplift the image of their company. They
are trained by the company to speak about
various topics to different kinds of visitor.
Some guides are called upon to explain the
company philosophy or mission. Thus they
are trained in presentation skills or sales
techniques. Such guide must be very
knowledgeable about the technicalities of
the operations of the business
• Adventure Guides. The dynamic, emerging
field of adventure travel demands a growing
number of guides with varied and special
skills. Av=dventure guides include
mountaineering, bicycle guides, fishing
guides and rafting guides. They must have
the devotion to the activity. The increasing
popularity of these guiding opportunities
has created a certain completion in the field
and has heightened concern about safety
and liability
• Tour Manager. The tour manager is one
who administers and regulates a tour. He is
the one responsible for the smooth
operation of the group tour. He or she
makes sure that the tourist will get what
they paid for and that the itinerary is
followed. The traditional standard for the
tourism industry is that the tour managers
provide light commentary when there is no
guide available. However they are more
likely to be knowledgable that they
adequate function as both a tour manager
and guide
• Interpreters. The word "interpreter" has
many accepted meanings among which are
translator of foreign language or anybody
that can communicate via sign language. An
interpreter is the one who practices the art
of explaination. These guides are very high
demand because some tourist cannot
understand English.
• Escorts. The one who accompanies a
foreign visitor who are officially invited by
the government. They are a well educated
linguist who travels with the visitors
throughout the country for one month to
translate for them. The primary duty of an
escort is to make sure that the guest will
recieve the accommodation, transportation
and means and events promised to them.
Escorts are very high in language
proficiency, excellent health, and broad
eductaional background.
• Docent or Volounteer Guides. A volounteer
guide is also known as a docent. In many
countries they are found in churches, visitor
centers, museums, historic houses, churches
and other places that people usually visit.
Becoming a docent is not easy as some
places are highly selective of their guides,
they need some training with experts in the
field.
Thank You