SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Tour Guides and Escorts

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

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What do Tour Guides and Escorts do?

A Tour Guide and Escort is a professional responsible for leading and assisting groups of travelers during their journeys to various locations, offering insights, context, and expertise about the destinations. They play a crucial role in enhancing the travel experience by providing information on cultural, historical, and geographical aspects of the places visited. This role often involves planning itineraries, coordinating transportation, and ensuring the safety and satisfaction of all participants. Tour Guides may work independently or with travel agencies, and they can lead tours ranging from local city explorations to extensive international travel. Their ability to engage with diverse groups and adapt to different circumstances contributes significantly to the overall enjoyment and education of tourists. Additionally, Tour Guides and Escorts often serve as a bridge between travelers and local communities, promoting cultural exchange and sustainability in tourism.

What the work actually is

  • Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
  • Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
  • Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
  • Conduct educational activities for school children.
  • Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Abilities

  • Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech Clarity The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Far Vision The ability to see details at a distance.
  • Speech Recognition The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • History and Archeology Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  • Communications and Media Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • Education and Training Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate

A normal week

  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Getting Information
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Electronic mail software Email software · Microsoft Outlook
  • Presentation software Microsoft PowerPoint · Pear Deck
  • Customer relationship management CRM software Centaur Systems Centaur Travel Business Management System TBMS · IBS Software Services Tour Partner · Softrip Travel Software System · TourTech Systems TourTools
  • Graphics or photo imaging software Adobe Photoshop · SmugMug Flickr
  • Internet browser software Apple Safari · Microsoft Internet Explorer

Tools

  • Electronic charts or maps or atlases ActiveMap Tour Guide software
  • Mobile medical services first aid kits First aid kits
  • Mobile phones Cell phones
  • Busses Tour buses
  • Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers Personal digital assistants PDA

Who it suits

Social

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Enterprising

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

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Questions people ask

How much do Tour Guides and Escorts earn in South Africa?

Tour Guides and Escorts salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Tour Guides and Escorts do?

Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions, Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries and Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.