In the world of tourism, a tour guide plays an important role in providing a pleasant and memorable travel experience for tourists. He is responsible for organizing and leading excursions, explaining tourist attractions, providing recommendations on food and accommodation, and solving any problems that may occur during the trip. However, becoming a guide is not as easy as one might imagine.
There are a number of requirements that must be met to become a good tour guide, including education and qualifications, knowledge of tourist attractions, strong interpersonal skills, and official licenses or certifications if required. In this article, we will discuss in detail what the guide is, their duties, and the requirements needed to become a successful tour guide.
What is Tour Guide
A tour guide or tour guide is someone whose job is to provide guidance and guidance to tourists during a tour. The main task of a guide is to guide and provide information about the tourist places visited, as well as to help maintain the safety and comfort of tourists.
The guide must have good knowledge of the tourist spots to be visited, including history, culture and other interesting things. They must also be able to explain clearly and in detail about these tourist attractions so that tourists can understand them well.
In addition, they must also have good interpersonal skills, such as the ability to communicate well, be able to lead and organize well, and understand foreign cultures and languages. They also have to be alert and ready to help tourists in any situation.
In general, tour guides work in groups, arrange tour trips at a certain time and visit certain tourist spots. However, there are also tour guides who work privately, namely helping and providing guidance to tourists traveling alone or with small groups.
In carrying out their duties, the tour guide must ensure that the tour runs smoothly and according to the wishes of the customer. This includes selecting tourist destinations, arranging transportation, accommodation, food and drink, and other activities.
Tour Guide Duties
As the guide, your main task is to provide guidance and guidance to tourists or customers during the tour. Here are some of the tasks to be done:
1. Organize Travel Itineraries
Guides are responsible for planning and organizing travel trips so that they run smoothly and according to the wishes of the customer. This includes selecting tourist destinations, arranging transportation, accommodation, food and drink, and other activities.
2. Greet Tourists and Provide Initial Information
They must welcome tourists in a friendly manner and provide initial information about the tour they will take. This includes information about travel schedules, tourist attractions to be visited, and important things to pay attention to during the trip.
3. Provide Information about Tourist Attractions
They must have good knowledge of the tourist attractions to be visited, including history, culture, and other interesting things. They must also be able to explain clearly and in detail about the tourist places visited so that tourists can understand them well.
4. Organizing Tourism Activities
During the tour, the guide must organize and supervise the activities carried out by tourists, including tourism activities, events and entertainment. They also have to make sure the activity is safe and in accordance with the wishes of the customer.
5. Maintain the Safety and Comfort of Tourists
The guide must ensure that the safety and comfort of tourists is guaranteed during the tour. This includes transport arrangements, security, and explaining the rules and hazards that may occur.
6. Assist Travelers with Special Needs and Requests
The guides must assist travelers with special needs and requests, such as the provision of special meals, lodging or medical facilities. They also have to be alert and ready to help tourists in any situation.
7. Solving Problems that Occur
The tour guide must be ready to address and resolve problems that occur during the tour, such as transportation difficulties or tourists' health problems. They must be able to take quick and appropriate action in solving the problem.
These are some of the tasks that must be carried out by the guide. In addition, they must also have good interpersonal skills, such as the ability to communicate well, be able to lead and organize well, and understand foreign cultures and languages.
Requirements to Become a Tour Guide
Here are some general requirements that must be met:
1. Education and Qualifications
Usually one must have at least a high school graduate or equivalent to become a tour guide. However, some companies may require higher educational qualifications such as a bachelor's or diploma in tourism or similar. In addition, there are several training programs or courses available to learn the necessary skills as a tour guide.
2. Knowledge of Tourist Attractions
They must also have good knowledge of the tourist spots to be visited. They should know the history, culture and other interesting things about the place. In addition, they must be able to explain clearly and in detail about these tourist attractions so that tourists can understand them well.
3. Language Ability
Tour guides must be able to speak in a language understood by the tourists they serve. The language skills required depend on the tourist attractions to be visited and the tourists served. They must be able to communicate fluently in English, and may also have to be able to speak other languages commonly used by tourists.
4. Interpersonal Skills
A tour guide must have good interpersonal skills, such as the ability to communicate well, be able to lead and organize well, and understand foreign cultures and languages. They must be able to build good relationships with tourists and keep tourists feeling comfortable during the tour.
5. License or Certification
Some countries and territories require an official license or certification to become a tour guide. In order to obtain this license, prospective tour guides must attend courses or official training, and take exams to prove that they have the knowledge and skills required as tour guides.
5. Work Experience
Previous work experience in the tourism industry can be a plus in getting a job as a tour guide. For example, experience working in a hotel or restaurant, experience working as a local tour guide, or experience working in other tourism industries.
6. Health Conditions
Being a guide must be in good health to carry out their duties. They must be able to withstand tiring journeys, and be able to deal with emergency situations that may occur during the journey.
What is the salary range for a tour guide?
The salary of a guide in Indonesia varies depending on several factors such as work experience, the type of tourists served, location, and how often they work. On average,guide salaries in Indonesia range from IDR 2 million to IDR 8 million per month.
However, there are also guides who receive salaries below or above this range depending on the type of tour served, the number of tourists they bring, as well as their qualifications and work experience. In addition to salary, some tour guides may also receive tips from the tourists they serve, which can increase their income.
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Conclusions
A tour guide is someone whose job is to provide guidance and guidance to tourists during a tour. They have good knowledge of the tourist spots visited and good interpersonal skills to help keep travelers safe and comfortable.
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