Personal Care & Service
Travel Guides
Also called: Cruise Counselor, Guide, Naturalist Guide, Tour Coordinator
US median pay
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not published
Job growth 2025–35
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Openings a year (US)
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Typical entry education
High school diploma
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Plan, organize, and conduct long-distance travel, tours, and expeditions for individuals and groups.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Explain hunting and fishing laws to groups to ensure compliance.
- Lead individuals or groups to tour site locations and describe points of interest.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Service Orientation4.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Persuasion3.8/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Negotiation3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- English Language3.3/5
- Sales and Marketing3.2/5
- Administrative3.0/5
- Transportation2.9/5
- Administration and Management2.9/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma46%
- Some college21%
- Less than high school18%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.