Just got your Tourist Guide qualification? Or thinking about becoming one?
If you’re newly qualified, here’s the truth: the real learning curve is still ahead of you. If you’re considering it, read on for an honest insight into this fulfilling – but challenging – profession.
It’s Not All Glamorous Travel
Contrary to popular belief, the life of a Guide isn’t one long holiday in exotic destinations living in luxury.
Some Guides experience that. Most don’t.
The reality? Daily routines that are genuinely routine – punctuated by curveballs ranging from minor hiccups to full-blown disasters requiring serious problem-solving.
What It Really Takes
After 25 years on the road (including training and mentoring dozens of Guides), I’ve learned which personal qualities actually matter. This isn’t theory – it’s what works in practice:
People Skills:
- Genuinely like people (you can’t fake this)
- Be likeable yourself
- Gregarious without the ego
- Sensitive to people’s needs
- Empathetic listener
Professional Skills:
- Quick decision-maker
- Adaptable to people and situations
- Methodical planner
- Clear thinker under stress
- Comfortable saying “I don’t know” (then finding out and reverting)
The Most Important Lesson:
My personal favorite from 25 years of hard-won experience?
CHECK. CHECK. CHECK AGAIN.
You might just stand a chance of getting things right.
At a Crossroads?
I was 47 when I stood at that same crossroads, attracted by the promise of “Life as a Tourist Guide.”
Twenty-five years later, I can tell you it delivered on that promise – but not in the ways I expected.
If you’re considering this path, I’m committed to sharing the practical realities that no training course teaches you. The real-world experiences that make the difference between struggling and thriving.
Ready to discover if Tourist Guiding is your path to independence?