CHAPTER 2

SCOPE OF A TOUR
GUIDE’S WORK
Maria Dolores N. Salamanca, MPA
• The best way to define the scope of work that the tour
guide does is dependent on the amount of tasks
required for a particular tour assignment.

• Several factors are to be considered:

• composition of the group
• profile of the guests
• the type of tour

• The amount of work they have to perform will define how

much effort is needed for the tour, both mentally and
physically, and according to the provisions included in the
tour.
 Tour Guide defined
• A tour guide is a person who takes tourists around the places of
interest, on foot (walk about tour or walking tour) or on the bus
(running or rolling tour). He is expected to impart/share important
information to the guests during the tour.

Given this task, a tour guide must be able to present two basic assets:

1. have the personality to present and deliver the information clearly,

enjoyably, with the skills of an entertainer;

2. have the ability to convey factual and interesting data with the skills of
a teacher, lecturer, speaker and entertainer coupled with the humor,
wits and energy to perform effectively.
• Ready to face people

• Havethe confidence to talk in front of the listening guests

• Have enough courage to answer questions (pertinent and

otherwise, anything under the sun)
• Trained to stand in front , not to get distracted by the moving vehicle
while talking with the guests and delivering commentary
• Able to project good values, ethics and professionalism on tour

• Prepared for any decision-making as the need arises

• Speak with the heart and connect with the audience/guests

• Perform other tasks according to the situation which can be beyond

the tour guiding work.
 The COURIER
• In some countries, the tour guide becomes
a COURIER with the tasks to perform,
which are not part of the tour guiding work,
but applicable for those who are
permanently employed with a tour /travel
agency (Tour coordinator)
 The GUIDE-LECTURER
• Being in the tourism industry before entering a tour
guiding career is an advantage. Knowing the
characteristics of this dynamic industry will allow the
tour guide to perform tasks in relation to his
background. Industry and academe are
complimentary.Knowledgable about several
aspects of the Tourism industry, economics,
environment, employment, history & culture.

• Trends and updates about Tourism - current

situation, impacts on the local community, issues,
challenges brought about by Tourism.

• Deeper understanding of the both the industry

and academe.Teaching profession can be
complimentary to being a practicing Tour guide, with
a combination of theories and experience.
 The TOUR MANAGER

• This term is use to describe those who are

generally employed to carry out courier and
administrative tasks while accompanying a
group on an extended tour of several days,
probably over a considerable distance, involving
a number of destinations.
 The ESCORT/HOSTESSES

• This task covers the work of a service provider in a

reception, social gatherings, special events such as
product launching, soft opening of hotel, resort,
recreational facility and other celebrations. This also
includes being assigned at the tour desk of an
international event like APEC Leaders’ meeting, tourism
forum, travel expositions, etc.
 TYPES OF TOUR
• Culinary Tour – or Food Tour is a
professionally guided tour of the local and
authentic food of destinations that may include
activities such as food preparation, food tasting
hands-on demonstration and workshops.

• Daily run tour– a tour conducted on a regular

basis, usually available daily.
 TYPES OF TOUR
• Eco –tour – ecology or presevation of the environment
is the focus of an eco-tour. Various types of eco-tours
can be availed according to the needs of the guests that
involves both soft and hard activities like hiking,
spelunking, bird watching, kayaking, sky walking, zipline,
canyoneering, cultural immersion, and a lot more.

• Farm Tour – visit to famous agri-farm sites that involves

actual experience of fruit/vegetable picking, harvesting,
planting of farm products, pick-and-pay and other
activities. This may include orientation about organic
farming.
 TYPES OF TOUR
• Museum tour – a visit to the museums as the main part
of the tour.

• Other specially arranged tour – any type of tour

specifically designed for a tourist based on his need and
requirement like farm tourism, spa and wellness, agri-
tourism, visit to a tribal community,and others.

• Pilgrimage tour – going to places of worship, churches

and religious statues and images are the main attraction
of the tour.
 TYPES OF TOUR
• Private tour – participated by a an individual or
couple, or family which has the privacy of having
their own schedule and specific itinerary, and
private transportation including a Tour guide.

• Seat-in-coach (SIC) – joined by tour members,

from different pick up points , but going to one
and the same destination. They normally do not
know each other prior to the tour.
 TYPES OF TOUR
• Technical tour – may be referred to as plant/company tour –
participated by graduating students as part of their educational, out-
of-the classroom observation and immersion activity, related to their
field of specialization.

• Walking tour – a type of tour where members have to do a lot of

walking to see the different places of interests identified in the tour
itinerary.

• War memorial tour – a visit to cemeteries of fallen heroes during

the war, including markers and memorabilias in honor of the soldiers
who fought and died during the WWII (Death March, Corregidor
Island Tour).
 TYPES OF TOUR GUIDES
• City guide – does city guiding and points the many different
highlights of a city, usually doing this on board a coach, van or any
transport service. There are some instances that guests would go
down and do some walking.
• Docents – guides who volunteer normally for a small museum or
archive, often work for free.
• Driver-guide – a tour guide and driver at the same time. Performs
guiding work while driving.
 TYPES OF TOUR GUIDES
• Free lance guide – a person who is not permanently
connected with tour/travel agency and paid per trip.
• Indigenous guide – usually a member of a tribe, a
native of a certain community who has a deep
understanding of the cultural background of his people.
• Local guide – a person competent enough to give
information on a certain area or locality.
 TYPES OF TOUR GUIDES
• Naturalist guide – an expert on natural attractions such
as caves, lakes, rivers, mountains ,volcano, etc.
• On-site guide – conducts tour for an hour or more at a
specific building, place or site like a museum curator who
is well- informed about the place.
• Personal or private guide – guiding service is on call
basis, for an individual or small group, exclusive tour.
 TYPES OF TOUR GUIDES
• Specialized guide – guide whose expertise or skills are highly
unique and not many of this type are available.
• Specialist guide – one who specializes in certain field such as arts,
architecture, churches, flora and fauna, mountains, etc.
• Staff guide – one who is permanently connected with a tour/travel
agency and paid per day or monthly basis.
• Step-on guide – a guide who gets on the bus to do the commentary
about a certain facility, area or site.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Tour
Guide
1. Provide the guests with information, which is a product
of research. Explains it fairly, without prejudice.

2. Avoid opinionated commentaries by making negative,

and insulting remarks that will embarass the Philippine
government, the people, their culture and traditions.

3. Ensure a factual presentation of information, distinguish

true stories from, legends, traditions, rituals and
opinions.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Tour
Guide
4. Act fairly and reasonably in all dealings with colleagues,
suppliers and co-workers in the tourism industry.

5. Always act with tact and diplomacy in dealing with the

guests.

6. Never report for duty when intoxicated with alcohol.

7. Never take advantage of the ignorance of the guests,

who rely on the information you are sharing with them.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Tour
Guide
8. Be prepared to attend to the guest’s needs and make sure that their
visit will be a good memory to keep.

9. Never allow yourself to be used by unscrupulous group and take

advantage of your contact with the guests as their guide.

10. Ensure guest’s safety

– Warn them about plants that might cause some allergies

– Food and drinks that might not suit their digestive system

– Elevation for those with vertigo or fear of height

– Dogs that might bite

– Presence of pickpockets in crowded areas.

Duties and Responsibilities of a Tour
Guide
10. Protect the reputation of tourism in the country
by making every guiding assignment a treat with
respect to the environment, wildlife, sights and
monuments, local customs and sensitivities.

11. Act as representative of the country and the

people.
Basic Procedures in Receiving
Guests Including Check In &
Check out
 Check In
• Try to make the guests feel comfortable

• Give basic information about the country, city or area (transfer in

commentary)
• Check with the tour leader the roominglist. This way, you save time
to know who are rooming partners, the kind of accommodation paid
for, meal requests and other concerns about the group.
• Collect the voucher issued by their travel agent as proof of the
services to be provided as specified.
• In the absence of the tour coordinator, explain to the guests the
hotel policy such as deposits thru credit card for incidental expenses
or personal accounts.
• Show the facilities, hotel services and amenities of the hotel.

• Coordinate with the tour escort regarding reconfirmation of onward

flights, remind the guests about airport taxes and terminal fees.
• Remind them of the next day’s movement according to their itinerary
(time of departure, assembly place, duration of the tour, etc.)
 Check Out
• The night before departure, remind the group regarding the time of
departure to avoid delay.
• Coordinate with the hotel cashier on outstanding accounts of the
guests, room keys to be surrendered.
• Take charge of the baggage collection, ensure there are complete
luggage before boarding them.
• Check the flight schedules, if there are changes.

• Remind them of their passports, tickets and other important

documents and personal belongings.
• Avoid dramatic good byes.
 THANK YOU!

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