Introduction

a) TOURISM:

Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purpose, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act.

According to the world Tourism Organizations, tourists are people who “travel to and stay in places outside consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited

Tourism, however long its incident duration, has become an extremely popular, global activity.

In 2004, there were over 763 million international tourist arrivals.

As a service industry, tourism has numerous tangible and intangible elements. Major tangible elements include transportation, accommodation, and other components of a hospitality industry.

Major intangible elements relate to the purpose or motivation for becoming a tourist, such as rest, relaxation, the opportunity to meet new people and experience other cultures, or simply to do something different and have an adventure.

Tourism is vital for many countries, due to the income generated by the consumption of goods and services by tourists, the taxes levied on business in the tourism industry.

For this reasons NGOs and government agencies may sometimes promote a specific region as a tourist destination, and support the development of a tourism industry in that area, The contemporary phenomenon of mass tourism may sometimes result in over development, however alternative forms of mass tourism may sometimes result in over development, however alternative forms of tourism such as ecotourism seek to avoid outcomes by pursuing tourism in a sustainable way.

As a service industry, tourism has numerous tangible and intangible elements. Major tangible elements include transportation, accommodation, and other components of a hospitality industry. Major intangible elements relate to the purpose or motivation for becoming a tourist, such as rest, relaxation, the opportunity to meet new people and experience other cultures, or simply to do something different and have an adventure.

INTRODUCTION OF TOUR GUIDE

Tour Guide Job Descriptions:.

A tour escort differs slightly and is characterized by the fact that they travel on longer tours, often overnight. “Tour guide,” however, is the generic term used to classify all forms of travel group leaders including those working on motor coaches, trains, on cruise ships, or on walking tours.

Follows are brief descriptions of each kind of tour guide job that you can get:

Sightseeing Tour Guide

A sightseeing tour guide will work predominantly on tour busses or motor coaches. Asthe name suggests, . They are chosen for specific tours dependenton their skills and knowledge of an area.

Step-On Tour Guide

A step-on tour guide is hired by a tour director or tour guide to provide specific information regarding a particular sight or attraction. As the name suggests, they step onto the bus or train for a certain portion of the tour. The tour guide in charge will make use of a step-on tour guide when entering a large national park

The most important thing that a sightseeing tour guide is going to need is a CDL, Commercial Driver’s License, as he or she will often be responsible for driving the tour bus around the city or town. Other training necessary to perform his or her duties is given by the tour company before their first job.

If you do want to stand a better chance at landing a job with a better salary, or for a larger tour company you will sometimes need to have a degree in hospitality, human resources, geology, geography, history, tourism management, sociology and earth science. Any of these are acceptable. Various training programs for tour guides are also offered and licenses are required in certain states and cities in order to lead tours and carry passengers.

• Land Tour Guide Associations and Organizations

• World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations

This organization is the international platform for all tour associations to communicate. It provides resources, training sessions, conferences, and publishes newsletters to assist all tour guide professionals.

National Tour Association

• This association is on hand to provide tour guides with courses, training information and licensing information. United States Tour Operators Association

• The USTOA website provides information about all the licensed tour operators in and United States and compares various tours.

International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators

• The IAATO offers tourism guidelines and resources for all registered tour guides and provides training and education links as well.

National Federation of Tourist Guide Associations

• This association was established in 1998 as a collective of all tour guide associations around the United States to discuss issues pertaining to tourism and the tour industry. They focus on promoting education and training for tour

Professional Tour Guide Association of Australia

• This association is aimed at helping those who want to become tour guides, as well as providing information about tour guides to visitors to Australia.

Federation of South African Tourist Guide Associations

• FSATGA is there to provide a comprehensive list of tour guide association members and provide news about the latest happenings in the South African tour guide industry.

Field Guides Association of Southern Africa

• This association provides field guides with relevant information about their industry and they provide educational opportunities regarding conservation and environmental protection of Southern Africa.

European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations

• This is the representing body of all tour guides in Europe, with members from all over Europe joining to ensure high standards and fair tour guide practice. It joins all associations and tour guide groups to form one collective body. It shows you all the ID and licensing requirements for every country in Europe and provides current news about the tourism industry.

Canadian Tour Guide Association of British Columbia

• This is the official website of the tour guide association in Canada and is run on a voluntary basis. It lists all member tour guides in British Columbia and offers news about education, meetings, and more.

Scottish Tourist Guide Association

• This association offers visitors and tour operations lists of accredited and licensed members. These are all tour guides operating inside Scotland.

Association of approved tourist guides of Ireland

• AATGI is the only association that represents all licensed and registered tour guides and tour directors in Ireland.

Defferent types of Guides

Adventure Guide

• active and challenging outdoor Advuntures like hiking, white water rafting, mountaineering, or scuba diving,providing safty tips and guidence

cultural and heritahe guide

• persons who had knowledge in devitional category and temples is called as cultural and heritage guides

Historical & Museum Guide

• people who had knowledge about historic landmarks, battlefields, ruins, and temples, is called historical guides

Food & Wine Guide

• people who had knowledge in best food hotels,restarunts,bars is known as food and wine guide

Local / City Guide:

• people who known about the localaity and places and also cities is called as loacal or city guides

Driver Guide

person who had best driving skills well known roads and routes for journey is called driver guide