How to become a Tour Guide from Udemy

Hi, my name is Paul and I’ve been a traveling tour guide for years. I can tell you already, it is the best job in the world. I get to meet so many enthusiastic people, travel to exotic destinations and enjoy my life to the fullest.

I am very excited to teach you everything that I have learned over the last 10 years as a tour guide. I really believe that after this course, you will have a wide ranging knowledge about your possibilities in the tourism industry. I want to make sure that after this course, you have a concrete action plan to put into motion. Whether you want to start your own business or find a job in the field, you will know exactly what to do to increase your chances of success.

This course gives you all the building blocks to become a great tour guide.

You will learn:

All about the tourism industry. Tourism is a growing business with lots of opportunities.
Current trends in tourism
How to talk to people.
How to create captivating stories that people will love
How to get your clients to like you
All the different kinds of jobs available in tourism
Tricks to get amazing reviews

Also, you will need to work on your charisma and public speaking. Don’t worry, it’s really not as hard as you think. So in my course I’ll also dive into.

Improving your charisma
Vocal exercises to be heard well
What to talk about on tours
Where to find fun information quickly
How to quickly prepare guided tours

And finding a job in tourism can be a bit tricky if you are not prepared well, so my course includes

How to find a job
Prepare for job interviews
Create tourism experience if you have none
Example Cover letters

Any tour guide, local guide or tourism professional needs to know how to deal with emergencies. I will teach you..

How to deal with problems on the road
How to deal with injuries and complaints
Dealing with difficult people
How to work in different cultural environments
How to deal with different languages

One of my career highlights was starting my own business, so I could really create the tours that I wanted. I’ll tell you all about..

The pros and cons of starting your own business
How to start a successful tourism business
How to become a successful local guide

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to become a tour guide
How to become a tour manager

All about the tourism industry
How to become a local guide

How to become a tour guide
How to become a tour manager
All about the tourism industry
How to become a local guide

Syllabus

This section introduces the course material and me, the teacher.

Introduction

Who Am I?

What are you going to learn?

This is the course book. You can use it if you want to read the material, instead of watching it, or to look stuff up after you finished the course

What have you learned so far?

This lesson is about the Tourism industry. In the resources you'll find a full transcript of the course in MS word format.

What have you learned in section 2

What have you learned in section 3?

What have you learned in section 4?

What have you learned in section 5?

What have you learned in section 6

What have you learned in section 7?

What have you learned in section 8?

Learn about tour busses and drivers

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides insights into creating engaging experiences, which is essential for attracting and retaining customers in the competitive tourism industry

Covers practical aspects like handling emergencies and dealing with difficult people, which are crucial for ensuring tour safety and customer satisfaction

Explores the pros and cons of starting a tourism business, offering valuable guidance for those considering entrepreneurship in the field

Includes guidance on building an online presence, which is increasingly important for attracting clients and promoting tour services in the digital age

Examines the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry, which may be useful for understanding the current landscape and adapting to new challenges

Includes a section on art history, which may not be directly relevant for all tour guide roles and could be considered tangential for some learners

Reviews summary

Comprehensive guide to becoming a tour guide

According to learners, this course provides a comprehensive overview packed with practical advice for anyone looking to become a tour guide or start a tourism business. Students particularly appreciate the sections on finding a job and the real-world tips from the instructor's extensive experience. While the course covers a wide range of topics from public speaking and dealing with difficult situations to art history basics and online presence, some learners note that certain areas might benefit from greater depth. Overall, it's considered a solid foundation for entering the tourism industry.

Covers many aspects of being a tour guide.

"The course touches on so many different areas, from history and art to public speaking and business."

"I liked that it covered everything from handling emergencies to starting your own business."

"It provides a wide-ranging knowledge base about the tourism industry and the possibilities within it."

"Explores the industry, customer interaction, public speaking, preparing tours, and finding a job."

Provides helpful supplementary materials.

"The course book/transcript was a great resource to follow along or review material."

"I found the sample cover letters particularly useful as a starting point."

"Having the transcripts available made it easier to go back and check specific points."

"Helpful resources provided alongside the video lessons."

Instructor shares valuable insights from experience.

"Paul's 10 years of experience really shine through. He shares practical tricks you won't find elsewhere."

"Hearing about his own journey and case studies, like starting his business, was very motivating and informative."

"The instructor is clearly passionate and knows what he's talking about."

"His tips on getting great reviews and dealing with difficult people come from real-world situations."

Offers concrete steps to start working.

"By the end of the course, I felt I had a concrete action plan to start putting things into motion."

"It gives you the building blocks and tells you exactly what to do next."

"Helped me feel prepared to take the next steps towards becoming a tour guide."

"Outlines a roadmap for success, especially for starting a business."

Offers concrete strategies for finding work.

"I really appreciated the lessons on finding a job and creating experience when you have none. The sample cover letters were very helpful."

"The tips on job interviews and dealing with different kinds of organizations were exactly what I needed to feel prepared."

"This section gave me a clear action plan on how to approach the job market in tourism."

"Learned practical steps for improving my chances of finding a job in the sector."

Some topics could use more detail.

"While the breadth is good, I felt some topics like art history or online presence were only briefly touched upon."

"Could benefit from more in-depth coverage on specific areas like marketing or advanced customer handling."

"Some lessons felt a bit basic, and I wished for more detailed examples or exercises."

"The course is a great introduction but might require supplemental learning for certain specialized skills."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to become a Tour Guide with these activities:

Review Basic Geography

Show steps

Strengthen your understanding of world geography to provide more informed and engaging tours.

Show steps

Review maps and atlases.
Study major geographical features.
Take online geography quizzes.

Read 'The Art of Public Speaking' by Dale Carnegie

Show steps

Improve your public speaking skills by studying this classic guide.

View The Art of Public Speaking: The Original Tool... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book and highlight key concepts.
Practice the techniques described in the book.
Record yourself speaking and analyze your performance.

Develop a Short Tour Script

Show steps

Practice creating engaging narratives by writing a script for a short tour of a local landmark.

Show steps

Choose a local landmark or attraction.
Research the history and interesting facts.
Write a 5-10 minute tour script.
Practice delivering the script.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Practice Storytelling Techniques

Show steps

Refine your storytelling abilities to captivate tour participants.

Show steps

Select a historical event or local legend.
Craft a compelling narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Practice telling the story aloud, focusing on pacing and tone.

Read 'Lonely Planet's Guide to Travel Photography'

Show steps

Learn how to take better photos to enhance your tours and marketing materials.

View Best Ever Photography Tips on Amazon

Show steps

Study the principles of composition and lighting.
Practice taking photos in different environments.
Edit your photos to enhance their quality.

Create a Virtual Tour

Show steps

Develop a virtual tour to showcase your knowledge and skills to potential clients.

Show steps

Choose a location and gather relevant information.
Record video footage or take panoramic photos.
Edit the footage and add narration.
Publish the virtual tour online.

Volunteer at a Local Museum or Historical Site

Show steps

Gain practical experience and network with other professionals by volunteering at a local museum or historical site.

Show steps

Contact local museums or historical sites.
Inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Fulfill your volunteer duties and learn from the experience.

Career center

Learners who complete How to become a Tour Guide will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Customer Service Representative

Customer service representatives provide support and assistance to customers, addressing inquiries, resolving complaints, and ensuring customer satisfaction. This course is most directly applicable to customer service in tourism. You will learn details about typical customer experiences and needs in tourism. You will also learn how to deal with injuries, difficult people, and complaints. The course will help you in your goals to improve charisma and vocal exercises, both of which are useful to someone in a customer-facing role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Representative

Tour Coordinator

A tour coordinator ensures the smooth operation of tours, handling logistics, customer service, and problem-solving. This course, designed to help you become a tour guide, provides a solid foundation for a career as a tour coordinator. Lessons such as dealing with problems on the road, handling customer complaints, and working in different cultural environments are all valuable, day-to-day skills for solving real-world issues in the field. The course will show you how to deal with emergencies, injuries, and difficult people, ensuring you are well-prepared to handle any situation that arises. Learning about the tourism industry, different kinds of tours, and how to create great experiences will help you excel in coordinating tour activities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tour Coordinator

Travel Agent

Travel agents assist clients with planning and booking travel arrangements, including tours, flights, and accommodations. This course will equip you with valuable skills to excel in this career. With its focus on the tourism industry, different types of tours, and customer engagement, it provides a strong foundation for understanding client needs and creating memorable travel experiences. You will learn how to get people to like you, create captivating stories, and prepare quickly for new destinations. The course also covers practical aspects such as dealing with emergencies and working in different cultural environments, preparing you for the challenges of assisting travelers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Travel Agent

Museum Docent

Museum docents lead tours and provide information to visitors about museum collections and exhibits. As a museum docent, you'll be communicating with the public and presenting information in an engaging manner. This course helps you improve your public speaking skills and create captivating stories that appeal to a wide audience. The course's instruction on vocal exercises and finding fun information quickly will specifically help you thrive as a docent. Moreover, the course helps you learn about art history, which is a must-know subject for walking people through a museum.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Docent

Historical Interpreter

Historical interpreters bring history to life for visitors at historical sites and museums by engaging in costumed interpretation and storytelling. This course has many skills that are directly applicable to a career as historical interpreter. In particular, you'll want to focus on the lessons on charisma, the tourism industry, and how to quickly prepare for new destinations. Furthermore, the tips and tricks offered in the third section can help you to create great experiences in a variety of heritage locations. Having excellent soft skills can set you apart from other candidates in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historical Interpreter

Travel Blogger

Travel bloggers create online content about travel experiences, destinations, and tips, often monetizing their blogs through advertising and partnerships. With this course, you will learn how to create captivating stories related to tourism. This course may be useful in helping you to find fun information and prepare quickly for new destinations. The section on how to build your own online presence is directly applicable to being a travel blogger. By understanding trends in tourism and the best ways to reach an audience, you will be well-equipped to share your adventures and insights with the world.

See salaries and explore the career path for Travel Blogger

Event Planner

Event planners coordinate and execute events, including tours, conferences, and festivals, managing logistics, vendors, and guest experiences. This course may be helpful in assisting you to hone the skills to create a job as an event planner, though this is not the main focus. Learning the tips and tricks to foster positive interactions with people, improving public speaking skills, and learning ways to deal with complaints are extremely valuable. Moreover, exploring the tourism industry and current trends will assist you in finding a niche as someone who plans experiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Event Planner

Hospitality Manager

Hospitality managers oversee the operations of hotels, resorts, and other lodging facilities, ensuring guest satisfaction and efficient management of resources. This course may be useful for some of the skills required of a hospitality manager. You will have the opportunity to gain critical communication and problem-solving skills. You will also learn about customer service and how to handle difficult situations. With the course, you have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the tourism industry, the chance to improve your public speaking skills, and the resources to deal with real-life emergencies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hospitality Manager

Theme Park Employee

Theme park employees work in various roles within theme parks, including ride operations, customer service, and entertainment. This course may be useful in preparing you for this career. With the course's instruction on how to get people to like you, vocal exercises to be heard well, and charisma improvement, this course builds a foundation for a customer-facing role. Additionally, if you want to lead tours within the theme park, the lessons on preparing guided tours will be directly useful to you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Theme Park Employee

Translator

Translators convert written or spoken content from one language to another, enabling communication across different linguistic groups. With this course, you may learn about dealing with different languages. In the course, you will learn skills for dealing with different destinations and cultures from other countries. Though this course touches briefly on dealing with various languages, it is not a primary focus, and a separate course on language acquisition is suggested.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

Concierge

Concierges provide personalized assistance to guests at hotels or residential buildings, offering recommendations, making reservations, and arranging services. This course may be helpful in some aspects of such a career. You can learn tips and tricks for creating great experiences. The customer service skills taught in this course are useful for anyone who hopes to become a concierge. This course may also help you to learn how to deal with difficult people or in emergency situations.

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Social Media Manager

Social media managers oversee a company's online presence, creating content, engaging with followers, and analyzing performance metrics. This course may be useful in helping you to improve some foundational skills. By learning how to build your own online presence, including search engine optimization, booking systems, and advertising, this course may help you with becoming a social media manager. You may also be able to apply some of the tips and tricks on how to get people to like you to help your company's online presence improve.

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Urban Planner

Urban planners develop and implement plans for the growth and development of cities and communities, considering factors such as zoning, transportation, and environmental impact. While not a direct fit, this course touches on some relevant aspects that may be useful. You will have the chance to learn a bit about local details. The course touches on how to check local laws. In addition, the course touches on how to build your own website to display your portfolio as an urban planner.

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Sales Representative

Sales representatives sell products or services to businesses or individuals, building relationships and closing deals to meet sales targets. This course may be useful in helping you to hone your communication skills. You will learn how to get people to like you, create great experiences, and improve your public speaking skills. Though you can apply some of these concepts to sales, they are not directly related.

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Blogger

Bloggers create and publish content online, often focusing on a specific niche or industry, to share information, opinions, or personal experiences. With this course, you may learn some foundational skills. The course offers instruction in how to build your own online presence. You may also learn tips and tricks to foster positive interactions with people. However, becoming a tour guide is not the same thing as becoming a blogger.

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How to become a Tour Guide

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive guide to becoming a tour guide

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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