Tour Escort Job Description, Career as a Tour Escort, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job

income escorts tours travel companies

Education and Training: High school; on-the-job-training

Salary: Median—$9.27 per hour

Employment Outlook: Fair

Definition and Nature of the Work

Tour escorts accompany groups of people on organized trips called "package tours." Most people who take escorted tours want the security and convenience of having transportation, accommodations, and sightseeing arranged for them. However, not all group tours are the same. There are tours for every budget, taste, and age group. Religious tours, cultural tours, reunion tours for veterans, and tours for professional and interest groups are just several examples of outings that require the services of a tour escort.

Tour escorts usually work for tour companies, which are as varied as their clientele. Some specialize in certain activities—archaeological digs or mountain climbing, for instance. Others specialize in certain markets such as students or retirees. Tour companies may be long established, internationally based, and highly structured; others may have a few operators at their head office and twenty or thirty escorts out in the field.

Tour escorts need excellent communication skills, organizational ability, and financial responsibility. They must be able to respond calmly to such crises as airline strikes and bus breakdowns. Clients expect their escorts to be both leaders and friends.

Education and Training Requirements

Summer camp counseling is a valuable way to get early experience in this field. Some colleges have started to offer degrees in tourism; however, most tour escorts learn their skills on the job. Many larger tour companies have intensive training programs in which escorts learn how to deal with potential problems. Trainees work alongside more experienced escorts until they are familiar with both company procedure and destination. Fluency in a foreign language or degrees in such subjects as art history or archaeology make it easier to find a job as a tour escort.

Getting the Job

Interested individuals can find out about the destinations and itineraries of tour operators by looking at travel agency brochures, consulting the World Travel Directory Clients expect their tour escorts to be knowledgeable and friendly. (© Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis.) (available at most large libraries), or visiting tour company Web sites. Prospective tour escorts can also apply directly to tour companies that hire escorts. Jobs in other parts of the travel industry—as a hotel clerk or an airline booking agent, for example—may enable candidates to build up personal contacts with tour operators.

Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook

Their first year on the job tour escorts typically guide groups to one place exclusively; the second year, two places; the third, three. With seniority comes a better choice of itineraries and an opportunity to train new escorts. Some tour escorts become tour supervisors who put together all the elements of the trip—transportation, hotels, meals, and sightseeing.

Although the enormous growth in the travel industry guarantees a continuing demand for tour escorts, in the future they may need more advanced training. All travel-related job opportunities are tied to economic conditions that affect the amount of money people have to spend on travel. Some tour escorts will enter the field as replacements for those who leave, but many will find openings available as the industry expands.

Working Conditions

The work of a tour escort is extremely demanding. It may involve fifteen to twenty-five consecutive weeks of work without a day off, and it requires lifting heavy luggage and making arrangements to keep even the most persnickety traveler in the group happy. Tour escorts apparently enjoy their jobs in spite of these factors, as there is a fairly low job turnover among workers in this occupation.

Earnings and Benefits

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, tour escorts earn a median salary of $9.27 per hour, but experienced escorts can make up to $150 a day, depending on the scope of the tour and the size of the group. They may also receive tips. Fringe benefits include free travel and hotel accommodations. There may be gaps between trips during which escorts do not receive a regular income. Large tour operators have organized benefits and incentive plans for office and field personnel.

Where to Go for More Information

National Tour Association
546 E. Main St.
Lexington, KY 40508
(800) 682-8886
http://www.ntaonline.com/

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User Comments

10 months ago

vipul sharma

hi this vipul, i just want to know that, is there any compelsary course in this or is there any interfere of undia government

7 months ago

i am really so intrested in take escorting tours...!

so please advise me somting about how to do escorting ?

thanks !

-vikas

about 1 year ago

David L. Gordon

Oh, so many dreamers..... I've been a professional multi-lingual tour guide/
Tour Director/ Tour Manager for over
30 years and have escorted groups to over 100 countries world wide.
It is an extremely hard and very demanding profession.
Read my book. ' Call at six - bags at seven' and you'll get the true inside story from one who knows.
Best of luck, David L. Gordon.

5 months ago

I'm a tour leader with a licence,i have long experience like touristique guide too with good refereces i'm on facebook greetings Letizia Radisi

6 months ago

i want escorting
i know russian as well as spain's
plz inform if u have any job

6 months ago

RESUME

NAME KIRAN CHAND

FATHER’S NAME MR. PREM CHAND

DATE OF BIRTH 25-DEC-1989

PARMANENT ADDRESS: HYUPANI, POST, PAVIAN, DISTT. PITHORAGARH-262501-

CONTACT +91 9568277369

E-MAIL ID kchand174@gmail.com

EDUCATION QUALIFICATION:

HIGH SCHOOL YEAR 2006

INTERMEDIATE YEAR 2008

ACADAMIC:

ONE YEAR DIPLOMA IN TOURISM AND TRAVEL MANAGMANT FROM KUMAON UNIVERSITY (NAINITAL)

WORK EXPREINCE:

1- TWO YEAR WORKED WITH Y T D O TOUR NAINITAL AS A TOUR ESCORT IN INDIA AND NEPAL.

2- I AM WORKING WITH CHAMPAWAT TIGER ADVENTURE AS A River co-guide, TRIP MAKER AND NATUROPATY TREAT.

3- Six month worked with Mahi Camp as a Jungle trek and Birds watching.

DECLERATION

I hereby declare that the above information is true to the best of my knowledge.

6 months ago

sanjay

need good girls friends.

7 months ago

8 months ago

CURRICULUM – VITAE
Arvind Singh
Behind Hotel Pelican,
Bird Sanctuary road,
Bharatpur-321001 Mobile no.: - 08058832104, 09413838813
Rajasthan E-mail: raj_wildtraveler@yahoo.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Objective

To achieve professional excellence and develop leading qualities in tourism industry.

Academic Qualification

1. B.A. from university of Rajasthan (Jaipur)
2. Senior secondary from Rajasthan board
3. Secondary from Rajasthan board

Diplomas

4. French language. (Delf A2, certificate of French language conducted by Pondicherry Alliance Francaise affiliated from Paris.
5. 3 years diplomas in Naturopathy.

Professional Qualification

1. Operating system : window 95/98/2000/Me/Xp
2. Knowledge of configuration of modem routers and basic computer hardware.

Working experience

From July 2006 till date

1. Working as approved Naturalist in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur.
2. Guiding for cycle tour organized by foreigner tour leader
3. Internship in Naturopathy (Completed)
4. Guiding Bharatpur and adjoining area.
5. Tours escorting
Personal details

Father’s Name : Shri Devi Singh

Mother’s Name : Smt. Suman Devi

Date of Birth : 22, Nov. 1987

Sex : Male

Marital status : Single

Nationality : Indian

Religion : Hindu

Languages Known : Hindi, English, French

Declaration

I hereby declare that all the information furnished above are true to the best of my knowledge.

about 1 year ago

i wanna get good job as a tour escort

8 days ago

i'm working as a free lance english speaking tour escort with inbound tours of india since 1998 onwards. i specialise in cultural and heritage tours of india taking all sizes of [foreigners]group all over india and nepal
any one needing my services can contact me at my mail id - rathorecv@yahoo.com

3 months ago

I am working as a Tour Escort in Southern Travel Pvt. Ltd. for the past Six Month in domestic only.
I want to join the Outbound MNC in travel industry i.e. SOTC. I have competed M.B.A (tourism management) in 2010.Any information about it call me at 09910360463 or email sunilshukla.paradise@gmail.com

4 months ago

vivek

i am really so intrested in take escorting tours...!

4 months ago

vivek

i am really so intrested in take escorting tours...!

4 months ago

hello sir/madam imyself karni singh chauhan working as a local tourist guide in udaipur and like to work as english tour escort for fit or 5 to 10 people group

thanks

karni singh

4 months ago

hello sir/madam imyself karni singh chauhan working as a local tourist guide in udaipur and like to work as english tour escort for fit or 5 to 10 people group

thanks

karni singh

5 months ago

I'm a tour leader with a licence,i have long experience like touristique guide too with good refereces i'm on facebook greetings Letizia Radisi

5 months ago

I'm a tour leader with a licence,i have long experience like touristique guide too with good refereces i'm on facebook greetings Letizia Radisi

5 months ago

I'm a tour leader with a licence,i have long experience like touristique guide too with good refereces i'm on facebook greetings Letizia Radisi

5 months ago

Hi My name is John. I live in Bodh Gaya actually I read ure comment and I relize u to much thinking and som people giving u a bad suggestion but u don’t think ure Rajdhani Train is so
Nice nothing happen u relax. I am living in Bodhgaya I am a student and doing tour guide
Work also actuall its my hobby I like visitor like u. if u want I come Gaya station for receving u
By Birth I am living here don’t worry I am a nice guy. This is my sell no 9430406213 call me
Or mail me at arifzeram@yahoo.com. I have motor Bike also if u want visit around all Bodh gaya
Cities I give u company. Bye and Take care. U a nice one I read ure complete blogger profile
Also.Bye I am wating for ure rply

6 months ago

8 months ago

Respected Sir
I would like to humbly put forth my interest in working with your
esteemed organization.
I feel my experience in your organization will be beneficial for me as
an employee as I will get a chance to work with an esteemed upcoming
and honest organization and I will be able to use my abilities to the
best of my capacity. sir i want to work as tour guide and escort i know Spanish and English very well

Shashwat Bhatt

9 months ago

Hi sir\madam.....

I am Kiran chand from uttrakhand(nainital).sir i have done one year diploma in tourism and travel managment from kumaon university Nainital and also doing work in tour company for two year as a tour escort in india and nepal. so sir if you have any apoortunity(job) for me please help me....Kiran chand

9 months ago

i want job.no.9702575969

9 months ago

Dear Sir
I would like to humbly put forth my interest in working with your
esteemed organisation.
I feel my experience in your organization will be beneficial for me as
an employee as I will get a chance to work with an esteemed upcoming
and honest organization and I will be able to use my abilities to the
best of my capacity.

I hereby submit my resume for the same purpose.

Sincerely

Adarsh Gurg

ph no. :9236532003,9279105671
e mail: garg.adarsh@gmail.com

Work Experience: 6 months (Tourism and Hospitality)

10 months ago

vipul sharma

hi this vipul, i just want to know that, is there any compelsary course in this or is there any interfere of undia government

10 months ago

hi this is sunny tour coordinater and searching job for group escort???? for india.

10 months ago

I have 4 years experience as a chauffeur in Kerala-India and 2 years as a tour escort for spatial group like painting,Photography, walking and cycle group from UK.
But I have no enough work so I want to work with other companies.
mail me: amineshs@yahoo.com

10 months ago

11 months ago

cynthia bhatti

I want to do mumbai city suburb and elephant a tour as i worked as a PRO at cottage industry apsara international at colaba cause way

about 1 year ago

hi sir/ mam i v done diploma in spanish language also done graduation recently.now i wanna becom an escort/guide in tourisum sector. plz suggess me how to get and where can i get this jos...... spanish language tour guide/escort. plz help me contact no.9873467865

about 1 year ago

rudraksh

hight=6.2ft
weight=60kg
colour normal
looking =good and sexy

about 1 year ago

I'm tour excort and guide with the licence if you need my collaboration please contact me

over 1 year ago

This article is very much useful to me. I had did Diploma in International Travel & Tourism Management.I want to be a tour escort.Pls suggest me what i should do

over 1 year ago

hi..i am graduate in tourism and have sound knowledge of french language. currently i am working as a tour representative in a travel agency. now i want to join a travel agency that have french related work.. please help me

about 2 years ago

iam working as a cultural and high mountain trekking & tour guide in himachal,manali. i am a mountaineer , 5 years eperience around himalaya and zanskar range. i want to work independently . how it is possible?

almost 3 years ago

i am japenese tour escort presently i am working in tour comany but i want to work with you how is possible

over 3 years ago

I have a great aspiration to be an escort.I m doing a special course- Diploma In Destination Management, to get my goal.

i want to contact with guys who r intrested in this kind of job.

thanks

Ashish Solanki,

Agra

over 3 years ago

this is a gr8 information about tour escort. i did not know what is tour escort.i also want to b a tour escort.
i have learned french. and i can speak 4 language of india and english also.

over 3 years ago

can i find job as a tourist escort.current-m working as a freelancer tourist escort

almost 4 years ago

This article has been very helpful to me. As an aspiring tour escort. Thanks!