St Mary’s College (Ponsonby)
Tour Guide Kaiārahi Rōpū Haere
Tour guides escort people on sightseeing, educational or other tours, and describe points of interest.
Tour guides may do some or all of the following:
- escort people on trips or tours, including tours into natural areas
- describe and explain points of interest on the trip or tour
- arrange entry to places such as museums, government buildings and exhibitions
- answer questions and give out written information
- arrange or prepare meals and accommodation
- drive a vehicle such as a bus or coach
- act as an interpreter
- market their business (if it is a privately owned tour company).
Physical Requirements
Tour guides need to be reasonably fit as they may do a lot of walking or physical activities. They may also need to lift heavy luggage onto buses or coaches.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for tour guides includes:
- work in the tourism and hospitality industries
- experience as a volunteer host at museums or other attractions
- work involving contact with the public and people from other cultures
- public speaking
- travel experience.
Personal Qualities
Tour guides need to be:
- good communicators
- friendly, outgoing and able to put people at ease
- polite, patient and professional
- helpful and perceptive to visitors' needs
- able to relate to people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds
- good at planning, organisation and time management.
Skills
Tour guides need to have:
- knowledge of the area they cover and its features or attractions
- knowledge of New Zealand culture, history, society, geography, flora and fauna
- knowledge of other cultures
- good driving skills
- leadership and public speaking skills.
Conditions
Tour guides:
- may work a 40-hour week, do shift work including evenings and weekends, work part time, or work only during the peak season
- may work outside in all weather conditions, or inside a museum or other attraction
- may travel for their job, locally or nationally.
Subject Recommendations
There are no specific requirements to be come a tour guide. However, English, maths, Asian or European languages and te reo Māori are useful.
Related Subjects
Tour guides can progress to work as:
- consultants to tourism businesses
- managers, marketers or owners of tourism businesses
- tour package co-ordinators.
Years Of Training
There are no specific requirements to become a tour guide, as skills are gained while working. However, tour guides can complete on-the-job qualifications such as the New Zealand Certificate in Tour Guiding.
Tour guides who drive passengers need special licences
Tour guides who drive passenger vehicles need to have:
- a full Class 1, 2 or 4 driver licence (depending on the size of the vehicle). Class 2 and 4 are heavy vehicle licences
- a 'P' (passenger) endorsement on their licence, which shows they can carry passengers. Drivers need to have their full licence for at least two years before they can get the P endorsement.
- New Zealand Transport Agency website - information on driver licensing
- New Zealand Transport Agency website - information on passenger endorsements
You may need to apply for a visa through Immigration New Zealand
If you are not a New Zealand citizen or resident, you may need to apply for a specific purpose work visa before you arrive in New Zealand to work as a tour guide.
If you are a tour guide who is a Chinese national, you may be able to apply under the China Special Work Category. You can apply from within New Zealand if you hold a valid work or student visa.
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