At Work People in these occupations are employed by tour operators, resorts and private companies. Tour guides escort individuals and groups on tours of cities, waterways and other attractions, and may collect admission fees and sell souvenirs. Travel guides escort individuals and groups on vacations and business trips, take care of transportation and accommodation reservations and handle travel problems. Outdoor adventure and recreation guides organize and conduct trips and expeditions for sports enthusiasts, adventurers, tourists and resort guests. Education, Training and Experience People in these occupations require different educational and training backgrounds.
Most recent entrants have a high school or community college diploma.
Outdoor adventure and recreation guides must have knowledge of a particular geographical area and proven ability in their area of recreation - for example, in white water rafting. Professional certification is available for some guiding occupations. They must be licensed by the federal government. The proportion of part-time workers in these occupations has decreased significantly over the last ten years. Over the next five years, this outlook is not expected to change, as the number of qualified recent graduates or non-completers seeking work is expected to increase more rapidly than the number of job openings in these and related occupations.