If you are fascinated by the history of your own area, or if you have a great love for travel, consider becoming a private tour guide. Opportunity exists to work as a tour guide either by having a thorough knowledge of your own area, or by being open to researching any area that you might be sent to.
Some other traits that might be helpful to become a private tour guide are:
- You are an enthusiastic person. Your enthusiasm for the sights and stories of your region is contagious to other people.
- You have good communication skills. The gift of gab is a definite plus, or extensive experience in public speaking.
- You live in an area that attracts a lot of tourists, and is rich in history or attractions.
- You have a strong general knowledge of your area, including sights, architecture, local history and folklore.
- You genuinely like people and are not annoyed by children or constant questions.
- Alternatively, you have no strong ties to your own area, and are interested in traveling to wherever there might be this type of work.
- You enjoy doing research and learning about places you may not yet be familiar with, and can communicate whatever you learn in clear language to other people.
- Being bilingual is a definite advantage, even if you stay close to home.
You can gain valuable experience by working for a particular historic site or museum in a very popular tourist area. On-the-job training is sometimes available at this type of location and may offer valuable research experience. Short-term contracts are sometimes available on a freelance basis.
If you are not interested in traveling, keep in mind that tourism in most regions is seasonal, so this may be a source of supplemental income rather than a full-time business. This may not be an issue for you if you live in an area where tourism thrives year-round.
If you really love to travel, explore the possibility of being a rolling tour guide for bus tours that travel the whole US. You could also become a cruise host on a cruise ship. Look into working for a tour company as an independent contractor. A very large company may give you the opportunity to travel the world and explore new territories that you haven’t yet seen. Some companies that offer international tours use tour directors. Becoming a tour director gives you the opportunity to travel with the tour group and manage the tour group.
If you don’t want to travel overseas, look into the possibility of working just with domestic tours. This would allow you to avoid aggravation with airlines, searching for lost luggage, etc.
Wherever there are tourists and people who travel, there is a need for people to help show them around. Ask questions of companies that offer tours and of the tour guides themselves. Soon you will be on your way to becoming a private tour guide either locally, nationally or internationally.
