Tour guiding isn’t a career for the faint of heart. Even small-scale excursions and experiences require a high level of logistical expertise, people skills and a capacity to think on your feet, among other things. Now consider just how complicated it would be to do everything you already do in a different country. International tours and travel excursions are a real balancing act for guides.
This blog offers some guidance on how to manage safety, energy and expectations on overseas tours and trips.
Step 1. Plan your route clearly
The first part of any international guided tour should be a comprehensive plan for your route. You must follow a few core principles, such as:
- Plan your flow logically to minimise transit. If you’re going from overnight to overnight, make sure to give each location some time to breathe.
- Balance heavier, action-heavy days with softer days with more free time.
- Make sure the tour has a couple of standout experiences across its duration. For example, an international sports tour might visit a sports stadium outside of operational hours.
- Study maps before the tour starts so you aren’t seen to be lacking knowledge.
Step 2. Get your logistics & equipment in order
Digital integration is everywhere, and it should be no different for a tour guide. Use modern tools and communication systems to get your logistics airtight.
- Hire a local assistant with their ear to the ground for real-time advice on food and transport issues.
- Use apps like Travefy or Vamoos to offer guests digital itineraries and details.
- Make sure that every step of the journey has 15-20% extra time to allow for group movement.
- Account for the transport of walking tour audio systems in flights, ferries or cross-country rail.
Step 3. Take care of the group vibe
On longer tour guiding jobs, the group dynamic is a core element of how the experience will be for everyone.
- Organise pre-trip individual and group Zoom calls, along with group chats to take the temperature of your guests.
- Encourage mingling during transport links to ensure cliques don’t form and people really get to know each other.
- Give a short debrief and plan for the next day every evening.
Step 4. Take care of safety, contingencies and finance
You have to be the calming commander-in-chief, so make sure that you’re prepared for crises, understand proper safety procedures and have your financial back covered.
- Keep folders for passport scans, emergency contact info, hospital and embassy info.
- Guarantee every guest has proof of in-depth travel insurance.
- Make sure financial dynamics are clear from the start. Which meals are included, which service charges everyone will have to cover, whether money will be kept in a pot for group payments, etc.
With these guidelines, you should feel more confident taking on the admittedly major task of tour guiding overseas. International experiences are some of the most exciting tour guide career opportunities out there, but they also require a lot of work. Don’t give any half measures in your organisation or you could find yourself in a tight spot very far from home.
For more insights into the world of tour guiding, visit our blog today.