Interested in tour guiding?
Salt into steel
July 4, 2006William Angliss TAFE tackling chef shortage
July 6, 2006National Tour Guide accreditation is now available
Seasoned travellers know that standards in tour guiding can vary widely. Anne Bottomley of Guiding Organisations of Australia (GOA) has kindly let PWF know about the new national tour guide accreditation program just launched by Fran Bailey, Minister for Tourism and Small Business.
Tour guiding can be a demanding job requiring diverse skills and knowledge. Professional guides work with inbound tour groups, visiting business executives & partners, ‘Free Independent Travellers (FITs), in specialist areas such as Adventure Guides or Indigenous Guides and they also work in all facets of the conference industry.
Some typical Tour Guide activities:
- meet members of a tour on arrival and make introductions;
- coordinate pre-arranged accommodation and transport, and make sure that tour members are comfortable;
- lead tour groups, advise tour members of local interest points and prepare and present tour commentaries;
- coordinate pre-arranged tour activities such as visits to local attractions, restaurants or shops, train rides, cruises and extended tours;
- research and share general information on Australian Indigenous cultures;
- attend to operational problems such as booking errors and amendments, lost luggage or illness, and provide first aid if needed;
- keep in touch with transportation companies;
- maintain written reports of daily activities and carry out other administrative work.
Personal requirements are seen as:
- maturity
- able to accept responsibility
- free from prejudice
- organisational ability
- excellent general knowledge of Australia and regional touring areas
- able to think logically
- excellent communication skills
- good health
- age limits may apply
- patience and tact.
The accreditation program is driven by the tourism industry and run by the major tour guiding organisations around Australia:
- Professional Tour Guides Association of Australia (PTGAA)
- Institute of Australian Tourist Guides (IATG)
- Tour Guides Association of Western Australia (TGAWA)
- Tour Guides Association of Northern Territory (TGANT)
- Savannah Guides (SG)
- Interpretation Australia Association (IAA)
- Ecotourism Australia (EA)
The new ‘framework’ is suitable for tour guides in all aspects of tourism and aims to encourage ongoing professional development and training, so that all guides deliver the same standard of service. Accreditation is not a requirement for employment as a tour guide, but it certainly establishes an applicant’s professionalism and ‘the right approach’!
For more information, you can contact:
Suellen Taylor
National Secretariat
Guiding Organisations Australia
Ph: 1300 558 105
Email: goa@goa.org.au
9 Comments
I note that nowhere on the Tour Guide accreditation list is there anything about undertaking tours that include people with disabilities. Surely, the partially sighted, the hearing impaired, the intellectually impaired and even the physically handicapped are entitled, and have every right, to want to take part in some of the tours that are organised through the Guiding Organisations of Australia.
Again I say – Accessible Tourism – It’s Time!
South Australia also has a tour guide association.
The association is called South Australian Tourist Guide Association (SATGA).
We like the other associations listed above are a full member of Guiding Organisations of Australia (GOA) and have been since GOA’s inception.
We at SATGA also ‘aim to encourage ongoing professional development and training, so that all guides deliver the same standard of service’.
More information about SATGA can be accessed on GOA’s website at goa.org.au
Thank you.
DO the Tour Guide Associations around Australia train guides to host people with disabilities? If not, I am thinking that contact with Sheila King, could create a whole new market. It would be so good to make a ‘concrete’ start – perhaps Sheila could suggest:
(i) a particular group (with disabilities)
(ii) where and what they would like to go/do
(iii) a Tour Guide Association could respond
(iv) PWF could report and set a trend for heaps more tours with disabled people??
How about it out there?
There are one or two operators who specialise in tours for the physically challenged. They have their own guides.
I have taken private tours on request for independant blind and deaf travellers. It opened a whole new dimension in guiding for me.
During the deafolympics many guides in Melbourne took groups on tours. They were accompanied by an interpreter.
We are planning to have training in the new year for the guides who do Melbourne’s Golden Mile Heritage (walking) Trail.
This is wonderful news, Anne!
I’m wondering if there is any legislation relating to Tour Guide specifically. Im completeing a case study for college and was looking for extra information, particularly in the Northern Territory.
It would be great if someone can show me where i can find this.
Thankyou, Wendy
I hope you find the email address I’ve sent you helpful Wendy.
Guiding Organisations Australia (GOA) will be holding its inaugural conference for tour guides from 25th – 27th August 2008. This will be held at Mantra Legends Hotel, Surfers Paradise on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
If you would be interested to attend please contact the national secretariat on 1300 558 105 or go to the website, http://www.goa.org.au and open the heading -coming events.
Tour guiding require for all tourist. its help to us for right guidline of tour rule and regulation.