2-History-of-Tour-Guiding_430.pdf

Travel Guide History of Tour guiding  Ancient Times Tour guides have been around since the ancient times when travelers found the need for guides who could help them in their journey. The information that guides provide were prized by many histo...

Travel Guide History of Tour guiding  Ancient Times Tour guides have been around since the ancient times when travelers found the need for guides who could help them in their journey. The information that guides provide were prized by many historians, including Herodotus who valued guides who could recite "with great authority, dates, dialogues, and other specifics about people who had lived hundreds of years ago." Homer's literary piece Iliad mentioned guides who showed the battlefields and the shores where the Greek ships arrived (Cruz, 2008).  Dark-Middle Ages With the fall of the Roman Empire, this period is regarded as a dangerous time in European history. Thus, the period emphasized the guides' role as safety escorts for travelers, including pilgrims and business (Cruz,2008)  Renaissance During the Renaissance, guides took a more demanding role that of an educator or a mentor, in addition to the role of protector -when the Grand Tour became a fashion as a rite of passage for sons of well-to-do Europeans. Carefully appointed guides served as the young men's tutors and chaperones as they journeyed through a prescribed route from England to France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, which was the final destination. The students were welcomed as gentlemen when they returned home (Cruz, 2008).  Modern Age No evidence of organized training exists for guides before the 20th century other than the company training given by the Thomas Cook Travel Agency (Wei Hu, 2007). England is one of the first countries to regulate and train guides when authorities were prompted by the aggressive competition among the guides for the business that tourists brought in the 1930s (Cruz, 2008).. Career Opportunities in Tour Guiding How can one become a tour guide nowadays? In the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (1995) defines a tour guide as "an individual who guides tourists, both foreign and domestic, for a fee.’ According to the DOT's Rules and Regulations to Govern the Accreditation of Travel and Tour Services (1995), the requirements for the issuance of accreditation to a tour guide are the following: 1. Proof that the applicant has passed a seminar for tour guides duly conducted by the Department, or other agencies duly authorized by the Department to conduct the seminar. (This requirement may be waived by the Department where the applicant possesses special academic or professional qualifications relevant to tourism.); 2. Certificate of good health issued by any duly accredited government physician; 3. Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); 4. In the case of alien applicants, valid visa from the Bureau of Immigration and proper permit from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); 5. Mayor's permit/municipal license. 6. Latest Income Tax Return. 7. Such other documents that the DOT may require from time to time. The mayor's permit identifies the place where the tour guide works. As mentioned in the WFTGA definition, a tour guide's qualification should be "area-specific." Career Opportunities for Tour Guides Nowadays, there are different career opportunities for tour guides. Here are the types of guide based on how they earn: Emploved Guides Employed guides are employed by a company. They earn a regular wage whether there are clients or none. These companies include the government, private travel agencies, museums, and industries that run their own tour of facilities. The minimum wage in Metro Manila is P512 a day as of June 2018, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). In addition to the regular wage, some tour guides also receive an allowance from their employer and earn from tips or monetary gifts from clients if the employer allows. Tips can range from P100 to US$100 per tour, depending on how much the tourists appreciate the services rendered by the tour guide.  Freelance Guides Freelance guides are like other businessmen who depend on the influx of clients to ear. These are self-employed guides who make and sell their own tours. Sometimes, travel agencies call on freelance guides on an ad ho or per need basis, wherein payment will depend on the number of tours booked. Based on an average of 16 tours per month, a tour guide in the Philippines can earn PI6,000 to P40,000 per month.  Docile or Volunteer Guides Docile or volunteer guides are unemployed guides who are mostly hobbyists such as retirees and environmental advocates. They earn non-monetary rewards such as friendship, experience, and cultural exchange. Some volunteer guides accept tips, too. Note that tour managers are different from tour guides. The tour manager is the representative of the tour operator who makes sure that the tour schedule is followed and tourists get what they paid for. The tour guide provides the in-depth commentary or information about the destination, while the tour manager focuses on administrative matters. However, some tour managers are able to acquire sufficient knowledge and skills to become tour guides as well. The types of guide based on their specialization: Plant Guides Plant guides are employed by corporations, usually as part of the public relations department. They conduct tours in the company's plant or factory, with the primary aim of uplifting the company's public image by educating visitors about their business goals and operations. In a way, they are like museum guides who specialize in a particular collection. Adventure Guides Adventure guides are, first and foremost, hobbyists who love a particular sporting activity and introduce this activity to the tourists. They require a special skill set, including those related to guest safety. In the Philippines, for instance, cave guides undergo an accreditation process that is different from that of a city guide. City Guides City guides specialize in a particular city or province. They are able to provide information on a city's history and heritage, and its relevance to the country's socioeconomic development. City guides may be freelancers, government employees, travel agency employees, or volunteers. Others Other types of guides include golf guide, shopping guide, special interest guide, and cultural and heritage guide, all of whom specialize in a particular activity, collection, or location. Tour Guide's Income As discussed earlier, there are various ways for tour guides to earn: 1. Regular wage provided by their employers, such as travel agencies. 2. Tips or monetary gifts from tourists as a sign of appreciation for the guides services. In addition to these, tour guides can also earn from commissions. Commissions are a certain percentage of the cost of goods sold to tourists.  Relevance of the Tour Guiding Course Tour guiding can be a fulfilling profession, particularly in tourist- heavy areas. Some guides earn substantial income from tips alone, and in cities like Manila and Cebu, many see it as a lifelong career. These guides often support their families through their earnings, and some even advance to executive roles in their companies. Despite the financial aspects, many tour guides remain dedicated to their work for the personal rewards it offers, such as meeting new people and exploring different cultures. Tour guides are crucial to the tourism industry, which relies on skilled professionals. To ensure quality, it’s essential to have a well-structured training program for new guides. Including tour guiding as a specialization in the high school K to 12 curriculum in the Philippines marks a significant step forward in leveraging the country’s tourism potential.  Group 2 Members: Plaña, Shaun Jake Migue, Mikaela Recablanca, Anjamin kate