Tour Manager
OFO No:
What is a Tour Manager?
Tour Managers play an integral part in ensuring their clients’ tour experience meets their expectation.
Tour Managers are responsible for accompanying tours from beginning to end. They may even be part of the planning stage.
On a bus tour, a Tour Manager is more business orientated and therefore responsible for the whole tour co-ordination while the Tour Guide is usually responsible for the tourists themselves and making sure that they have everything they want at their fingertips. Some Tour Manager are also the Tour Guides.
Tour Managers and Tour Guides usually work as a team.
What does a Tour Manager do?
- visits various destinations for possible ‘new’ tours
- suggests interesting travel routes or places of interest
- accompanies groups travelling by coach or bus
- greets groups of tourists on their arrival
- checks tickets, travel documents, seat allocations and any special food requirements
- informs passengers of arrival and departure times at each destination
- ensures that the tour is running smoothly
- assists with any problems that may arise
- contacts and checks places ahead of arrival time
- writesreports and maintains records
Are you … ?
- interested in the travel industry?
- a peoples’ person?
- organised?
- polite and professional?
- friendly and patient?
- detail orientated?
How do I become a Tour Manager?
There are numerous institutions that offer a variety of tourism management related courses.
Here are a few examples (there are many more):
- COLLEGE CAMPUS
Offers a Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management
- VARSITY COLLEGE
Offers a Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management
- UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN: UCT
Offers a short course in Tourism Management (2013)
TRAINING:
- CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
- Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
- To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education.
- CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions.
OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Tour Guide: Cultural … or … Guest Liaison
Is becoming a Tour Manager the right career choice for me?
