Tour Guide Delhi, India

WHAT IS A TOUR GUIDE?

At Companion Journey Pvt Ltd we measure success not only in the visitor numbers, but in the experiences we create, the new opportunities for meaningful employment and the understanding that is fostered between people from different backgrounds and different corners of the world and our tour guides play an integral role in this.
Tour Guides are often one of the first people to welcome tourists and the last to bid them farewell. Their role is to enhance our visitors’ experience and be ambassadors for India as a tourist destination.

Definition of Tour Guide
Tour Guides act as ambassadors of the country, they are the first to meet and welcome tourists and they are often the last ones to bid farewell to them when they leave the country.
Various international organizations such as the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations (WFTGA) define a tour guide as the person who guides visitors in the language of their choice and interprets the cultural and natural heritage of an area, which person may possess an area specific qualification. Such specifications are usually issued and/or recognized by the appropriate authority.
A tour guide is someone who points out the way and leads others on a trip or tour. Generally, a tour guide works at a specific location, city or province. In some cases, guides qualify to guide throughout an entire country.

Importance of Tour Guides
Tour guiding is a very critical component of the tourism value chain. They play an essential role in ensuring repeat tourist visitation to India through creating a positive image of our country.
In India, tour guiding is a regulated profession governed by national legislation and policies. Any person that would like to become a tour guide must undergo training as part of a formal qualification under department of tourism., Upon being deemed competent, such person will receive a license issued by Ministry of Tourism.

Characteristics of Tour Guides
The role and function of a guide is to organise, inform and entertain. Guides are mainly freelance and self-employed. Work is often seasonal and may involve working during unsociable hours. Work is usually obtained through direct contact with tour operators and other agencies and therefore, guides must be self-sufficient and be able to market themselves.
The manner in which tour guides interact and treat tourists is very important because it gives a lasting impression about the country in general. The Code of Conduct and Ethics that tour guides signs prescribes the way in which qualified, legally registered tour guides must conduct themselves whilst on duty. Registered tour guides who fail to abide by the Code of Conduct and Ethics could be subjected to formal disciplinary hearings and be charged with misconduct.