Profession mountain guide

Mountain guides assist visitors, interpret natural heritage and provide information and guidance to tourists on mountain expeditions. They support visitors with activities such as hiking, climbing and skiing in addition to ensuring their safety through monitoring both weather and health conditions.

Personality Type

• Social / Artistic
• Social / Realistic
• Enterprising / Conventional

Knowledge

• Local geography

  The range of physical and geographical properties and descriptions of a local area, by street names and not only.

• Geographical areas relevant to tourism

  The field of tourism geography in Europe as well as the rest of the world in order to point out relevant tourism areas and attractions.

• Sightseeing information

  The sightseeing information of a particular touristic site.

Skills

• Inform visitors at tour sites

  Distribute booklets, show audio-visual presentations, give guidance and relevant comments at tour site locations. Explain the history and functionality of tour highlights and respond to questions.

• Ensure health and safety of visitors

  Take the necessary precautions to ensure the physical safety of an audience or people visiting an activity. Prepare actions in case of emergency. Administer first aid and direct emergency evacuations.

• Provide tourism related information

  Give customers relevant information about historical and cultural locations and events while conveying this information in an entertaining and informative manner.

• Animate in the outdoors

  Independently animate groups in the outdoors, adapting your practice to keep the group animated and motivated.

• Handle tour contract details

  Administer tour contract details in order to make sure that tourists receive all services included in the tour package.

• Register visitors

  Register visitors after greeting them. Distribute any required identification badges or safety devices.

• Assemble visitor supplies

  Collect and check all required supplies and equipment before departure.

• Maintain customer service

  Keep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requirements.

• Read maps

  Read maps effectively.

• Use different communication channels

  Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

• Follow ethical code of conduct in tourism

  Carry out touristic services according to accepted principles of right and wrong. This includes fairness, transparency and impartiality.

• Select visitor routes

  Examine and select points of interest, travel routes and sites to be visited.

• Handle personal identifiable information

  Administer sensitive personal information on customers securely and discreetly

• Collect visitor fees

  Collect fees from visitors and group members.

• Welcome tour groups

  Greet newly arrived groups of tourists at their starting point to announce details of upcoming events and travel arrangements.

• Escort visitors to places of interest

  Bring tourists to places of interest such as museums, exhibitions, theme parks or art galleries.

• Manage tourist groups

  Monitor and guide tourists ensuring positive group dynamics and address areas of conflict and concern where they occur.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB