A tour guide is an individual who offers help, guidance on historical, cultural and recreational heritage to individuals on individual or organized guided tour. Tour guides are generally individuals who have knowledge of a given subject or area and are well versed with local dialects, popular customs and popular festivals of a particular region. Tour guides are also referred as tour advisors or tour guides and are employed for guiding tourist groups on tours in a specific destination or for travel within a specific country or area.
The increasing demand of the tourism industry and the increase in population are the driving forces behind the growth of tour guides in all parts of the world. Tour guides are generally hired by private tour companies, hoteliers, or government organizations for tours within a country or within a particular region. The role of the tour guides varies from guiding tourists to observing the culture and custom of that region. The most common function of the tour guides hired by the hospitality industry is in guiding tourists to tourist spots and restaurants within the hotel premises. In other cases, the tour guides act as facilitators or guides who provide information on local history, festivals, art, handicrafts, etc. They also act as guides during customs and cultural shows in order to entertain the guests.
In some countries, like the United States, tour guides are also hired by hotels and cruise lines for providing guidance to guests on their tour itineraries. There are also tour guides available for rent to tourists visiting major tourist destinations like the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and the Statue of Liberty in New York City. Most tour guides that are available for rent in New York City are provided with instructions on local sights, history, cultures, and tourist attractions. These tour guides can help tourists to determine the best time to visit a particular place and can also help them plan their sightseeing itineraries in a step-by-step manner.