Читать книгу Start & Run a Tour Guiding Business - Barbara Braidwood Susan Boyce & Richard Cropp - Страница 22

6. How Much Will I Make? 6.1 Pay rates

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Payment varies widely throughout the industry, usually by region. According to research by the National Tour Association, rates are highest in the northeast, Great Lakes, mid-Atlantic, and southern regions. The northwest, west, and Pacific coast areas tend to be at the lower end of the pay scale. While it is possible to earn up to $65,000 per year (including tips) if you are employed by one of the major tour companies, a more realistic figure is probably $20,000 to $35,000. As an overall average, you can expect to make $100 to $150 per day as a tour director or $10 to $20 per hour as a local guide. Gratuities can add a substantial amount to your income, but they are unreliable. One group may tip lavishly, the next give nothing at all, and certain groups simply do not ever tip. Students, for example, are usually on a tight budget themselves, and some cultures consider tipping unnecessary or insulting.

Another factor to consider is the seasonal nature of tour guiding. Only 20 percent of tour guides or tour directors work full time, year-round. For others, 150 days in a year would be considered a heavy work schedule. Regardless of location, the main tour season runs from May to October, ideal for people who want to pursue other interests or kick back and relax for six months out of the year. Some typical winter jobs are ski instructor, student, semi-retired go-getter, and artist.

Bill Newton, cofounder of the International Tour Management Institute (ITMI), has found that many of the best tour guides and directors are the ones who integrate tour management with other pursuits. “If you’re doing this year-round,” he says, “it often becomes just another job. The ones who pursue other interests as well do this because they love the work. That makes them much better guides than people who are doing it only to make the payments.”

Start & Run a Tour Guiding Business

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