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Tour coordinator vs tour guide

The differences between tour coordinators and tour guides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a tour coordinator has an average salary of $38,002, which is higher than the $32,323 average annual salary of a tour guide.

The top three skills for a tour coordinator include reservations, booking and data entry. The most important skills for a tour guide are local history, customer service, and safety practices.

Tour coordinator vs tour guide overview

Tour CoordinatorTour Guide
Yearly salary$38,002$32,323
Hourly rate$18.27$15.54
Growth rate-8%-
Number of jobs16,4551,043
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age3434
Years of experience-2

What does a tour coordinator do?

A tour coordinator is primarily in charge of managing travel arrangements and procedures, including paperwork and itineraries. A tour coordinator can work for a travel agency, where they are responsible for helping clients with their travel needs by planning and booking tickets, accommodation, transportation, and overall tours. Moreover, they can also work for artists with tour performances by handling administrative tasks such as overseeing budgets and schedules, coordinating with talent managers, securing hotel and transportation, supervising tour merchandise, negotiating deals, and booking venues.

What does a tour guide do?

As their title describes, tour guides offer guided tours to individuals or groups of visitors. Tour guides undertake research and plan tours, provide sightseeing advice, and organize excursions. They transport and accompany their guests to the tourist spots in specific destinations. They are expected to be experts on the historical background and culture of an area. A useful tour guide must be equipped with enough enthusiasm, punctuality, keen sense, strong communication skills, and a steel-trap memory.

Tour coordinator vs tour guide salary

Tour coordinators and tour guides have different pay scales, as shown below.

Tour CoordinatorTour Guide
Average salary$38,002$32,323
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $64,000Between $18,000 And $55,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Harley-Davidson
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between tour coordinator and tour guide education

There are a few differences between a tour coordinator and a tour guide in terms of educational background:

Tour CoordinatorTour Guide
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaStanford University

Tour coordinator vs tour guide demographics

Here are the differences between tour coordinators' and tour guides' demographics:

Tour CoordinatorTour Guide
Average age3434
Gender ratioMale, 29.7% Female, 70.3%Male, 46.8% Female, 53.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 9.9% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 9.9% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between tour coordinator and tour guide duties and responsibilities

Tour coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage VIP guest calendar to ensure these guests are given quality service from staff.
  • Manage and coordinate the workload of the release team members and are responsible for organizing and hosting all production release windows.
  • Pre-Block all special requests and VIP accommodations.
  • Perform secretarial functions including email communications to internal and external business partners, expense reports, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations.
  • Train customers in operating Segway personal transport devices and hold entertaining tours.

Tour guide example responsibilities.

  • Manage the canoe landing including guests, workers, and canoe traffic in a way that all run smoothly and safely.
  • Aid clients with matters regarding passports and visas.
  • Receive multiple positive reviews on the company Facebook page.
  • Complete extensive training as well as first aid, CPR and a certification.
  • Maintain alertness for any problem solve calls via radio and communication with management.
  • Spearhead all creative activity for online marketing (Facebook), and other social media sites5.
  • Show more

Tour coordinator vs tour guide skills

Common tour coordinator skills
  • Reservations, 17%
  • Booking, 17%
  • Data Entry, 16%
  • Cash Handling, 8%
  • Expense Reports, 7%
  • Event Site, 6%
Common tour guide skills
  • Local History, 22%
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Safety Practices, 16%
  • Public Speaking, 8%
  • Front Desk, 4%
  • Facebook, 3%

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