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Job Definition
Plan, organize, and conduct long distance cruises, tours, and expeditions for individuals and groups.
Job Zone

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Interests
Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Knowledge
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Skills
Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Management of Material Resources - Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Tasks
Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.
Attend to special needs of tour participants.
Give advice on sightseeing and shopping.
Lead individuals or groups to tour site locations and describe points of interest.
Plan tour itineraries, applying knowledge of travel routes and destination sites.
Resolve any problems with itineraries, service, or accommodations.
Verify amounts and quality of equipment prior to expeditions or tours.
Administer first aid to injured group participants.
Evaluate services received on the tour, and report findings to tour organizers.
Explain hunting and fishing laws to groups in order to ensure compliance.
Instruct novices in climbing techniques, mountaineering, and wilderness survival, and demonstrate use of hunting, fishing, and climbing equipment.
Pay bills and record checks issued.
Pilot airplanes or drive land and water vehicles to transport tourists to activity/tour sites.
Provide tourists with assistance in obtaining permits and documents such as visas, passports, and health certificates, and in converting currency.
Sell or rent equipment, clothing, and supplies related to expeditions.
Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $34,120.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $22,740.00 and $51,210.00.

Outlook

During 2004, there were approximately 350 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 380 employed in 2014. This occupation will have about 3 openings due to growth and about 9 replacement openings for approximately 12 total annual openings. This occupation experienced moderate growth.

Colleges and Training
Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.
Tourism and Travel Services Management - A program that prepares individuals to manage travel-related enterprises and related convention and/or tour services. Includes instruction in travel agency management, tour arranging and planning, convention and event planning, travel industry operations and procedures, tourism marketing and promotion strategies, travel counseling, travel industry law, international and domestic operations, and travel and tourism policy.
Similar Occupations
Tour Guides and Escorts - Escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.
Travel Agents - Plan and sell transportation and accommodations for travel agency customers. Determine destination, modes of transportation, travel dates, costs, and accommodations required.
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks - Make and confirm reservations and sell tickets to passengers and for large hotel or motel chains. May check baggage and direct passengers to designated concourse, pier, or track; make reservations, deliver tickets, arrange for visas, contact individuals and groups to inform them of package tours, or provide tourists with travel information, such as points of interest, restaurants, rates, and emergency service.
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians - Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity - Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.
Bus Drivers, School - Transport students or special clients, such as the elderly or persons with disabilities. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist passengers in boarding or exiting.
Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services - Drive a truck or van with a capacity of under 26,000 GVW, primarily to deliver or pick up merchandise or to deliver packages within a specified area. May require use of automatic routing or location software. May load and unload truck.
Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs - Drive automobiles, vans, or limousines to transport passengers. May occasionally carry cargo.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters - Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight train. Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within yard of railroad, industrial plant, or similar location. Yardmasters coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains, yard switching, and review train schedules and switching orders.
Subway and Streetcar Operators - Operate subway or elevated suburban train with no separate locomotive, or electric-powered streetcar to transport passengers. May handle fares.
Notes
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Job Openings
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