Tour Guides' Perspectives on Their Work and Life

Abstract

Despite advances in the study of tour guiding, there has been limited exploration of the work and life of tour guides, and even fewer studies seeking the views and perspectives of tour guides themselves. This study employed interpretive qualitative phenomenology. Twenty-nine Jordanian tour guides were interviewed to seek their perspectives on their work, motivations for becoming a guide, and the impact of their work on their private lives. The data analysis and interpretation revealed themes focusing on the mechanics of a working day, insurance expenses, unpredictable income, job anxiety, perceptions of guides themselves and by others, and the impact of tour guiding on their private lives. The outcomes of this study provide new understandings of the work-life experiences of tour guides from their perspective, and implications for the tourism industry. The study may be used as a steppingstone for further empirical investigation that could be replicated in different countries and cultural contexts.