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Tour manager Opportunities

Tour manager

Tour managers manage the travel arrangements of holidaymakers and business clients to make sure their trips run smoothly.

Salary

£16,000 - £30,000

Typical hours

37 to 39 a week (between 8am and 6pm)

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What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

How to become Tour manager

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like travel and tourism management, although this isn't essential.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

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College

You could take a college course like a Level 4 Diploma in Tourism Management, which may give you some of the skills and knowledge needed for this role.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

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Apprenticeship

You may be able to get into this job through a travel consultant advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

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Work

You could move into this job after getting experience in a related role like a travel agent, tour guide or tour rep.

Direct Application

You can apply for jobs directly if you have:

  • experience of working with people
  • a friendly and approachable manner
  • a keen interest in the culture, geography and history of the locations covered by the tour
  • a good working knowledge of foreign languages if touring overseas
  • experience of working overseas if the job you're applying for is based abroad
Employers may ask for a good general standard of education, like some GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), particularly in maths and English. 

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Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Institute of Travel & Tourism, which offers industry training courses, news and networking opportunities to members.

Further information

You can find more information on careers in the travel industry from the Institute of Travel & Tourism.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could offer services to the public or business clients and would typically:

  • meet and greet people
  • explain travel arrangements and give details of stopover points
  • make sure accommodation, meals and services are satisfactory
  • help with passport and immigration issues
  • give talks about places of interest or find local tourist guides to do them
  • promote and sell trips
  • advise on sights, local restaurants and shops at each destination
  • record issues that may require follow-up after the tour
  • give advice, solve problems and deal with emergencies like loss of passports or money, illness or difficulties with accommodation

Working environment

You could work in a hotel or in holiday accomodation.

Your working environment may be crowded, outdoors some of the time and you may spend nights away from home.

You may need to wear a uniform.

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