Demand for tour guides is low. It is difficult to make a living year-round as a tour guide because the job is highly seasonal, with most jobs available only in the summer.
Demand for tour guides is low because:
- tour groups often bring guides from their home countries, reducing demand for New Zealand-based guides
- tour guides tend to stay in the job for a long time as they enjoy the lifestyle and travel opportunities.
Number of tour guides in New Zealand
(1996, 2001, 2006)| Census | Number of tour guides |
|---|
| 1996 | 1,632 |
| 2001 | 1,809 |
| 2006 | 2,031 |
| Source: Department of Labour, Jobs and Tertiary Education Indicator Tool. |
Summer the best time to find work as a tour guide
Job opportunities are better in the busy summer season between October and April, as tourism operators often hire extra tour guides during these months to meet demand. These jobs are usually rostered on a casual, as-needed basis.
However, there is little work available for full-time guides between May and September. Some spend the low season doing marketing work to bring in new business, or work overseas on ski fields or as tour guides before returning to New Zealand for the summer. Others may do quite different jobs.
Foreign language knowledge may help your chances of getting a job
People who can speak languages other than English may have better chances of becoming tour guides. However, it is hard to say which languages will be in demand, as visitor numbers from different countries can change quickly. Also, foreign tour groups may bring their own guides.
Many tour guides are self-employed. They may offer their services directly to the public, or contract out their services to tour companies.
Some tour guides work directly for tour companies. They can also work for museums, and are usually known as hosts.
Most tour guides work in
popular tourist areas. The main tourist regions are:
- Auckland (28% of tour guides)
- Canterbury (20%)
- Central Otago, which includes Queenstown (17%)
- Waikato (7%)
- Bay of Plenty (7%).
However, there are tour operators in almost all parts of New Zealand. Also, tour guides who take group tours can live anywhere, and then travel to where tours are run.
