About the job
Tour guides escort individuals and groups on short trips and sightseeing tours of cities, historical sites, famous buildings, manufacturing plants, cathedrals and theme parks. They also provide descriptions and background information on interesting features. Travel guides escort individuals and tour groups on business and vacation trips, often acting as tour guides, as well as planning recreational activities and taking care of problems with itineraries, service, or accommodations. Tour and travel guides are employed by tour operators, resorts and other establishments or may be self-employed.
Outdoor sport and recreational guides organize and conduct trips or expeditions for sports enthusiasts, adventurers, tourists and resort guests. They are employed by private companies and resorts or may be self-employed.
Casino workers operate gaming tables, assist patrons using slot machines, accept keno wagers, pay out winning bets and jackpots and collect losing bets. They are employed by casinos.
- Transport or escort individuals or groups on tours of cities, waterways and industrial and other establishments.
- Describe points of interest, answer questions and supply information.
- Provide historical and cultural facts related to the site.
- May collect admission fees and sell souvenirs.
- Escort individuals and groups on vacation and business trips.
- Ensure that reservations for transportation and accommodations are confirmed and that prepared itineraries are met.
- Visit and describe points of interest and plan and carry out recreational activities.
- Resolve problems with itineraries, service and accommodations.
- Assemble and inspect necessary equipment and supplies, such as camping gear, rafts, life jackets, fishing tackle and food.
- Lead or escort individuals or groups and advise on safety and emergency measures, techniques and the use of equipment.
- Provide instruction for activities such as canoeing, rafting and mountain climbing.
- Advise on specific regulations such as hunting and fishing laws and boating regulations, follow environmental guidelines and prevent violations.
- Provide first aid in emergency situations.
- Operate gaming tables and games such as roulette, blackjack, keno, baccarat and poker.
- Explain rules of games to patrons and ensure that rules are followed.
- Accept keno wagers and issue computerized tickets for selection.
- Determine winners or announce winning numbers.
- Calculate and pay out winning bets and jackpots, collect losing bets and maintain related reports.
- Fill slot machines with coins and assist patrons experiencing difficulties with machines.
- Perform minor adjustments to slot machines.
- casino dealer
- gaming table dealer
- horseback riding guide
- hunting and fishing guide
- mountain guide
- outdoor guide
- sightseeing guide
- ski resort host/hostess
- tour guide
- travel guide
For tour, travel and outdoor sport and recreational guides you should be poised, organized, tactful, and patient. Interpersonal skills and the ability to deal comfortably with strangers are important. You should be resourceful and able to handle the unexpected. Knowledge of the travel business or the specific areas of tourism in which you work will be required. Good communication skills are also necessary. Knowledge of both official languages and/or an additional language is an asset and may be required.
Outdoor sport and recreational guides should also have a thorough understanding of safety requirements, environmental guidelines, and provincial regulations concerning hunting, fishing, and boating. Physical fitness and stamina are required for many outdoor sport and recreational activities.
Casino workers require good vision and hearing. Manual dexterity is needed to operate gambling tables and games with cards. You will need to be methodical and comfortable with simple calculations in order to ensure that all patrons are aware of and follow the rules, and to determine winners, collect bets, pay winners, and keep reports. Good communication skills are required to explain rules and ensure that patrons follow them, as well as to resolve complaints.
- Completion of secondary school is usually required for some jobs within this grouping.
- On-the-job training is provided for many jobs within this grouping.
- Knowledge of both official languages and/or an additional language may be required for some positions in this group.
- Knowledge of a particular terrain, demonstrated ability in the guided activity and relevant licences are required for employment in this group.
- Hot air balloon pilots require completion of 10 hours of ground school, 16 hours of pilot-in-command experience and a Balloon Pilot Licence issued by Transport Canada.
- Certification in first aid and CPR may be required.
- Security clearance is required for all casino workers.
- Casino gaming licences are usually required for all casino employees.
Because many of these jobs are heavily influenced by tourism activity in Nova Scotia, employment levels tend to vary throughout the year and peak in the summer months. Also, general economic conditions will have an impact on the level of business and pleasure travel undertaken by Nova Scotians. Therefore, employment levels will vary from year to year in many of these jobs.
Most people in this group are either self-employed or work for a small to medium-sized business.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience in all activities related to gaming.
Labour Market Information
This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Tourism and Amusement Services Workers most commonly work full-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs are typically permanent positions. Also, a fair portion of the workforce is self-employed, so having the option to "work for yourself" may appeal to some individuals’ interests/motivations.
The median employment income for 26% of Tourism and Amusement Services Workers who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $34,267. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
| Occupation | Estimated employment in 2018 | Estimated change in employment between 2017 and 2019 | Estimated openings due to growth and retirements, 2017-2019 | Estimated rate of unemployment in 2018 | Estimated hourly earnings in 2015 (learn more) | Estimated annual earnings in 2015 |
| Tour and Travel Guides | 265 | x | x | x | Minimum: $11.00 Median: $13.00 Maximum: $22.50 | Minimum: $2,388 Median: $13,000 Maximum: $47,265 |
| Occupations in Sales and Service | 102,605 | Decline slightly | 5,260 | Moderate | Minimum: $10.70 Median: $12.50 Maximum: $21.17 | Minimum: $2,949 Median: $16,629 Maximum: $45,086 |
| Tour and Travel Guides | Compared to: Occupations in Sales and Service | |
| Percent employed full-time | 72% | 59% |
| Percent self-employed | 21% | 6% |
| Area of Employment | Tour and Travel Guides | Compared to: All NS Occupations | ||
| % Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
| Southern | 4% | x | 12% | $30,581 |
| Northern | 11% | x | 16% | $33,660 |
| Cape Breton | 20% | x | 13% | $32,974 |
| Halifax | 52% | x | 47% | $41,209 |
| Annapolis Valley | 10% | x | 13% | $32,958 |
| Age | Tour and Travel Guides | Compared to: All Sales and Service |
| % Employed | % Employed | |
| 15-24 | 22% | x |
| 25-34 | 6% | 36% |
| 35-44 | 10% | 29% |
| 45-54 | 18% | x |
| 55-64 | 29% | 21% |
| 65+ | 17% | x |
| Median Age | 46 | 37 |
| Gender | Tour and Travel Guides | Compared to: Occupations in Sales and Service |
| % Employed | % Employed | |
| Female | 45% | 60% |
| Male | 55% | 40% |
| Education | Tour and Travel Guides | Compared to: All Sales and Service | ||
| % Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
| Less than high school | 10.6% | $14,740 | 18.8% | $9,486 |
| High school | 48.2% | $14,039 | 40.4% | $12,982 |
| Trades certificate | 8.2% | x | 8.0% | $18,797 |
| College certificate or diploma | 10.6% | $18,118 | 19.9% | $19,514 |
| University certificate or diploma | N/A | x | 1.6% | $18,279 |
| Bachelor's degree | 17.6% | $14,004 | 10.0% | $20,807 |
| University advanced certificate or diploma | 2.4% | x | 0.5% | $15,716 |
| Master's degree | N/A | x | 0.8% | $20,769 |
| Doctorate | 2.4% | x | 0.0% | $17,318 |
| Medicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry | N/A | x | 0.1% | $17,368 |
| Total | 100% | 100% | ||
Hourly earnings data are from the Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada. Data are not available for all occupations. Hourly earnings are calculated based on usual hours worked per week. This is how an annual salary, for instance, gets converted to an hourly rate. The data include full and part-time workers along with new and experienced workers. Self-employed workers are excluded.
Annual employment income data reported in the Work Prospects section, are from the 2011 National Household Survey by Statistics Canada. Much of the data (around 70%) came directly from tax records. The data relates to the year 2010 and includes total wages and salaries and net income from self-employment.
Employment Requirements & Contacts
Training Paths & Education
This instructional program class comprises any program that defines the prescribed requirements, specified by the appropriate jurisdiction, for the completion of and graduation from a secondary school program of academic subject matter offered for adult learners outside of the regular secondary school program. This does not include adult compensatory education programs resulting in completion of a high school equivalency certificate or diploma.
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the peoples of Canada and its pre-Columbian, colonial, and pre-Confederation predecessors, including immigrant flows and related borderlands and island groups.