20 years of Travel To Life: Adventures beyond the package tour!

20 years of Travel To Life: Adventures beyond the package tour!

Andreas Damson, Managing Director of Travel To Life, celebrates two decades of exciting trips and experiences in the world of group travel. He has been working in the industry for 20 years and has established himself as a leading provider of tour guide training. During this time he has traveled to over 70 countries, including exotic destinations such as North Korea, Afghanistan and Mongolia. He had a particularly impressive experience in Yemen, where a thunderstorm forced him to wade through a wadi while other travelers stayed behind in off-road vehicles. Such memories shape his philosophy about how travel should be designed.

Travel To Life's trips are designed to not only show off the highlights of a destination, but also explore unknown places. Around a third of the routes offered lead through lesser-known areas, with the knowledge of experienced tour guides playing a crucial role. Damson is committed to focusing the training of his tour guides on the structure and design of tour guiding rather than simply imparting fact-based knowledge about sights. This includes practical experience as well as promoting a sense of group among participants. A successful tour guide should not only have a passion for dealing with people, but also be able to improvise.

The role of the tour guide

Tour guides are responsible for organizing and executing trips and provide an important link between the destination, the tour operator and the travelers. Their responsibilities range from overseeing trips to ensuring the program is carried out as contracted. They also provide practical information and are available to help travelers with any questions. The demands on tour guides are high, even if no special legally required training is required.

Theoretically, a school leaving certificate is not necessary, although a secondary or secondary school certificate can be advantageous. For an academic career, a bachelor's or master's degree in tourism management are the usual paths. Career changers also have opportunities, especially if they have commercial training or experience in customer service. Typical employers include tour operators, tourist offices or cruise ships, so work locations vary and offer exciting challenges.

Career prospects and challenges

The importance of tour guides has increased in the post-Covid-19 world as the tourism industry recovers. Employed tour guides earn between 1,900 and 2,600 euros gross per month, while self-employed people on a fee basis can earn between 100 and 300 euros per job, plus expenses and bonuses. Good customer service and crisis management are essential to ensure that trips run smoothly.

Andreas Damson still has many travel destinations on his wish list, including the Trobriand Islands near Papua New Guinea, which he has not yet visited. The passion for travel and the pursuit of unique experiences remain unchanged - both for him and for the tour guides he trains.

You can find out more about Andreas Damson's ideas and concepts in his Interview on LifePR. The comprehensive tasks and requirements for tour guides are detailed Myscholarship described.