A tour leader job is very stressful

When I look at the tour leaders in the airport with a large group of tourists, I really pity them.

They have a very tough job.  Many tourists are very demanding.  Many tourists are seasoned travelers too.   They may have visited a country a few times in the past, and they will compare the service of one tour leader with another.

They will still listen to the instruction of the tour leader, but they will air their opinions too.  They will act as if they are the experts, and they do not always respect the tour leader.

The tour leader must never lose her temper.  Her income relies mostly from the tips.  If the whole group of 30 or 40 does not want to give tips, she earns very little from the basic salary.

The tour leader has to make sure that all the tourists board the plane, reach the hotel safely, go to the attractions, and board the bus. 

She has to keep all the passports with her throughout the journey.  She has to wake up very early in the morning to make sure that the hotel has prepared the breakfast for her guests.

She has to stay up late at night to put in all her expenses, and to keep all the receipts plus check that she does not exceed the budget for this particular tour group.

A tour leader has to call in to her home travel agency, as well as the hosting travel agency.  She has to know about the change in hotel arrangement, and the booking for lunch or dinner.

She has to make sure that all tourists check out of the hotel rooms on time. 

If the tourist falls sick, she has to make sure that the tourist has adequate medical care. 

When bad weather or unforeseen circumstance happens, some tourists will complain.  They will not complain about the weather, but they will complain about the lack of information that makes them stuck in the middle of nowhere.

I will never want to become a tour leader!