Not only that, it’s a great opportunity for you if you love adventure and sharing your knowledge with other people in new places because you can become a certified tour guide in Berlin. Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is full of rich history, wonderful culture and plenty to do. As a certified tour guide, you’ll have the chance to accompany visitors from all around the world visiting Berlin’s best landmarks, museums and hidden gems. Becoming a certified tour guide in Berlin is a complicated process, which we’ll cover here in this guide.
1. Get Some In-Depth Knowledge of Berlin
If you are a tour guide, you’ll be asked to know the culture, history and attractions of the city you are being paid for. First of all start by taking yourself in the rich history of berlin. You read books, watch documentaries and visit historical sites and museums so to increase your knowledge. Take on role of current events and developments in city as well.
2. Now Join a Professional Tour Guide Association
If you join a professional tour guide association such as the Berlin Guide Association or the Federal Association of German Tourist Guides, you gain every kind of resource you will need: training programs, networking, etc. And certification programs are often offered by these associations, to add to your credibility as a tour guide.
3. If you want, take a Certified tour guide course.
In order to become a certified tour guide in Berlin you must take a Berlin tour guide course offered by licensed institutions. Subjects of the course include tour planning, service, public speaking and emergency procedures. Then many courses include practical training in order to teach you hands on experience leading tourists in Berlin.
- Get a First Aid Certification.
When you work as a tour guide, it is absolutely vital that you’re prepared for emergencies. By getting a first aid certification, you’ll get better at doing it and it will give your clients peace of mind. See if you could find First Aid courses in Berlin and do they appear to be recognized and accredited.
- Master Multiple Languages
The city of Berlin is multicultural city which is visited by tourists of all over the world. If you can speak several languages then it can give you a boost if you are wanting to be a tour guide. If the audience you wish to reach is from English speaking or German, speaking of languages such as Spanish, French, Mandarin or Russian should consider.
6. Gain Practical Experience
To become a successful tour guide, practical time is essential. The best way to begin is to volunteer or apprentice yourself to existing tour companies. You will get hands on work and learning from experienced guides. That also allows you to build your own sample tours to demonstrate what you have learned.
7. Then you should prepare for the Tour Guide Exam.
After you take the tour guide course and get a bit of hands on experience, you’re ready to take the tour guide exam. The exam is a written and oral part, examining various aspects of Berlin’s history, culture and attractions. Diligently study coursework to prepare you to take the exam.
8. Obtain Professional Liability Insurance
If you’re going to be a certified tour guide before you do that, it’s important to insure yourself and your clients with professional liability insurance. Your potential claims and damages in your tours will be covered by this insurance.
9. Design Your Unique Tours
As a certified tour guide, now is the time to create tours that are special, unique and tailored to the type of traveler you want to offer. Think of niche tours in general, such as historical walking tours, street art tours or food tours, to be different in a fierce market for guide services. You can customize your tours to the tastes of your target audience.
10. Market Yourself
The first part that can be done to create a name for yourself as a tour guide in Berlin is marketing. Show up online through a professional website or social media pages that can promote your services as well as your tours. Thus you collaborate with local tourism organisations and hotels to broaden your visibility. Getting new customers to come to you is good but having clients who are happy about your product are more important since they get the reviews and testimonials which helps you to gain the trust of new customers.
To be a certified Berlin tour guide you need to be committed, keep up to date with your learning and believe in telling people about the treasures in your city. Since you won’t be a travelling professional, you can simply follow these steps and then keep improving on your skills and knowledge to embark on your exciting career as a tour.
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