History 

of Tour Guiding
Tour guiding is considered as one of the oldest occupations/professions of the
west. The evolution of tour guides and the guiding history was classified by
Pond (1993) into four periods:

First phase (3000 B.C. to A.D.500)

There are a number of references in history from the Roman Empire to the
Middle Age, throughout the renaissance and into the Modern Age. Tourism
saw the first major development during the period of the great empires.
During this period, travelling was risky, uncertain and time taking.

The ancient Persians, Assyrians and Egyptians used to travel through surface
(land) and the waterways. This activity spread and so did the number of
guides, they were known as ‘explainers’ or ‘leaders around’ (as they lead the
group), who mainly assisted visitors travelling abroad.

Second phase (A. D.500 to A. D.1500) 

The second phase is in the period between the fall of Rome and the start of
Renaissance known as the Middle Age and for approximately 1000 years from
A. D. 500 to 1500. Religious pilgrimage was the most prevalent type of
journey by the middle and the upper classes.

The fall of Rome resulted in the decline of the economy and chaos in the social
order. The safety and security of the travellers came as a serious concern;
therefore the guides had to serve as a pathfinder, safety escort and
protector.

Third phase (A.D.1500 to around 1700) 

The third phase covered the period of the Renaissance and the Grand Tour,
approximately A.D.1500 to around 1700. During the period of renaissance,
excursions were taken by the youth of prosperous families who were also
called ‘Grand Tourists’ for cultural and educational reasons.

These people (tourists) were expected to enrich their knowledge through long
journeys while being accompanied by a guide who gave them information
about tourist’s places to sightsee, guides in this period came to be known
as ‘cicerone’.

The word cicerone derives from Cicero, the most esteemed tour guide in the
European society. The guide was expected to be well versed in many practical
subjects, areas, be articulate and be multi-lingual. 

Fourth Stage (post 1700)

Mr. Jan Carlzon (the former president of Scandinavian Airlines) termed the
exact instant when the customer (here tourists) has a direct contact with any
of the front-line employees/ staff as the ‘moment of truth’. This idea has had a
marked influence on the service industry (tourism and travel is a part of the
service industry) and is now globally accepted (Pond, 1993).

Once the tourist arrives at the tourist destination, the tour guide becomes
responsible throughout the tour as they are in regular touch with the tourist
or traveller.