Tour and travel guides research the places they show, plan routes and talking points, arrange services for clients, collect tickets, lead groups and answer questions. Audio guides and apps can share facts about a site. Leading a group in person and reading how it is doing stays with guides.
The short answer: low exposure, with growth projected. The ILO's 2025 index rates travel guides at minimal exposure with a score of 0.32. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 11,900 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed tour guides are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Guides | Minimal exposure | 0.32 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Tour and travel guides | Grow 6% | About 11,900 |
The BLS ties growth to more people taking part in leisure activities and continued demand for expert-led tours at museums, historical sites and parks. Many projected openings come from replacing workers who leave or retire.
Where AI is helping
- Researching site history and local attractions faster, with sources to check.
- Drafting talking points and translating tour materials.
- Handling bookings and reservations.
What stays with tour guides
- Leading people: keeping a group together, safe and on time.
- Reading the room: adjusting pace and content to the group, as the BLS describes.
- Expertise: answering questions and telling stories that bring a place to life.
- Checking AI help: generated history and facts can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS sees continued demand for expert-led tours. Guides who check AI research against reliable sources keep their tours accurate. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace travel agents?, will AI replace historians? and will AI replace recreation workers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for tour and travel guides at $38,120 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace tour guides?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 6 percent growth for tour and travel guides from 2025 to 2035, with about 11,900 openings a year.
How exposed are tour guides to AI?
The ILO rates travel guides at minimal exposure with a score of 0.32.
What drives demand?
The BLS points to more leisure activity and continued demand for expert-led tours at museums, historical sites and parks.
What do tour guides do?
They research sites, plan routes and talking points, lead groups and answer questions.