THE TRAVEL GUIDE AND TOUR LEADER JOB MARKET IN POLAND

Abstract

Purpose. The main objective of the article is to diagnose the job market from the point of view ofsupply and demand for travel guide and tour leader services as well as to establish the dominant forms of employment, intensity of orders, forms of job search, status of employers as well as the amount of earnings. Method. In the research, the method of diagnostic survey was used; the questionnaire was supplied to the respondents via the Internet, with the option of filling it out on-line (CAWI) as well as by conducting telephone interviews with employers (CATI). Findings. The study proved that the travel guide and tour leader job market is unstable due to its seasonal nature, relatively low earnings and a constantly changing economic situation. The deregulation of occupations did not lead to a change in principles of cooperation between on the one hand, the tour operators one the one hand and the travel guides and tour leaders on the other; it did not exert influence on the costs of their employment or on the prices of tourist services. Research and conclusions limitations. The research was conducted on a representative sample of tourist guides and tour leaders as well as tour operators. Practical implications. The results of research may be of use to tour operators, organisations grouping travel guides and tour leaders as well as tourist administrations at central and regional levels. Originality. A complex study of the tourist guide and tour leader job market is innovative and has never been conducted on such a scale in Poland. Type of paper. The article presents the results of empirical research on the supply and demand of urban, field and mountain guides as well as tour leaders.