Guiding a job that requires passion

When I became a Tourist Guide my lecturer once said, that it is the one job that is like art, you need to have the passion for the job much like an painter does. He also said that like a sculpture a tourist guide should work towards the final product, as similar to a musician he needs to create "wow" moments during his tour.
This has stayed with me through the years, and perhaps I need to ad my own statement to what he said to me, guiding is also similar to creating a great dinner, it has to activate all your senses touch, smell, sight and hear and moreover the sense of occasion.
With all that is just said one concludes that as a Tourist Guide your passion should almost be an obsession to create the best experience your tourist may want to have. It is this obsession to deliver your art that sometimes test your patience and goodwill, when dealing with service providers, such as hotels, restaurants etc.
It is therefore not strange that when we have an less than prefect experience at a restaurant, we as Tourist Guides demand good and prompt service, and when we do not receive what we demand for our Tourists we tend to avoid these places until the industry news indicates that a change has taken place.

The opposite is also true when we are surprised by good service and our guests are impressed we remain faithful to the service provider concerned. In South Africa we have an annual tourist guide of the year competition and similarly for hotels, restaurants etc. something like the OSCARS in the film industry, the trouble is that the Tourist Guide has to create his "art" in the background without show and flair, reap the rewards with dignity.
Passion have its rewards and most of the time it is the effect your actions have had on those that you come in contact with, be it an emotional goodbye at the Airport or a lifelong friendship started during the tour. The fulfilling emotion of contentment, after a tour has been successfully completed is hard to describe and it can remain with you for a few days, that is ample reward in itself.
The "wow" moments of a tour also will bring back memories long after you have done another tour.
today I would like to extend an invitation to all come and experience the passion of a Tourist Guide when you go on your next holiday in South Africa.