Travel Guides
Machines can already do 33% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 62%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Travel Guides in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 33% of this job's tasks.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2032, and 62% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Contact with people: it scores 81% for contact with people.
- Also called: Cruise Counselor, Guide, Naturalist Guide, Tour Coordinator.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead individuals or groups to tour site locations and describe points of interest | 29% | 30% to 75% | |
| Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel | 12% | 10% to 32% | |
| Plan tour itineraries, applying knowledge of travel routes and destination sites | 10% | 83% to 87% | |
| Resolve any problems with itineraries, service, or accommodations | 7% | 85% to 87% | |
| Pilot airplanes or drive land and water vehicles to transport tourists to activity or tour sites | 7% | 30% to 75% | |
| Attend to special needs of tour participants | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Sell travel packages | 5% | 25% to 50% | |
| Give advice on sightseeing and shopping | 4% | 35% to 58% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills travel guides use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Travel Guides?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2032. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of travel guides?
Machines can do 33% of the tasks of travel guides today and 62% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 39-7012.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Travel Guides: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/travel-guides/