43 Trending Tourist Guide Businesses [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: January 18th, 2023

Start A Tourist Guide Business

There's no denying the profitability of a tourism business. If you know the state and cities well, starting a tour guide business can be a very lucrative idea. All you need is a license, and you can soon start working as a tour guide.

Listed are the steps on how to start a tour guide business.

Register your tour guide name business
Obtain necessary licenses
Open a bank account for business transactions
Organize your business operations
Start to promote and get clients

Looking for some examples of a tourist guide business?

Interested in case studies of a successful tourist guide business? Check out our full list of success stories.

1. Lonely Planet

Love travel? Discover, plan and book your perfect trip with expert advice, travel guides, destination information and inspiration from Lonely Planet.

Where they're located: In Salah, In Salah, Algeria
Website traffic: 4.33M/month

2. japan-guide.com

Everything about modern and traditional Japan with emphasis on travel and living related information.

Website traffic: 1.12M/month

Learn more about starting a tourist guide business:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a tourist guide business?
-> Pros and cons of a tourist guide business

Need inspiration?

-> Other tourist guide business success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a tourist guide business

Other resources

4. Roadtrippers

Plan your next road trip, find amazing places, and take fascinating detours with the world's #1 road trip planning platform

Where they're located: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Website traffic: 1.7M/month

5. VisaGuide.World

Guide to travelling worldwide with a visa. Travel visa information for all countries, requirements, application. Find the visa type that suits your travelling plans best.

Website traffic: 1.09M/month

6. Frommer's Travel Guides: Trip Ideas, Inspiration & Deals

Where they're located: Batha, Chad

7. Kerala Tourism

Kerala Tourism official website provides text, photos, video, on travel destinations, hotels, accommodation, culture, heritage, art forms and people of God's own Country

Website traffic: 260K/month

8. Discover Los Angeles

The official guide to Los Angeles. Find great deals, new attractions, free things to do and more. Start planning your perfect Southern California vacation today.

Where they're located: Los Angeles, California, USA
Website traffic: 520K/month

9. www.parisinfo.com

ParisInfo : Des informations pratiques pour organiser votre voyage et votre séjour à Paris : hôtels et hébergements, monuments à Paris, restaurants, événements, shopping, sorties…

Website traffic: 1.06M/month

10. Go Hawaii

Discover the beauty, culture and adventures waiting for you on the Hawaiian Islands. Find Hawaii travel information and plan your perfect vacation.

Where they're located: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Website traffic: 1.55M/month

11. Visit California

Visit California

Where they're located: San Diego, California, USA
Website traffic: 1.24M/month

12. Colorado Tourism

Plan your Colorado vacation activities, lodging and more online at The Official Site of Colorado Tourism, Colorado.com. Find things to do on the state of Colorado’s official travel site.

Where they're located: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Website traffic: 1.07M/month

13. The official website of Tourism Authority of Thailand

The official site of Tourism Authority of Thailand. Amazing Thailand, Travel information, Travel guide, maps, hotels, accommodation, attractions, events & festivals, food, culture, shopping information to help you plan your Thailand vacations.

Where they're located: Manhattan Community Board 1, New York, USA
Website traffic: 370K/month

14. Utah.com

Whatever Utah experience you’re after — from hiking National Parks to touring Temple Square, you'll be able to tailor each detail of your trip, all in one spot.

Website traffic: 570K/month

15. visitlondon.com

Discover your ultimate guide to London. From the best activities in the city to top restaurants, bars and hotels, explore what's on in London today.

16. ViaMichelin

World maps, city maps, driving directions, Michelin-starred restaurants, hotel booking, traffic news and weather forecast with ViaMichelin

Where they're located: Ninove, Flanders, Belgium
Website traffic: 850K/month

17. VisitScotland

Welcome to Scotland! Discover fantastic things to do, holiday inspiration, places to stay, local tips & more, from the official Scottish tourist board.

18. Business Traveller

News, reviews, features and useful information for frequent travellers as well as a forum where you can discuss issues of relevance to your travels

Website traffic: 660K/month

19. Explore Georgia

Where they're located: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

20. Explore Minnesota

Your complete inspiration and travel planning guide to the state of Minnesota, with trip ideas, lodging, attractions, events, free brochures and more. Find Minnesota resorts, campgrounds, and events, plus Minnesota activities like hiking, biking, shopping, theater, and arts on ExploreMinnesota.com

Where they're located: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Website traffic: 470K/month

21. TripHobo

Looking for a vacation planner for your Holidays? Discover amazing places, cheap hotels, and reliable homestays for vacations with families, groups, or individuals. Plan your holiday with this vacation planning website.

22. Washington.org

Monuments and memorials, eclectic neighborhoods, true local flavor – Washington, DC is a place unlike any other. It’s your home away from home with free museums, award-winning restaurants and more. Plan your trip by checking out all the things to do, places to eat and ways to stay. We’ll see you soon.

Where they're located: Washington D.C., Washington, D.C., USA

23. ToursByLocals

ToursByLocals connects travelers with local tour guides, worldwide. We're a marketplace for customizable private tours and shore excursions!

Where they're located: Manhattan Community Board 1, New York, USA

24. Virginia is for Lovers

Discover the perfect vacation spot: Come Visit Virginia! Sparkling waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean gently lap against miles of sandy beaches. The blue-hued morning mist hugs the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. A new day begins in Virginia, a day promising all the fun and excitement of hiking the Appalachian Trail; the heritage of visiting eight presidential homes and more Civil War battlefields than any other state; and the big thrills of riding the world's fastest coasters at amazing theme parks.

Where they're located: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA

25. Travel Oregon

Travel Oregon | From Mt Hood to the Oregon Coast, Explore Oregon with the official tourism site for Oregon.

Website traffic: 590K/month

26. Pure Michigan

Whether you are traveling with your family or making memories with friends – you are on the brink of planning a vacation so unique, it can only be classified as Pure Michigan.

Where they're located: Detroit, Michigan, USA

27. Visit Norway

Plan your holiday in Norway with free guides and videos. Learn about fjords, northern lights, midnight sun, where to stay, walking, fishing and more.

Where they're located: Aurora, Colorado, USA
Website traffic: 400K/month

28. New York Hotels, Things To Do

New York State's official tourism site | Explore all the state of New York has to offer including fun things to do, year-round events and festivals, world-class hotels and award-winning restaurants.

Where they're located: Manhattan Community Board 1, New York, USA
Website traffic: 470K/month

29. Visit The USA

VisitTheUSA is the USA official guide for traveling the United States of America. Discover here all the information you need for your American holidays.

Where they're located: Washington D.C., Washington, D.C., USA

30. Choose Chicago

Explore the official tourism website for Chicago. Find guides to attractions, events, restaurants, hotels, getting around and other vacation planning help.

31. Barbados

Barbados Tourist Board can give you everything you need for a perfect holiday, including how to get here, where to stay, what to do and how to enjoy this fabulous island

Website traffic: 220K/month

32. San Francisco Travel

San Francisco is home to a little bit of everything. Whether you're a first time visitor or a long-time local, San Francisco's Golden Gates welcome all. This is the place to find out about all things San Francisco.

Where they're located: San Jose, California, USA
Website traffic: 350K/month

33. www.visitnc.com

Welcome to North Carolina’s official travel-planning destination. Explore things to do, browse maps, photos and places to stay, and discover ideas for your next vacation. Experience Firsts That Last in North Carolina.

Where they're located: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

34. Rand McNally

Rand McNally specializes in maps, navigation, road travel, and trip planning. Our new connected-car device, Overdryve brings advanced luxury car features to any car.

Where they're located: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Website traffic: 290K/month

35. Tourism Whistler

Plan and book your trip to Whistler, BC with the official tourism website, source for accommodation deals, resort information, activities, weather and snow reports.

Where they're located: دهستان جرقویه علیا, Isfahan Province, Iran
Website traffic: 70K/month

36. Visit Arizona

Plan the perfect vacation with Arizona's official travel guide. Discover inspiring things to do from outdoor fun to arts and culture, events, and culinary hot spots. Your Arizona adventure starts here.

Where they're located: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Website traffic: 310K/month

37. Montana

Website traffic: 250K/month

38. Tourism Vancouver

Vancouver hotels, restaurants, things to do, events - Tourism Vancouver is the official source of tourist information for Vancouver BC Canada

39. Barcelona Tourist Information/Tourism Guide, Spain 2020

Essential Barcelona travel guide: Everything to plan your visit. Top attractions, transport, maps, hotel guide, BCN Airport, apartment rental. Insider tips from locals living in Barcelona city Spain.

40. TravelOK.com

Looking to plan a family vacation, weekend getaway, or attend a festival in beautiful Oklahoma? Learn about all the fun things to do in the Sooner State on TravelOK!

Where they're located: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

41. New Mexico Tourism & Travel

Visit New Mexico for a unique family vacation filled with exciting activities like skiing, hiking, shopping and sight seeing. Adventure awaits at every corner. Native American culture abounds. National and state treasures are easy to find. And history is created every day. You find them all here in every one of New Mexico's six regions. Find out what each area has to offer.

Where they're located: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Website traffic: 220K/month

42. ToursByLocals

ToursByLocals connects travelers with local tour guides, worldwide. We're a marketplace for customizable private tours and shore excursions!

How much they make:
Where they're located: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Current team size: 290

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Starting A Tourist Guide Business: Everything You Need To Know

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