Occupation intelligence

tourist information officer

Snapshot

Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge of a place and helping others have memorable experiences? As a tourist information officer, you’ll be the go-to resource for visitors, providing valuable insights and ensuring they make the most of their travels.

Summary

Tourist information officers are vital links between visitors and the places they explore. Your days will involve a variety of tasks, from answering inquiries about local attractions and events to assisting with travel arrangements and providing advice on accommodation. You’ll be the face of the destination, creating a positive and welcoming experience for everyone.

Key responsibilities
  • • Providing accurate and up-to-date information on local attractions, events, and services.
  • • Assisting visitors with travel planning, including transportation, accommodation, and itineraries.
  • • Responding to inquiries in person, by phone, and via email.
60%
Resilience Score · 2026 (Higher is better)
Primary education 28% AI exposure
Start Career DNA assessment
Labour market

Where this occupation is in demand

Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.

Shortage reportedSurplus reportedBoth reportedReported in another yearNot covered by this source

Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.

Figures cover Customer services clerks — 37 jobs including this one.

5 of 18 in shortage202510 of 27 growing1.3Mopenings to 2035

In shortage: Belgium, Greece, Italy, Netherlands and 1 more.

Longest-running shortage: Belgium, 3 years.

Select a place on the map to see its figures.

About this source

Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.

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Quick fit check

Could tourist information officer fit you?

Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.

Progress0/3

Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?

Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?

Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?

NexFuture™

Future Outlook for tourist information officer

The outlook for tourist information officer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.

How are these scores calculated?

The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.

Play the future

How could tourist information officer change as AI adoption grows?

This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.

Significant task-level transformation is estimated in 16 years (around 2042) under the selected Expected Pace scenario.
~60%
Resilience
Automation Risk
EXP~30%
Human advantage
MOAT~65%

Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.

2026
2035
2047
AI Adoption Speed:

How AI may change this role

Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.

Human-owned 60% Human-owned
What still depends on people
  • comply with food safety and hygiene
  • quote prices
  • provide tourism related information
The Human Edge To stay ahead in this role, focus on geographical areas relevant to tourism and local area tourism industry. These human-centric skills are the hardest for AI to replicate in the next 20 years.
Assist 14% Assist
Where AI may become a co-pilot
  • produce content for tourism brochures
  • develop tourist information materials
  • apply foreign languages in tourism
Automate 28% Automate
Tasks most exposed to automation
  • process booking
  • process reservations
  • collect tourist information
Detailed Analysis

Vital Signs & AI Vectors

AI Exposure Vectors

0-100%
AI / Machine Learning 14%

Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks

Generative AI 12%

Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools

Robotic & Physical Automation 0%

Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement

Cognitive Software 0%

Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation

Technical Details
Methodology: NexFuture v3.0 Sources: O*NET® 30.3, ESCO v1.2.1 Updated: Aug 2026

NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.

Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.

Day in the life

What people in this role usually do

Hospitality, Events, & Tourism

Day in the life

A typical day as a tourist information officer

09
09:00 · Morning
build a network of suppliers in tourism
Establish a widely spread network of suppliers in the tourism industry.
10
10:30 · Mid-morning
collect tourist information
Gather and compile relevant touristic information from a variety of sources.
12
12:00 · Midday
coordinate efforts of stakeholders for destination promotion
Monitor with relevant stakeholders, such as business owners and government institutions to develop a cooperative product or promotion campaign.
14
14:00 · Afternoon
demonstrate intercultural competences in hospitality services
Understand, respect and build constructive and positive relations with intercultural clients, guests and collaborators in the field of hospitality.
15
15:30 · Late afternoon
develop tourist information materials
Create documents such as leaflets, brochures or city guides to inform tourists about local, cultural, social and historical activities and places of interest.
17
17:00 · Wrap-up
distribute local information materials
Hand out leaflets, maps and tour brochures to visitors with information and tips about local sites, attractions and events.

Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.

Software & Technologies & Knowledge areas
Software & Technologies
Adobe PhotoshopApple SafariCentaur Systems Centaur Travel Business Management System TBMSEmail softwareFacebookGlobal positioning system GPS softwareIBS Software Services Tour PartnerMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Internet ExplorerMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordPadletPear DeckRBS GoTour OnlineSmugMug FlickrSoftrip Travel Software SystemTourTech Systems TourTools
Knowledge areas
  • geographical areas relevant to tourism

    The field of tourism geography in Europe as well as the rest of the world in order to point out relevant tourism areas and attractions.

  • local area tourism industry

    The characteristics of local sights and events, accommodation, bars and restaurants and leisure activities.

  • ecotourism

    The practice of sustainable travel to natural areas that conserve and support the local environment, fostering environmental and cultural understanding. It usually involves the observation of natural wildlife in exotic natural environments.

  • self-service technologies in tourism

    The application of self-service technologies in the tourism industry: performing online bookings, self-check-ins for hotels and airlines, allowing clients to perform and complete reservations by themselves using digital tools.

Cross-sector skills
  • augmented reality
  • virtual reality
Essential skills
developing professional relationships or networks
  • communicate with customers

    Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.

  • build a network of suppliers in tourism

    Establish a widely spread network of suppliers in the tourism industry.

  • respond to customers' inquiries

    Answer customers' questions about itineraries, rates and reservations in person, by mail, by e-mail and on the phone.

developing instructive or promotional materials
  • produce content for tourism brochures

    Create content for leaflets and tourism brochures, travel services and package deals.

  • develop tourist information materials

    Create documents such as leaflets, brochures or city guides to inform tourists about local, cultural, social and historical activities and places of interest.

providing information to the public and clients
  • quote prices

    Refer to prices for the client by researching and estimating fare rates.

  • provide tourism related information

    Give customers relevant information about historical and cultural locations and events while conveying this information in an entertaining and informative manner.

entering and transforming information
  • process booking

    Execute a booking of a place according to client's requirement in advance and issue all appropriate documents.

  • process reservations

    Execute customers' reservations in accordance to their schedules and needs by phone, electronically or in person.

accompanying and welcoming people
  • assist visitors

    Aid visitors by responding to their questions, giving satisfactory explanations, suggestions and recommendations.

  • provide directions to guests

    Show guests the way through buildings or on domains, to their seats or performance setting, helping them with any additional information so that they can reach the foreseen event destination.

presenting general information
  • distribute local information materials

    Hand out leaflets, maps and tour brochures to visitors with information and tips about local sites, attractions and events.

complying with health and safety procedures
  • comply with food safety and hygiene

    Respect optimal food safety and hygiene during preparation, manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution and delivery of food products.

protecting privacy and personal data
  • handle personal identifiable information

    Administer sensitive personal information on customers securely and discreetly

Skill DNA

Skill DNA

Work personality traits and values that define this role

Key traits you need
Attention to Detail Integrity Dependability Self-Control Achievement/Effort Cooperation Initiative Persistence Stress Tolerance Analytical Thinking Adaptability/Flexibility Independence Concern for Others Leadership Social Orientation Innovation
Key rewards you can expect
AchievementWorking Condit…RecognitionRelationshipsSupportIndependence
Career progression

Growth Pathways & Similar Roles

Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.

Career landscape

Where does tourist information officer fit?

This role
tourist information officer This role

Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What skills are most important for a tourist information officer?
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential. You’ll also need excellent customer service skills, the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and a good knowledge of the local area. Being detail-oriented and resourceful are also highly valued.
What kind of work environment can I expect as a tourist information officer?
You’ll typically work in a tourist information centre, which could be located in a town or city centre, at a transportation hub, or even within a larger visitor attraction. The environment is usually busy and involves interacting with a diverse range of people.
Are there opportunities for career progression in this role?
While often an entry-level position, experience as a tourist information officer can lead to roles with greater responsibility, such as supervising a team, managing a tourist information centre, or developing marketing materials for a destination. Further education or training in tourism management can also open up new opportunities.
Tourist Information Officer — is there a shortage in Europe?
No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 13 of the 18 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Spain and 9 more. 5 countries reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.