★A tour leader (also referred to as the tour escort in Central America, or tour conductor in Japan) is assigned by the foreign travel service to accompany the tour group through the whole trip.

★He/She accompanies the tour group throughout the trip, and makes sure that the local travel agency fulfills the contract obligations. He/She work together with the local guide and sometimes the national guide as well.

☆领队（在中美洲被称为“旅行陪同”，在日本被称为“观光领队”）是受海外旅行社委派，（代表该旅行社）带领旅游团从事旅游活动的工作人员。

☆领队全程陪同游客，从出发直至安全返回，确保地接社按照合同提供各项服务。领队与地陪，有时还有全陪，合作共事。

【备注】“领队”一词英文可用tour leader，tour escort和tour lead，《旅游法》采用tour lead一词，业界普遍使用tour leader，故本书采用业界常用表述tour leader。