Table 3 Results of EFA (Sample 1, n = 326)

2. In the eyes of many, the attitude of the tour guides towards tourists is bad.

0.760

−0.063

0.086

0.591

22. In the eyes of many, tour guides may be verbally abusive to tourists.

0.750

0.070

−0.006

0.627

5. In the eyes of many, tour guides may force tourists to shop.

0.710

0.196

−0.092

0.636

13. In the eyes of many tour guides may force tourists to enroll in fee-based programs.

0.566

0.383

−0.102

0.644

28. In the eyes of many, tour guides may deceive tourists.

0.532

0.274

0.057

0.588

16. In the eyes of many, a tour guide’s professional competence is poor.

0.522

−0.013

0.213

0.420

17. I think that the public holds a negative perception of tour guides.

0.056

0.798

−0.073

0.635

14. I think tourists are wary of guides.

0.094

0.790

−0.105

0.638

20. I think tour guides are often misunderstood.

0.087

0.766

−0.138

0.569

11. I think the social status of tour guides is declining year by year.

−0.073

0.765

0.121

0.627

9. I think tour guides are not respected by the public.

0.130

0.512

0.218

0.557

8. I think the career threshold for tour guides is low.

0.098

0.463

0.160

0.401

7. I regret being a tour guide.

−0.012

−0.077

0.820

0.602

12. Being a tour guide is not the job I expected.

−0.071

−0.018

0.810

0.588

27. I would hide my work from others.

0.112

−0.182

0.706

0.462

23. I think a tour guide is not a decent job.

0.090

0.019

0.703

0.584

18. I have seriously considered resigning.

0.022

0.199

0.624

0.582

24. I am reluctant to have my children work as tour guides.

−0.269

0.365

0.592

0.504

10. I have seriously considered switching careers.

−0.036

0.284

0.589

0.574

21. I don’t feel up to being a tour guide.

0.349

−0.353

0.572

0.409

15. My family does not support me to work as a tour guide.

0.044

0.115

0.566

0.436