Tourism: a Versatile Industry in a Changing World

The Travel Industry is an exciting industry to be working in. I am learning more each day and love the balance between my work life and family life. - Danielle Brownie, Spencer Travel

Career planning

More so than ever before, the number one question on every student’s lips is: "will I be able to get a job when I graduate?" Ever since the Global Financial Crisis hit, choosing a path of study has become a little trickier. Now, not only do students have to take into consideration their own personal strengths and interests, but they must also become aware of the kind of job opportunities they can expect when they complete their course.

Important as job prospects are, however, it’s still important to choose a career that you will find interesting and rewarding. Getting paid to do something you love might seem like an unrealistic goal, but in actuality it can be easier than you’d think.

When planning your career – whether you’ve just left school or whether you’re contemplating a career change, a good starting point is to make a list of things you’re passionate about. From there, you can start to look into study options surrounding your areas of interest. Study has the dual advantage of giving you the right skills and qualifications, as well as introducing you to a range of employment options you might not have previously known existed.

The Tourism Industry

If you love travelling, why not make a career out of it? Tourism is an extremely resilient industry – since no matter what the economic climate is like, people will always want to have holidays. A career in tourism can be profoundly rewarding, because you are helping people to have memorable, enjoyable, and sometimes life-changing experiences

Working in tourism also gives you the opportunity to move around and try out a number of different roles. You might start out as a travel agent, and after a few years move on to tour operator, and then start to work your way up to a managerial position. Once you’ve got your first job in this industry, career progression is simply a matter of enthusiasm and commitment.

According to MyCareer, the average advertised salary for jobs in tourism is around $55,000 (December 2009). And now that the economy is in recovery, this industry is expected to expand. Eco Tourism is another exciting growth area you might like to consider, and it is only going to get bigger as the world becomes increasingly conscious about environmental sustainability.

Getting into the industry

But how to get started? The Travel Industry Careers Association recommends obtaining the specific qualifications required to work in this industry, and also getting as much practical experience as you can. Above all, you need to have the right attitude – specifically, employers are looking for people with excellent communication, teamwork, and customer service skills.

Martin College offers a 25 week Certificate III in Tourism (Retail Travel Sales), and a 45 week Diploma of Tourism (which is fully VET FEE-HELP approved). The practical focus of our courses means that you will graduate not only with a nationally-recognised qualification, but with the confidence to be able to jump straight into the workforce after you graduate.  
 
You will learn from experts who have vast amounts of experience in the industry, and our Career Starter Program will provide career-focused information sessions as well as guidance and support when you start looking for work.

For more information, please contact us to find out how we can help you plan your ideal career.