Despite the global economic downturn, travel and tourism remains an industry with an extensive and diverse market to cater for. Here, in Ireland, the tourism industry is about encouraging global ‘tourists’ to come to the island of Ireland and spend their time and money sampling Irish products and services. It is also about making Ireland attractive to Irish holiday makers and encouraging ‘staycations’.
This is an industry that incorporates a number of different jobs, including: accommodation, leisure activities, food and drink providers, tourism service providers, events and conferencing facilities, tourist attractions and the transport and travel trade. The travel industry also specifically deals with the actual logistics of transporting clients/customers from one destination to another and the promotion of these services.
Areas of work in the travel industry include travel agencies/consultancies, tour operators, individual/group handling agencies and destination management companies (DMCs). Many general tourism roles could also be available to graduates of travel industry programmes.
Some examples of graduate jobs in the tourism and travel industry are:
•Travel consultant
•Tourism officer
•Reservations agent
•Tour guide
•Tourist Information Centre manager
•Tour operator
•Operations manager
•Cabin crew
•Heritage officer
Business support roles, such as HR, finance and IT, are also available in all areas of the tourism and travel industry.
The main employers include Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Outside of these bodies there are positions with tourism information centres, regional tourism bodies, local authorities, travel companies and tour operators, travel/transport authorities and providers, interpretive centres, heritage sites. There are also specialist tourism areas such as eco-tourism, sustainable tourism, food and drink tourism, agri-tourism and adventure tourism have also grown in recent times. With an increasing awareness of health issues and the importance of fitness – many people want to combine a holiday with out-door activities like kayaking or mountain climbing. Cruise line companies are also well worth considering as a potential employer as this is one of the few areas of this tourism/hospitality sector which has shown significant growth in recent years.
To get a job in the tourism and travel sector you will typically need a third-level qualification or training, often to degree level.
Tralee IT offer an honours degree programme in Travel & Tourism Management. This course is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of career opportunities in the Travel and Tourism Industry.
On completion of this programme you will have developed management skills in:
• Tour guiding
• Travel agency practice
• Communication and language
• Information Technology
• Business (marketing, human resources, management, enterprise development)
• Business Planning/Project Management
• Event management
• Research methods.
This is an opportunity to study a unique travel and tourism management programme in Kerry, Ireland’s premier tourism county. Students benefit from the wide range of tourism facilities and attractions in the area and the close links the college has with industry. GMIT also offer potential students a degree programme in Tourism studies.
There is also the option of attaining a FETAC Level 5 qualification in Tourism and Travel. Portobello Institute run such a course, as does Kinsale College of Further Education. With the internationally recognised certifications from Portobello Institute (including travel agent certifications) you could choose to establish a career anywhere in the world. You will study about tourism awareness, customer service, cultural studies, marketing practice, and tourism enterprise. This course, like others, include a work placement.
FETAC courses (available throughout the country) are designed to provide students with a broad range of skills and knowledge in preparation for travel related careers. The course in Kinsale like many other PLC/FETAC courses also covers Computer skills, Office and Business Administration. Graduates will receive certification in ECDL, FETAC level 5 in Office & Business Administration and FETAC level 5 in Tourism & Travel.
The course content consists of:
* Tourism and Travel Services
* Tourism Awareness
* Customer Service
* Tourism Enterprise
* Reception
* Heritage
* Profile of Rural Tourism
Graduates of FETAC Tourism and Travel courses have found employment with:
* Airlines-Cabin Crew or Ground Stewards
* Tour Guide
* Ferry Travel
* Holiday Representative Abroad
* Airline Reservation Sales
Holders of a FETAC award at level 5 may apply for degree courses under the Higher Education Links or via the pilots Link Scheme (where specific courses accept certain FETAC qualifications).
There are also specific skills in the travel and tourism industry that you can be certified in. The Galileo Reservations Certificate is one example. The College of Management and IT (CMIT) run such a course. This certificate is often necessary if you are interested in working in a Travel Agency, with a Tour Operator or in an Airline Reservation Department. It would also be useful for those already working in the industry, who wish to obtain an accredited qualification through home study. If you also complete the Certificate Course you will be awarded an IAOT Diploma in International Travel Industry Studies. This course is endorsed by Galileo Ireland and is accredited by IAOT - a specialist provider of courses for the Airline industry with over 17 years experience in specialist training for the Airline industry. Following completion, you will receive a "Galileo Ireland Passport" and a "Certificate of Achievement" from IAOT.
The International Career Institute run a Distance Learning Course in Travel and Tourism. The ICI Travel and Tourism programme designed in conjunction with industry leaders helps you learn the skills you need to succeed quickly and conveniently. This course will benefit you by helping you to fast track your career in Travel and Toursim providing you ‘with the inside secrets of how to become a Travel and Tourism professional in months not years’.
Regardless of whether you come into this industry sector via the PLC or the CAO system, it is important to remember that this is a service industry, first and foremost, so you must have patience, flexibility and excellent interpersonal skills. Cultural sensitivity and awareness are critical, as tourism professionals deal with different countries and cultures.
The tourism industry will continue to change as both the global economy changes and various new destinations come on board as tourist destinations. An obvious trend is the increase in Internet service and increasing competitiveness. The Web has created new and different career options for those interested in travel/tourism careers. Individuals can work for travel web-sites and/or go on to write for travel and tourism publications on-line and in print.
Once, you are qualified in this sector, it is recommended, to continually up-skill, in order to climb that travel and tourism career ladder.
Find travel and Tourism courses on Findacourse.ie >>
