You have found this website because you are interested in finding out about getting into the Tourism Industry. Help is at hand and it won’t cost you anything!

Firstly, what interests you about Tourism? Is it the idea of travelling? You will discover that this is generally the answer to why people want to get into this industry. Yes this is possible but it’s not always the reason potential employers want to hear.

To assist in explaining about the many options, we need to ask “What is Tourism?” and depending on who you speak to, will depend on the answer. For me, tourism is about opportunity, it’s a lifestyle, it’s a community, it has benefits but it also has hardships, its forever changing and it’s about forever learning. Adaptation is the key to being successful in this industry.

From reviewing other sections of this site you may have realised that there are many career options within Tourism and although some may not be as well known, they too are just as challenging and also just as rewarding.

How to get your foot in the door:

Doing a course or degree to increase your knowledge is always the best starting option however experience can also be just as important. This is probably the only industry I can think of, where having a qualification can be irrelevant to obtaining a position. Tourism is sort after and the best way to get in is experience. Ask your local Travel Agency if you can sort out their brochures or do some filing (for free). Let them know you are very interested and keen on getting into tourism and would like to help out or even just watch what happens within the agency… listening to the daily office operations can be extremely useful. Permission is always required and expected. If you are interested in other aspects within Tourism, then contact a company that offers this aspect. For example you may be interested in Tour Guiding, so contact a tour company and see if you can clean vehicles or help out in the office (for free). This “hands on” experience will be extremely beneficial in getting your foot in the door.

Career options in tourism include:

Accommodation - reception, sales, marketing, graphics, IT, reservations, accounts, concierge, cleaner, gardener, life guard, baby sitter, masseuse, bar person, wait person, chef

Tour operator - driver, vehicle maintenance, cleaner, reservations, accounts, sales representative, marketing, graphics, IT

Airline - Administration, sales, marketing, reservations, accounts, reception, graphics, IT, cabin crew, pilot, engineer, check in, operations, ground handling, baggage handler, customer service, human resources, crewing, document control,  stores, purchasing

Travel & Wholesaler - manager, reservations consultant, documents & ticketing, accounts, sales, graphics, marketing, reception, cleaner

Click here to check out the Testimonials page for advice from people already in the industry.