Do you love traveling? If yes, then you might also wish to have a career associated with it. Right? See, tourism is a vast industry, and it offers many career options. But before delving deep into the best careers in the tourism industry, let us first understand what this industry is all about!
So, tourism is a seasonally active and dynamic industry because people from all over the world travel within and outside the country. The critical sectors in the tourism industry are travel, hospitality, food, entertainment, etc. Every sector offers numerous job opportunities to people.
In this blog, we will discuss what career options are best for people interested in the tourism industry. Further, we will talk about the best traits required to gain a job in the tourism and hospitality industry. So, without further ado, let us begin!
What are the best careers in the tourism industry?
The tourism industry caters to the needs of people who love traveling for leisure and business. Therefore, tourists choose locations that tend to fulfill all their needs regarding accommodation, food, transport, etc.
Jobs in tourism are the roles that work towards keeping the tourist satisfied. These roles might be full-time, seasonal, or part-time. Most career options include working in management roles, ensuring the tourist has a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
If you are planning to pursue a career in the tourism industry, here’s what all roles you can consider!
- Travel Agent
Travel agents research, plan, and book trips for individuals and groups. Although people today research everything themselves via the internet and book everything, still, it is often recommended to hire a travel agent as they have expertise, knowledge, and years of experience.
Travel agents will be able to help you with flight booking, hotel selection, transfer arrangements, and holiday activities. If you wish to become a travel agent, you will require excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and react to events decisively.
- Hotel Manager
Becoming a hotel manager is one of the best careers in the tourism industry. A Hotel Manager oversees all aspects of a hotel, ranging from housekeeping to general maintenance to budget management.
If you wish to become a Hotel Manager, you will require excellent interpersonal skills, experience in the hospitality industry, and managing employees. In this role, you will run the hotel daily, i.e., recruiting, training, and supervising the staff; ensuring that the hotel complies with health & safety regulations; dealing with consumer complaints, etc.
- Assistant Chef
Assistant Chefs support the work of an executive or head chef in the restaurant kitchen. For example, they might perform the preparatory work and help create menus. They might even cook meals for the guests, ensuring the kitchen’s safety and cleanliness as well.
Assistant chefs also manage and delegate work to the other kitchen staff. They are also responsible for checking the quality & freshness of the ingredients used in the kitchen.
- Adventure Guide
Another exciting career in the tourism industry is that of an adventure guide. Adventure guides prepare travel plans and conduct activities for tourists who love adventures.
Such guides are proficient in activities like trekking, hiking, mountaineering, skiing, river rafting, etc. They procure licenses and permissions from the local authorities on behalf of the tourists. They are also responsible for educating their clients about risks, safety requirements, and essential parameters to note while doing the activity. Along with training the participants, they also get them acclimatized to the surroundings before engaging them in adventure activities and sports.
- Interpreter
As the name suggests, interpreters translate one language to another. Sometimes, the tour guides or the tourists might not know the language, so they hire an interpreter to help both parties understand each other.
Interpreters have a significant role in making tourists comfortable in a foreign location/ environment. Other roles of an interpreter include:
- Write notes
- Conduct research
- Translate local guidebook
- Assist tourists in planning their itinerary
- Interpret interactions done with the local people
- Concierge
Concierges primarily work in hotels, assisting guests by booking tours, handling transportation, and making reservations for dinner/ theater. They also suggest to the local guests common dining places and amusement avenues like shopping centers, adventure parks, historical attractions, and much more.
Another set of services offered by a concierge is that they run errands for the guests and collect as well as ship their packages/ couriers. Again, these are energetic people who are courteous, resourceful, and organized in their work.
- Social Media Manager
The tourism industry offers vast career opportunities to people. Becoming a social media manager is one of them!
Social media managers create and enhance a company’s presence on various social media channels. In addition, they implement numerous content, marketing, and advertising strategies to help the company engage with customers across the globe.
For instance, a social media manager can create an adventure sports campaign wherein people can participate. This will promote the company’s image, and as a result, the business will be boosted. A social media manager knows how to interact effectively, think creatively, implement strategies, and grow networks!
- Specialist Tour Manager
Tour Managers have specialized knowledge and expertise in domestic and international destinations. These managers coordinate with domestic and international tourists, helping them procure visas, make hotel bookings, and handle travel documents.
They also manage tour finances and ensure that other vendors maintain expenses as per the budget of the tour. Apart from this, specialist tour managers are also hired by big companies to plan and organize vacations for their clients and employees.
- PR Manager
A PR manager manages a brand’s reputation, i.e., he/ she plans, develops, and implements the strategies to build and maintain the overall brand’s image. PR managers are the company’s spokesperson, and their role involves writing and syndicating optimistic press releases regarding the brand, its upcoming events, etc. They also connect with influencers to promote the brand in every way possible.
One of the significant roles of PR Managers is that they can deal with potential crises. With excellent communication and problem-solving skills, they can save the company from a great deal of embarrassment and help the authorities make better decisions.
- Leisure Activity Coordinator
Leisure activity coordinators usually work for hotels and resorts. They are the people who make sure that all the planned activities run smoothly. The other roles of leisure activity coordinator include:
- Managing day-to-day leisure activities
- Organizing health and fitness programs
- Promoting and marketing the business
- Interacting with guests
In order to become a leisure activity coordinator, one must have excellent interpersonal skills because most of their time is spent interacting with the guests.
Skills required to have careers in the Tourism Industry
Professionals in the tourism industry are primarily focussed on delivering excellent services to customers who are on vacation or for business purposes. Candidates interested in having a career in the tourism industry must have a passion for travel, the ability to keep up with the trends, and the desire to learn new things.
Below is the list of skills aspirants need to possess to have a successful career in the tourism sector.
- Confidence
- Diligence
- Flexibility
- Commitment
- Organizing skills
- Research & planning skills
- Administration skills
- Management skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Patience
- Communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Enthusiasm
- Teamwork
- Leadership skills
- Well-groomed personality
- Strong networking skills
- Hardworking
It’s time to create a worthwhile career!
Having a career in the tourism sector might be hectic and time-consuming, i.e., tourists are likely to reach out to you whenever they require assistance, irrespective of time and place. But apart from this, it is a gratifying and fun career to have!
We have listed some of the best careers in the tourism industry. You can choose any job role, whichever intrigues you and create a successful career from it!
Interestingly, the travel industry is constantly expanding because of the increasing demand for travel and tourist experiences. So, if this field interests you, then it’s time to begin chalking out your journey today!
Don’t forget to check out website RILC Academy if you have any concerns or questions related to the careers you have chosen.
