Let’s Talk About Tourism
By Martin Owen
One of the great things about being in the Tourism Industry is that you work with people who like to travel. So much so, that they often move to take up new jobs, frequently in other parts of the world. As a result—providing you keep in touch—you’ll find that you have friends in many far-flung places. I bring this up because I recently received a newsletter from a lady I had worked with about 18 years ago. We were both working in the United Kingdom at the time, but she is now based in Ireland, and as you know, I’m here in the USA. Anyway, Katherine had written an article called “8 Reasons to Choose a Career in Tourism” and it got me thinking…
In this part of the USA, along the Northern Gulf Coast, a large number of us are directly or indirectly involved in the travel and tourism business. In many cases we stumbled into the job, although an equal number have a passion for the industry and wouldn’t do anything else. The whole tourism thing becomes an important part of our lives. So, what do you say if someone asks, “What should I do for a career?” Well, with apologies and thanks to my friend Katherine, here’s some answers as to why the travel business is a great choice.
First of all, it’s the largest industry in the world with one in nine jobs worldwide being directly involved. It’s also the fastest growing industry, and in 2017 the industry grew by 4.6%, outperforming the global economy (source: WTTC). Even though many countries have suffered financial depression over the past few years, the tourism industry has grown in 10 of the last 12 years. Of course, we have seen instances of over tourism, but in general the tourism industry brings prosperity and economic growth. Whereas many industries can see the potential for automation taking away people’s livelihoods, tourism is a ‘people business’ and it’s unlikely that a robot will replace you any time soon!
The business is easy to enter. Many destinations are seasonal, so there are often many more positions available than people to fill them. This means it’s a particularly easy path for students to take their first steps. There is also a wide range of qualifications needed in the Tourism Biz, so there are opportunities for everyone, no matter if they have no formal qualifications or already have a degree. A great number of companies within the industry also give employees the opportunity to study further and frequently provide financial help, too.
The tourism and travel industry is open to all. Sixty per cent of tourism workers worldwide are female. Minorities are sought out because they bring different language skills, different cultural knowledge, and abilities to interact with other tourists. Locals are also needed as they bring local knowledge. Everyone is valuable.
Then, there’s the huge range of different jobs. You could find that you have a leaning towards transportation, hospitality, destination management, activities and attractions, marketing and sales, travel technology, food tourism or eco-tourism. Travel companies also need administration folks, accountants, HR people, and project managers as well as chefs, tour guides, drivers, housekeepers, and customer service people.
It’s often incorrectly said that tourism only pays low wages. Not true. There’s a huge range of pay and many chances for progress. I’ve known many people who started out as bellhops and front desk clerks but ended up running their own business. The opportunities are endless.
The very fact that there are so many different roles available means that many of those acquired skills are transferable, both within sectors of the tourism industry, and also outside it in other industries and professions. Remember that in the vast majority of scenarios, the public you are dealing with is on vacation! They are more likely to be happy and relaxed than in more intensive environments, making your job easier. In our business, we’re selling dreams and trying to make people happy, so if things do go wrong, one of your skills to be learned is to turn things around and get people enjoying themselves again!
There’s rarely a dull moment in the travel and tourism business. The very fact that things are often seasonal means that you’ll be dealing with different situations and people all the time. In airlines, airports, hotels, restaurants, cruise ships and many other sectors there’s usually a tangible buzz around the whole atmosphere. If you don’t like keeping the same routine, a lot of roles allow you to work flexible hours or be available when the customer needs you.
Travel and tourism are also a very innovative business. We were among the first to introduce computers for airlines back in the ‘60s, and that spread into travel agencies and then hotels. We were the first to embrace the Internet and are now using augmented reality to help our customers. Yes, we try and automate repetitive tasks, but as I said earlier, this is people business. We need to interact with people to make their vacations great.
Lastly, and I think this is the most important aspect; travel broadens the mind and lets people understand their fellow man. By working in the tourism sector, you meet people from different cultures all the time. You may even get the chance to travel yourself—it’s almost a certainty if you want. Then, you’ll see what makes others tick, and you’ll begin to appreciate widely varying cultures, and learn to understand your fellow humans. You’ll be able to spread your knowledge to others, and that makes the world a better place.
So, in a nutshell, the Travel and Tourism Business ticks all the boxes for a great career.