Career Possibilities

Career Possibilities

Tourism today is one of the world’s largest industries. It is made of many segments, the principal ones being transportation, accommodations, food services, shopping, travel arrangements and activities for tourist, such as history, culture, adventure, sports, recreation, entertainment, and other similar activities. The businesses that provide these services require knowledgeable business managers.Familiarity with tourism, recreation, business and leisure equips one to pursue the career in a number of tourism-related fields. Tourism skills are critically needed and there are many opportunities available in a multitude of fields.

Because tourism is diverse and complex and each sector has many job opportunities and career paths. It is virtually impossible to list and describe all the jobs one might consider in this large field. However, as a student interested in tourism, you could examine the following areas which are listed below:

1. Tourism Technology
2. Airlines
3. Bus Companies
4. Cruise Companies
5. Railroads
6. Rental Car Companies
7. Hotels, Motels, and Resorts
8. Global Distributions System And Online Companies
9. Travel Agencies
10. Tour Companies
11. Food Service
12. Tourism Education
13. Tourism Research
14. Travel Communications
15. Recreation and Leisure
16. Attractions
17. Festivals and Events
18. Sports Tourism
19. Tourist Offices and Information Centers
20. Meeting Planners
21. Gaming
22. Other Opportunities

Explanations:

1. Tourism Technology:Opportunities for technology jobs permeate the tourism industry at virtually every level. While information technology has always been important in the field, its importance level increases as the variety of new devices and improvements on existing ones appear. For instance, Application of advanced information technology to provide tourism information via navigation systems or PDAs (personal digital assistants) is growing. Consequently, additional technical manpower will continue to be needed for tourism managers to achieve the best results. People skilled in web technologies, user interface, modules, database management, programming, business intelligence, business analysis, market research and computer graphics are among those who can look, forward to opportunities in the industry.In addition to information technology, a number of new tourism products have emerged as tourism technology combines with other industries. These include medium tourism, educational tourism, agricultural tourism, marine tourism and space tourism. Another technology creating tourism jobs is the Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide and is also a useful tool for mapmaking, land surveying and commerce. Indeed, there is hardly a field that is not employing GPS; its many capabilities are applied by scientists, pilots, military, fisherman, hunters, and balloonists, to cite a few.

2. Airlines:The airlines are a major travel industry employer, offering a host of jobs at many levels, ranging from entry-level to top management, including reservation agents, flight attendants, pilots, flight engineers, aircraft mechanics, and maintenance staff, baggage handlers, airline food service jobs, sales representatives, sales jobs, computer specialists, training staff, office jobs, clerical positions, ticket agents and research jobs. Because airlines have to meet safety and other requirements, opportunities also exist with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA hires air traffic controllers and various other specialists. Airports also use a wide range of personal, from parking attendants to airport manager. Other policies and air safety-related jobs are available with associations such as Air Transport Association.

3. Bus Companies:Bus companies require management personnel, ticket agent, sales representatives, tour representatives, hostesses, information clerks, clerical positions, bus drivers, personnel people and training employees.

4. Cruise Companies:The cruise industry is the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry today. Job opportunities include those for sales representatives, clerical workers, market researchers, recreation directors, and CEOs. Because of their similarity in operations, the cruise industry has many of the same jobs as the lodging industry.

5. Railroads:Passenger rail service in the United States is determined by Amtrak and in Canada via Rail. In Europe, Japan and elsewhere, rail passenger transportation is much more developed and widespread, offering greater opportunities than in North America. Railroads hire managers, passenger service representatives, traffic analysis, marketing managers, sales representatives, reservations clerks, information specialists, conducts, engineers, coach and lounge car attendants and station agents.

6. Rental Car Companies:With increased pleasure air travel and the growth of fly/drive programs, rental car companies are becoming an ever more important segment of the travel industry. This sector of tourism employs reservation agents, rental sales agents, clerks of various kinds, service agents, mechanics, and district and regional managers.

7. Hotels, Motels, and Resorts:The range of jobs in hotels and motels is extremely board. The following list is representative: regional manager, general manager, resident manager, comptroller, accountants management trainees, director of sales, director of convention sales, directors of personnel, director of sales, director of convention sales, director of personnel, director of research, mail clerks, room clerks, reservation clerks, front desk manager, housekeepers, superintendent of service, bellhops, lobby porters, doormen, maids, chefs/cooks, kitchen helpers, storeroom employees, dishwashers, waiters, bartender, apprentice waiters, heating and air-conditioning personnel, maintenance workers, engineers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters and laundry workers.Resorts tend to have the same jobs as those mentioned for hotels and motels. However, larger resorts will have greater job opportunities and require more assistance in all areas. Resorts will have greater job opportunities in the areas of social events , entertainments, and recreation, such as for tennis and golf profession. At ski resorts, there will be ski instructors members of a safety patrol and so on. The American Hotel and Lodging Association has launched the AH and LA online career centre, which lists open positions in the lodging industry.

8. Global Distribution System and Online Companies:There is currently four large global distribution system (GDSs) and a number of similar ones. GDSs are computer reservation system which sells tickets for multiple airlines, book hotels, reserve rental cars, and conducts other transactions related to travel. The big four are Amadeus, Sabre Galileo, and Worldspan. They own one so,e of the largest online travel companies providing thousands of jobs. For example Sabre od the largest online travel companies providing thousands of jobs.

References:

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