Travel and Tourism

Whatever options you choose, your degree will give you an understanding of the travel industry, its structure and related sectors. You may find that your course places more emphasis on relevant business management skills, or perhaps more focus on the development and progress of tourism as an industry. You may also study this subject in combination with another social or business discipline, providing a broad range of skills.

Over the course of your degree you develop a wide mix of subject-specific and technical skills, you should consider these skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.

Working as a Travel Agent

See the full video at Careers4U 

Prospects

Tourism is one of the largest industries in the UK, employing 2.7 million people across the UK (Visit Britain, 2007).

A 2010 HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicates that six months after graduation, nearly 70% of graduates with travel and tourism degrees had entered paid work. Demonstrating the wide ranging and complex nature of the industry, 20% of graduates were in commercial, industrial and public sector management (including hotel, travel and tourism management), 10% were in business and finance professions, 6% found work in art, design, culture and sport professions and almost 6% were working in marketing, sales and advertising.

Additionally, around 14% of travel and tourism graduates were working in clerical or secretarial jobs, 20% were in retail, catering, waiting or bar work and 16% were in posts not categorised. These numbers show students working to gain experience or using the first position as a 'stepping stone' within the industry.

Where are the jobs?

The tourism and hospitality sectors are the two main sectors employing graduates in this discipline. Large commercial companies such as Thomson and Thomas Cook continue to dominate the outbound travel market, although small specialist operators may also flourish, especially with the current demand for bespoke travel options. VisitBritain is the national tourism agency, with links to tourist agencies and attractions throughout the UK. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) provides details of local accredited travel companies

Potential employment areas to explore:

• Hospitality - one of the world's fastest growing industries. You might want to manage a hotel, run a restaurant or start your own business. Whatever your talents, the hospitality industry offers variety and opportunity.
• Tourism - the tourism industry is large and very fragmented. Some of the main employers in the sector include: tour operators; travel agents; tourist boards; ground handlers; local authorities; tourist information centres and tourism consultancies.
• Sport and leisure - for careers helping people to make the most of their spare time.

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Travel agency manager
• Travel agency clerk/travel consultant
• Tourist information centre manager
• Tour manager
• Holiday representative
• Tourism officer
• Tourism consultant

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Hotel manager
• Customer services manager
• Outdoor pursuits manager
• Event organiser

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

You can find more about the skills you develop during your course, the jobs listed above, plus case studies and where to find these jobs at Prospects.

Included with the permission of AGCAS. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk