The travel and tourism sector remains one of the largest and most dynamic industries in today’s global economy. Travel and tourism, with its immense social and economic value continues to improve the lives of millions of people in South Africa, on the African continent, and around the world.
Working behind a desk or a computer screen all day isn’t for everyone. For those who aspire to travel and work in the tourism sector, being confined to an office cubicle can be a daunting prospect. If you find yourself looking for an exciting and dynamic opportunity, why not consider exploring a career that aligns with your ambitions and passions?
If you think back to the last holiday you took, what were the highlights you remember? The luxurious hotel room you were checked into with a view of the sea? What about the excursions that were meticulously planned for you? Think back to the excellent service and mouth-watering food you were served at the resort hotel. There are many people behind the scenes who make things happen so that you can enjoy your holiday, from the travel agent who booked your flights and accommodation, to the travel guide who showed you around the local hot spots. The field of travel, tourism and hospitality presents you with a wide range of exciting career opportunities to choose from. If you enjoy travelling, meeting new people, working closely with others and performing a wide variety of tasks, then a career in travel and tourism might be the perfect match for you.
The tourism, travel and hospitality industry is a service-driven industry which focuses on providing pleasant and enjoyable experiences to guests and tourists. It is interdisciplinary in nature and incorporates elements of events planning, marketing, finance, management, business administration, customer services and PR.
A career in travel and tourism can be both exciting and fulfilling. Some of the key elements of a career in the industry include: working in partnership with many different types of people or cultures whilst placing a strong focus on customer service and customer satisfaction, working flexible hours and developing one’s ability to adapt to a constantly changing work environment, taking responsibility for an expansive variety of tasks and activities and having access to opportunities to travel and work both locally and abroad.
Over 200 million people work in the travel and tourist industry worldwide. Travel and tourism training is engineered to equip candidates with the skills and knowledge to maximise career opportunities and subsequently excel in this rapidly expanding sphere. The number of jobs in the South African travel and tourism sector maintains a steady rise and despite the challenging global economic climate, our local tourism industry continues to boom.
