Should I study tourism management?

Since childhood, the magic of travel has been my guiding star. From dreaming of distant lands to exploring the world's wonders, my fascination with tourism management was born.

With a solid foundation in both bachelor's and master's degrees in tourism management, my journey has taken me through the corridors of five-star hotels and the culinary worlds of famous restaurants.

Are you fascinated by the blend of travel, hospitality, and business? If so, consider this: tourism management not only lets you explore but also opens doors to growth and success. So, why delay? Start now and make your passion for travel your career.

Tourism management has lots of opportunities based on what you want to do. But there are two big things to know:

Find global experiences

You can work in diverse countries, immerse yourself in various cultures, and sharpen your language abilities. It's an opportunity to expand your horizons.

With each new language you learn and every cultural experience you embrace, you're not just building skills, you're creating unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.

Diverse career opportunities

The tourism and travel industry supports over 330 million jobs worldwide as of 2024, making it one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors globally.

In tourism management, you can pursue careers in hotel management, event planning, destination marketing, tour operations, travel agencies, cruise lines, and more.

By studying tourism management, you'll gain a wide range of valuable skills

Analytical & problem-solving skills

In a tourism degree program, you'll improve your ability to analyze problems and find effective solutions to improve guest experiences and business operations.

IT skills

Knowing how to use technology is important for gathering and understanding data effectively. In your classes and with practice, you'll learn how to use different tech tools and systems for tourism.

Interpersonal skills

You'll learn how to talk to people well, build good relationships with guests and coworkers, and give great customer service to make guests happy and want to return.

Attention to detail

Paying close attention to small things is important to ensure service is top-notch and everything runs smoothly in tourism. You'll get good at noticing and fixing small problems before they become big issues.

Market research skills

You'll learn how to do market research well, which means you can collect, study, and understand data to see trends and what customers like. This helps in making smart decisions in the tourism industry.

Understanding cultures

You'll learn about lots of different cultures and how to work with people from various backgrounds so you can offer great service to everyone and get along with colleagues.

Once you've earned your degree, you have plenty of options ahead to consider:

• Hospitality & hotel manager: you oversee operations in places like hotels, resorts, and restaurants. Your main goal is to ensure guests have a fantastic experience and that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes too, such as managing rooms, staff, and finances.

• Marketing executive: you're the one who comes up with great ideas to get people excited about visiting different places, attractions, and hotels. You talk to many people to get them interested in coming, which helps bring in more visitors and make more money.

  Photo by Sasha Kaunas on Unsplash

• Tourism officer: you're like a spokesperson for exciting destinations. You work hard to tell people about all the great things to see and do in different places. You devise fun ways to promote tourism, like ads and events, to attract more visitors and help local businesses succeed.

• Events manager: you're the one who gets to plan and run all sorts of cool events, like festivals, concerts, weddings, and conferences. You make sure everything goes smoothly and that everyone has a great time.

Photo by Redd F on Unsplash

If you're eager to grow your skills and career in tourism, consider a master's in tourism management. It offers specialized courses and hands-on experiences for leadership roles. And if you're into research, a PhD in tourism management opens doors to academia and deeper study, preparing you for roles as a professor or researcher.

• Explore your options: Look into different ways to study tourism, such as university programs, colleges, certificates, bootcamps, and online courses. Check out what they teach, who's teaching, and how they connect with the industry.

• Visit open houses or online tours: Attend school events or virtual tours to get a feel for the campus or online environment and see if it feels right for you.

• Get your papers ready: Gather all your documents, including grades, letters of recommendation, a solid resume, and a compelling personal statement or essay.

• Think about money: Look into scholarships, financial aid, and loans to help you pay for school.

• Build connections: Connect with classmates, professors, and industry professionals to expand your network and opportunities.

• Get involved: Engage actively in class discussions and participate in extracurricular activities to enrich your learning experience.

• Find internships: Seek out internships and work placements to gain hands-on experience and jumpstart your career in the tourism industry.

• Use support: Take advantage of resources like study groups, tutoring services, and academic advisors to help you succeed in your studies.

• Stay organized: Develop effective time management and organizational skills to balance coursework, internships, and other commitments.

Test your knowledge!

You're eager to gain hands-on experience in the tourism industry and have the following ideas:

A. Wait for opportunities to come to you.

B. Seek out internships and work placements.

C. Overwhelm yourself by applying to every internship you find.

D. Meet with a career advisor to help you find opportunities.

If you're thinking about diving into the world of tourism management, start by exploring your options and making decisions that feel right for you.

While I ended up working in education, my time studying tourism was invaluable! I had the opportunity to participate in fun activities such as cooking, wine classes, and exciting field trips. I met wonderful people, explored different countries, and gained valuable skills like teamwork, communication, and cultural understanding.

So, here's how you can kick off your adventure: