Tourism and hospitality

What to expect

Over the past decade tourism and hospitality has become something of a glamour field. The increased disposable income of many people these days, coupled with highly accessible air travel, has led the service industries to rapid expansion that is likely to continue.

Specific trading sectors are set to yield some of the biggest growth rates in terms of both business and employment. These include:

• Ecotourism
• Cultural tourism
• Wine tourism
• Coffee tourism
• Sport tourism
• Heritage tourism
• Indigenous tourism.

As hotels, restaurants, travel services and the like have become more sophisticated, and as Australia becomes increasingly multicultural and popular with overseas travellers, the roles and training requirements of the tourism and hospitality industry have also developed.

Until quite recently, most people in the tourism, hospitality and related industries had little training, with most gaining the relevant knowledge and skills on the job. TAFEs and the private colleges were the first to offer courses in this field. Universities, especially those in regions where the industries are growing, have since followed.

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Getting a degree in tourism and hospitality

Visit the University Ratings section for tourism and hospitality course ratings.

Courses and specialisations

Many of the degree courses in this field will be specialist courses, designed for their particular industries. For example, you might look for a Bachelor of Tourism or a specialist tourism degree such as ecotourism or heritage tourism.

However, specialist business degrees are also common. In hospitality, for example, it you will find Bachelor of Business degrees in hotel management or hospitality management.

The course structure for courses in this field will usually involve two or three elements. First, there will be classes which teach you about your industry and how it works. Second, especially in the specialist business degrees, you will have a part of the course that deals with business skills relevant to the industry. These may include marketing or management.

Finally, and most importantly, these courses involve extensive practical components. Sometimes this practical experience will take place off-the-job, in elaborate practical training facilities. However, paid industry internships are also common.

Practical experience is vital both so you can learn your trade but also so that you can demonstrate to potential employers that you have current industry experience.

Getting in

Although this is a very accessible field overall, be aware that demand for some courses is very high. At some of the specialist colleges, you may need to attend an interview.

Where to study

Private institutions have gained ground in this field, probably because many are good at teaching students ‘how to’ and not just ‘about’ work in tourism and hospitality. A number are residential schools where students work regularly on the premises as part of their course. These are some of the most highly sought degrees in the field. A selected number of TAFE institutes offer degrees in this field.

What to look for

Courses in this field are largely vocationally oriented so whichever kind of provider you choose, TAFE, university or private, look for good practical training, either on-the-job or through on-campus simulation.

Also, check out if your course is fully accredited by the Australian Hospitality (or Tourism Training) Review Panel or by any international organisations.

If you are looking at a university, check out the graduate ratings and outcomes and find out if you will be offered any help looking for work.

Careers for tourism and hospitality degree graduates

A degree in tourism and hospitality is more likely to lead to a career in the management of related services, than in the provision of services themselves through roles such as chef, travel agent or concierge. Training for these roles is still largely conducted in the VET sector (see below).

However, that is not to say that management roles in this industry are not hands-on; they require detailed operations knowledge, whether this concerns the inner-workings of a hotel, or the organisation of a popular tourist trail.

According to the annual Course Experience Questionnaire surveys, graduates in this field are not that impressed with the quality of their courses. At an average of $38,661 in 2009, starting salaries are well below those of other graduates, and 36 per cent of graduates had a tough time finding full-time work.

For more information

For more information about careers in this field, visit the Tourism Training Australia website .

If you are interested in this field, you should also look at courses in the related areas of business and management , sport and leisure studies , and perhaps social work .

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