IS TOURISM THE CAREER FOR YOU?

Tourism is ripe with opportunity, offering you huge potential to build an exciting and rewarding career. But how do you know if the industry is right for you? An interactive new online programme, Tourism Insight, gives you the inside track on tourism and highlights what skills and traits you need to succeed in the business. 

Developed by the Irish Hospitality Institute and the Institute of Technology, Tralee, with support from Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation, Tourism Insight offers Transition Year students and other learners a chance to get under the bonnet of the tourism industry and find out what life in tourism and hospitality is really like. 

This interactive programme, which you can find at tourisminsight.ie, is split into five units that can be completed in school as part of your career guidance classes or at home in your own time. 

Featuring interactive tutorials and interviews with young people working in tourism in Ireland today, Tourism Insight gives you a comprehensive introduction to the industry. You’ll learn all about this exciting business, what it means to the country, what’s going on in the tourism industry in your area, and you’ll find out how tourism is promoted around the world, why tourists come here and what they really love about their visit. (Hint: it’s the people – they really do love us. That’s why we need more great people like you to join the industry!) 

But most importantly, Tourism Insight highlights the kind of traits and skills you will need to succeed in this business. Remember, the tourism industry is not for everyone and that’s OK, but if you love working with people, you thrive on challenges, and you’re looking for a career where no two days are the same, then the tourism and hospitality industry is definitely worth considering as you prepare for the next stage of your life. 

Getting You Started 

As well as arming you with loads of info about working in tourism, Tourism Insight also shows you the steps you can take to get started in the industry – whether that’s through the CAO, PLC or directly to employment, where you can take part in some great training schemes. 

It has links to local businesses, where you can undertake site visits and hear from guest lecturers, and there are introductions to fun international student competitions, including a travel photo contest, a travel-writing contest, a research competition and the Student of the Year competition, run by the Global Travel and Tourism Partnership. 

The programme can be spread over 12 weeks and once you have completed all the activities, you will receive a Certification of Completion from the lead partners in the programme that can be helpful when you’re look for work placement during Transition Year or later at college. 

This article first appeared in the 2016 issue of Get a Life in Tourism.