For students who want a rewarding and interesting career, but don’t want to feel like they’re taking a huge risk with their future, it can be difficult to know what to do. Fortunately, there’s an answer, and it’s a lot more fun than you might think: get into the tourism industry.
Surprised, and want to learn a little more about why a career in tourism would be a good move for your career? Here are some of the reasons why.
The Tourism Industry Is Growing Explosively Around the World
Around the world, more people are gaining access to discretionary income and deciding to use some of it to set out and enjoy new sights and places. According to the UN, global tourist numbers have jumped from 674 million people in 2000 to over 1.2 billion people in 2016. Global tourism revenue has also jumped, going from $633 billion ($495 billion USD) in 2000 to $1.6 trillion in 2016 ($1.22 trillion USD).
As emerging economies continue to grow and global airfare prices continue to fall, this upward trend is only expected to continue. Needless to say, the tourism industry isn’t going to be vanishing anytime soon.
A Career in Tourism Won’t Be Very Vulnerable to Automation
It’s great for an industry to be healthy, but if it doesn’t guarantee jobs, it won’t mean much for people who want to work in it. Fortunately, tourism is one of those industries that is expected to be quite resilient in the face of increasing automation and computer-powered everything.
Think about the kind of things people want while traveling. Whether they’re in a hotel or on a plane, out at a fancy restaurant or swimming up to a beachside bar, people like friendly faces, attentive service, and to be served by a caring—and human—professional. Robots and computers are good at some things, but they’re lousy at making meaningful connections. If you’re outgoing and know how to brighten someone’s day, you’re exactly the kind of person who can deliver what guests want, and find success in a career in tourism.
Graduates of Hospitality Management Courses Will Likely See Great Demand for Their Skills
Pretty much any career in tourism is a safe bet, but there are particularly exciting times ahead for certain professions. Graduates of hospitality management courses, for instance, are expected to be in high demand in the coming years. The Canada Job Bank gave an employment outlook rating of “Good”—its highest rating—for those seeking a career related to accommodation service management in British Columbia. Specifically, it highlighted strong employment growth and the expected retirement of a large number of existing professionals in this role as reasons why this is such a great opportunity for upcoming hospitality pros.
A career in this area can take you to all kinds of locales, allowing you to help run everything from quaint B&Bs to luxurious cruise ships. This means there’s every opportunity to truly make your career your own in this line of work. For graduates of trusted tourism and hospitality colleges, the future definitely looks bright.
Do you want to study at a school that knows how to get you career-ready for the world of tourism?
Contact Eton College to learn more about our tourism & hospitality school in Vancouver!
