Hospitality & Travel

The travel industry as a career can be very fulfilling and exciting, but is also very volatile. Tourism is one of the first industries to suffer as soon as there is a revolution or war affecting your destination, a terrorist attack, an Ebola outbreak, a volcano spewing ash clouds, or an economic crisis. These kind of challenges especially affect smaller, local tourism outfits. Bigger companies selling multiple destinations tend to be more stable. You will need a wide range of skills and destination knowledge. A personal love for travel is a huge benefit, but keep in mind that most travel professionals spend most of their time in an office, at a desk, behind a computer. Income will depend very much on what type of job you get within the tourism industry. Some clerks in tourism companies only do admin and never travel nor deal with travelers. Others just do finances and bookkeeping. Some write content, for example for a blog or website. Others do ticketing and reservations, or manage the reception desk of a hotel. Some sell tours or design itineraries - this is certainly quite an interesting and rewarding job, and can pay well if it is commission based and you are good ATIT. Depending on your specific job, you will need to be able to write well, communicate well and be good at sales. Attention to detail is critical - you can't afford small mistakes like getting the ticket issued for the wrong date. If you excel at these things, you will easily make a success out of a career in travel and tourism.