Pros Travel and Tourism

Work experience

It is relatively easy to find paid part-time work opportunities in the travel and tourism industry, since it is so large and there are so many types of visitor establishments and attractions all over the UK. The range of different working patterns available should make it easy to combine part-time work with your current study.

Voluntary work may also be a good option, especially if it means gaining experience in an area where job opportunities more scarce.

You could also consider summer work experience or spending time working abroad. This could include working at holiday or theme parks, in a resort or at summer camps abroad. You could also purchase a student railcard and travel through Europe, widening your cultural knowledge and language abilities.

You may be able to take part in an exchange programme, spending some time studying abroad towards your degree. Consider looking at relevant short courses, such as TESOL or TEFL, which may present opportunities to work abroad teaching English language skills.

Typical employers

The travel and tourism sector comprises many different industries and sub-industries, including services such as retail travel, currency exchange, tour operators and tourist boards. It also covers passenger transport including coach, aviation, rail and waterways and visitor attractions such as museums, theme parks, zoos and heritage sites.

A variety of accommodation services also fall within this category, including hotels, hostels and holiday parks. Associated with hotels and core business operations are conferences and events, which provide considerable all-year-round employment opportunities.

Further study

Specific in-house training is likely to be available within the industry and is often encouraged to enhance promotion prospects and knowledge of particular issues.

Relevant postgraduate study in this field includes courses with an emphasis on management skills, particularly in areas such as hospitality, heritage and sustainability. Postgraduate courses in specialist areas such as ecotourism or rural development may also be helpful.

General business topics such as marketing or human resources could be relevant and can be applied across various disciplines.