3 essential skills you’ll need to work in travel and tourism
Thinking of working in travel & tourism? Here are three essential skills you’ll need.
Working in travel and tourism offers a life of excitement, the chance to meet new people and explore the world, with no two days that are ever the same.
No matter whether you work on the front desk of a five-star hotel, or if you’re a travel agent or a flight attendant, all travel and tourism roles require many of the same essential skills.
So if you’re considering a career in travel and tourism, here are the key skills you’ll need no matter where you end up!
Communication skills
Communicating well is so important for so many jobs and careers, especially so in travel and tourism.
You’ll need to know how to handover key information clearly. This could be useful details about the hotel someone is checking into, or a well-written email that highlights the best attractions you’d recommend for someone visiting Auckland.
It will also be important to know about communicating across different cultures, as you’ll interact with people from all over the world when you work in travel and tourism. Something as simple as learning how to say ‘hello’ in a few languages can help make travellers feel welcomed anywhere in the world.
Communication and cross-cultural communication skills are both covered in our Study From Home level 3 courses, so even if it’s not a strong point for you right now, we can help you to improve these vital skills.
Customer service skills
The vast majority of travel and tourism jobs will involve some aspect of customer service skills.
You might be a tour guide who needs to know how to ensure your guests have a great time, or you could be car rental agent who needs to ensure your renters have everything they need for an incredible road trip.
Customer service is all about using your knowledge of the business and local knowledge to best meet the needs of your clients. You’ll need to be able to adapt your service according to the person, whether that’s a corporate businessman or a young couple on their honeymoon.
Of course, customer service is a focus point in our Study From Home courses!
Problem solving skills
A lot of the interest in working in travel and tourism is that no two days are the same. You’ll face all sorts of interesting dilemmas, and it will be beneficial to be able to problem solve to handle the situation quickly and carefully.
According to Andrew Houston, our Botany Campus Manager, problem solving is the most important skill in the industry.
“There are not many industries that I can think off that are more heavily impacted by factors beyond the business’ control. Bad weather, mechanical or technological failures, political changes and pandemics (Covid!) to name just a few. Any one of these factors (along with a million and one others) can pop up at any moment to create problems for businesses and its customers. What people who work and manage those businesses must do is find the best solutions possible to manage those tricky situations when they arise,” he explained.
Being able to identify and deal with problems as they arise can make a big difference in the industry. In many cases, you’ll have training from your employer on what to do when things go wrong, but there will be plenty of moments when you’ll need to make a quick decision that can improve the situation.
Our courses are loaded with real life case student scenarios that will give you plenty of opportunities to apply your knowledge and skills to try to solve the problem. In each case study, you’ll also learn what the businesses did in real life so you can compare your solution to theirs.
Get the skills and knowledge you need by studying online
Our online travel and tourism qualifications offer a variety of skills, such as communication and customer service. They also provide a wide range of key information that can help anyone looking to work in the industry, including travel requirements and documentation.
These courses have been designed to give anyone a solid introduction to all the skills and knowledge you’ll need to get a leg up in travel and tourism, making them the perfect online study option for advancing your career.
Get in touch with us today to learn more, or find out how you can enrol and get started right now!
Study From Home – college@itc.co.nz 0800 TOURISM (0800 868747) or https://www.studyfromhome.co.nz/contact-us/
Posted in News | Tagged Essential skills, online learning, Work in travel & tourism | Leave a reply