New Zealand’s tourism boom: it’s not just about Auckland!

Some of New Zealand’s most popular tourist activities are located outside the big cities, such as Kaitiaki White Water Rafting

When we say the New Zealand tourism industry is thriving, we really mean the New Zealand tourism industry is thriving – we’re not just referring to Auckland. Although our largest city may attract the lion’s share of media attention, tourism is also soaring in the regions. There are plenty of exciting career opportunities in NZ’s smaller towns, from the far north to the deep south.  

This is why we launched our Study From Home programme; so we could deliver excellent airline, travel and tourism training to all New Zealanders, not just Aucklanders. If you live outside of Auckland, and are thinking about your future career, maybe it’s a good idea to consider tourism. This people-focused industry is expected to grow steadily over the next decade and beyond, setting you up for amazing career opportunities.

Representatives from the Tourism Industry Association (TIA) recently travelled the country to deliver Regional Tourism Summits. They received excellent feedback from regional tourism operators, who were all full of optimism about the years ahead.

“What really stood out for me was that, irrespective of sector or region, everyone is enjoying good business,” said TIA chief executive Chris Roberts.

However Chris acknowledged that regional tourism operators are experiencing challenges in regards to “peoples and skills shortages”, which means employers are struggling to find trained, experienced staff. Although this is tough for the employer, it could be great news for you; if you study airline, travel or tourism and live in regional New Zealand, you may find yourself in high demand.

Earlier this year, Mr Roberts told the NZ Herald the TIA would like to work with the government to encourage more students to study tourism to ensure more skilled employees are available.

“We are going to see more and more tourists coming here and the industry wants to work with the government to promote tourism as an area to get into,” Mr Roberts said.

“The government has quite rightly seen the need for more scientists and engineers, but quite literally we can’t all be rocket scientists so there’s a great need for people in the tourism sector as well.”

Wondering whether tourism is the right career path for you? Our three favourite things about working in this exciting industry might help you make up your mind.

We currently offer five courses via distance learning. You can enrol in these courses from anywhere in New Zealand, but please be aware that they all include at least one Orientation Day in Auckland, and in some cases an additional workshop. Our students fly, train, bus or drive to Auckland for these events, which are an excellent opportunity to meet your tutors, classmates and gain valuable face-to-face training.

If you’d like to learn more about studying airline, travel or tourism from home, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by sending us an email or visiting our Facebook page.