Careers in Tourism
Events Manager
Event managers plan, organise, promote and run events, conferences and functions for various organisations, communities and groups. Planning and preparation is critical to the success of all events so as an event manager you have to be able to manage time efficiently and effectively. Communication is important too because the job involves dealing with a wide range of interested parties: sponsors, television networks, venues, state associations, reporters and marketing organisations.
They are also known as event co-ordinators, conference managers, professional conference managers, event producers or event organisers.
What do events managers do?
Event managers may:
- develop concepts for an event
- create plans and documentation for the event
- create a budget for the event
- find and organise event contractors, staff and volunteers
- book the venue or venues, and event equipment
- promote and market the event to media and relevant groups
- oversee the running of the event
- deal with enquiries about the event
- organise funding, sponsorship and ticketing for the event
- follow occupational health and safety and security procedures
- process financial transactions
- prepare quotations
- perform office procedures and produce word processed documents
- sell tourism products and services
- coordinate guest and delegate registrations at venue.
What training do you need?
Certificate III in Events provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in an administrative or operational events support role. Event organisation and management takes place across the full spectrum of business and community activity. This qualification has particularly relevance in the community, cultural, hospitality, sporting and tourism sectors. Work would be undertaken in an office environment where event planning and organisation takes place, at an event site or a combination. This qualification reflects the role of a skilled operator who applies a broad range of competencies in a varied work context, using some discretion and judgement and relevant theoretical knowledge. They may provide technical advice and support to a team.
Diploma of Event provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in a broad range of event management skills including significant communication, planning and organisational skills. This is underpinned by a detailed knowledge of the event management process. Event organisation and management takes place across the full spectrum of business and community activity. This qualification has particularly relevance in the community, cultural, hospitality, sporting and tourism sectors. Work would be undertaken in both an office environment where event planning and organisation takes place, and at the event site. This qualification reflects the role of individuals who possess a sound theoretical knowledge base and use a range of specialised, technical or managerial competencies to plan, carry out and evaluate the work of self and or team.
Advanced Diploma of Events provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in wide-ranging, highly specialised technical event management skills with a strategic research, planning and communication focus. Event organisation and management takes place across the full spectrum of business and community activity. This qualification has particularly relevance in the community, cultural, hospitality, sporting and tourism sectors. Work would be undertaken in both an office environment where event planning and organisation takes place, and at the event site. This qualification reflects the role of individuals who analyse, design and execute judgements using wide-ranging technical, creative, conceptual or managerial competencies. Their knowledge base may be specialised or broad. These individuals are often accountable for group outcomes.
Tour Guide or Outdoor Recreation Guide
There are lots of types of guides. You can be a tourist guide showing international visitors around a city or famous tourist spot, or you can be an outdoor recreation guide taking people on exciting activities such as SCUBA diving, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountaineering, kayaking, rafting, abseiling or canoeing. Many guides specialise in a particular area such as heritage and cultural tourism, ecotourism or skiing, snowboarding or caving.
It is interesting work and suits those who like to be out in the open air. Generally, instructors and guides specialise in one or more outdoor activities requiring a high level of skill, experience, appropriate fitness, a first aid qualification and good teaching and organisational skills.
What do guides do?
They may perform the following tasks:
- Research and develop information for their tour
- Maintain and update their knowledge for the guiding activities
- Assist in planning and organising tours
- Provide arrival and departure assistance to visitors
- Provide commentary and interpretation on sights and surroundings
- Co-ordinate group movement
- Lead and coach people in recreational activities
- Look after the visitors safety and well-being
- Present the tour in a language other than English, if they are guiding international visitors
- Independently guide outdoor recreation activities within defined contexts.
Guiding is different every day - weather conditions change, so does the physical makeup of your tour group (e.g. nationality and your ability to communicate with them). An effective guide should be able to understand and interpret communication barriers to be able to bring people together and get them to work as a team.
What are the career opportunities?
You can get involved in the type of activity you are interested in eventually guiding. The more skills you have, the more quickly you’ll start earning money. You can take up activities that develop your communication and public speaking skills. You have to be nice to people everyday and not blame them for your mistakes (or theirs). If you don’t think you can be enthusiastic, even when situations are difficult, guiding isn’t the right career for you. You’ll also need to be prepared to volunteer your time to become an accredited guide and to pay for your own training.
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What training do you need?
To be a qualified guide, you need a Certificate III or Certificate IV in Tourism (Guiding). Alternatively, if you wish to be an outdoor recreational guide, you need a Certificate in Outdoor Recreation with activity specialisations to guide others in that activity(eg bushwalking).
Certificate I in Tourism (Australian Indigenous Culture) provides the skills and knowledge for an individual pathway to a range of job roles in the Tourism and Hospitality industry and in particular, in enterprises with an indigenous focus. Work would be undertaken in an office environment where the planning of tourism products and services takes place, in the field where tourism products are delivered or a combination of both. The field includes any destination, any local or regional area, any tourist precinct, any site, attraction or onboard any form of transportation. This qualification reflects the role of individuals who perform a defined range of mostly routine and predictable work activities. They work under clear direction and may participate in a team.
Certificate III in Tourism (Guiding) provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in a range of well developed guiding skills. Work would be undertaken in the field where tourism products are delivered. The field includes any destination, any local or regional area, any tourist precinct, any site or attraction. This qualification reflects the role of a skilled operator who applies a broad range of competencies in a varied work context, using some discretion and judgement and relevant theoretical knowledge. They may provide technical advice and support to a team.
Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation is designed to give you the skills to participate and/or guide in several outdoor activities.
Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation (Multiple activities) enables you to participate and guide in multiple outdoor activities.
Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation enables you to enhance your skills and to guide and instruct in them.
Diploma of Outdoor Recreation provides the complex, technical skills to become an instructor in outdoor recreation activities.
Certificate I in Tourism (Australian Indigenous Culture) - This qualification provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in basic practical tourism skills. This qualification is entry level and may provide a pathway to a range of job roles in the Tourism and Hospitality industry and in particular, in enterprises with an indigenous focus. Work would be undertaken in an office environment where the planning of tourism products and services takes place, in the field where tourism products are delivered or a combination of both. The field includes any destination, any local or regional area, any tourist precinct, any site, attraction or onboard any form of transportation. This qualification reflects the role of individuals who perform a defined range of mostly routine and predictable work activities. They work under clear direction and may participate in a team.
Certificate III in Tourism (Guiding) - This qualification provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in a range of well-developed Guiding skills. Work would be undertaken in the field where tourism products are delivered. The field includes any destination, any local or regional area, any tourist precinct, any site or attraction. This qualification reflects the role of a skilled operator who applies a broad range of competencies in a varied work context, using some discretion and judgement and relevant theoretical knowledge. They may provide technical advice and support to a team.
Certificate IV in Tourism (Guiding) - This qualification provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in a broad range of highly developed technical guiding skills or specialisation in a narrower range of skills and knowledge. Work would be undertaken in the field where tourism products are delivered. The field includes any destination, any local or regional area, any tourist precinct, any site, attraction or onboard any form of transportation. This qualification reflects the role of individuals who use well-developed skills and a broad knowledge base in a wide variety of contexts. They apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems, and analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources. They may provide leadership and guidance to others with some limited responsibility for the output of others. This qualification is suitable for an Australian Apprenticeship pathway.
You can do this through a training course at a TAFE or other Registered Training Organisation, plus some on-the-job experience. Some training providers offer an Australian Apprenticeship in which you undertake formal training whilst working.
Travel Consultant
Working in a travel agency! It conjures up images of travel to distant and exotic places with camel rides and climbing up snow-topped peaks or basking in the sun on a tropical beach. Unfortunately, the reality is not quite like that. Travel agents work in offices usually at computers and most of the travel they do is in the mind, although they do get access to cheap fares and sometimes go on a ‘famil,’ which is checking out a destination.
However, the work is fun as you get to plan people’s holidays, and you do meet lots of people.
What do travel consultants do?
They may perform the following tasks:
- Research and develop information on tours and destinations
- Provide advice and information to customers on travel options, destinations, tours and services offered
- Provide advice on visas, health issues etc
- Assist in planning and organising trips and holidays
- Prepare quotations
- Construct airfares, either domestic or international
- Process documentation
- Sell and book things such as flights, hotels, tours and hire cars for customers
- Receive payment and issue tickets.
- You need to be organised and have good customer service and communication skills. As well, you need good computer and IT skills as most work is done on-line these days.
What are the career opportunities?
You can specialise in domestic or international travel, or in some companies you can do both. You may work for a small private company, or be part of a large chain. Most airlines also have travel agencies. Some agents specialise in corporate or group bookings. Others conduct all their business via the Web. As things are becoming computerised and many customers now book their own tickets, the role is changing slightly to one of providing advice and customer service. Opportunities include having your agency or working in a large airline. Some related jobs include working in a tour company, a government tourist body, or working in a visitor information centre.
What training do you need?
To be a qualified travel agent, you need to have a Certificate III in Tourism (Retail Travel Sales). If you wish to have your own agency, you need to be licensed which includes having the appropriate certificate as well as on-the-job experience.
Certificate III in Tourism (Retail Travel Sales) - provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in a range of well-developed retail travel sales and operational skills. Work would be undertaken in a retail office or shopfront environment where the planning of customer’s travel and touring arrangements takes place. This qualification reflects the role of a skilled operator who applies a broad range of competencies in a varied work context, using some discretion and judgement and relevant theoretical knowledge. They may provide technical advice and support to a team.
Certificate III in Tourism (Tour Wholesaling) - provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in a range of well-developed tourism sales and, operational skills. Work would be undertaken in an office environment where the planning and sale of wholesale tourism products and services takes place. Some tour wholesaling personnel undertake guiding functions which would be undertaken in the field where tourism products are delivered. This qualification reflects the role of a skilled operator who applies a broad range of competencies in a varied work context, using some discretion and judgement and relevant theoretical knowledge. They may provide technical advice and support to a team.
Certificate III in Tourism (Visitor Information Services) - provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in a range of well-developed tourism sales and operational skills. Work would be undertaken in a Visitor Information Centre where information is provided and where some planning of customer’s travel and touring arrangements may take place. Centres can be stand alone shop front and office environments or can be attached to another facility such as a winery or coffee shop. This qualification reflects the role of a skilled operator who applies a broad range of competencies in a varied work context, using some discretion and judgement and relevant theoretical knowledge. They may provide technical advice and support to a team.
You can do these courses through a training course at a TAFE or other Registered Training Organisation. Some training providers offer an Australian Apprenticeship in Certificate III in Tourism (Retail Travel) in which you undertake formal training whilst working.
More information
The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) is a national body representing Travel Agents. The website contains information for their members, membership benefits, information for consumers, events, education and useful links. More information can be found at: http://www.afta.com.au/
The Travel Industry Careers Association website is also useful website to review. The website contains information on career paths in the travel industry, how to get into the industry and education and training. More information can be found at: http://www.travelindustrycareers.org/
The Tourism Australia website may also be a useful website to look at. Information can be found on Global tourism organisations, Government, industry associations and industry advisory panels. More information can be found at: http://www.tourism.australia.com/
