Graduate Tourism Jobs

Leading graduate employers

Helping you find a career in the tourism industry

Within the UK, tourism is a booming industry. The Royal Family generate almost £500million every year through tourism and there are plenty of opportunities in this industry to carve out a career.

Tourism is an exciting industry to work in and can provide roles for everyone no matter what your skillset is. The industry relies on a range of roles from actors, maintenance workers and customer assistants.

Alongside this there are a host of roles available that offer the chance to live abroad - you could work on a cruise ship or in a holiday resort.

The tourism sector is making a conscious effort to increase the number of women in leadership position after it was revealed that despite the workforce being 70% female, only 6% are board directors. Therefore, the ITT (Institute of Travel and Tourism) has launched the Women 1st initiative, which offers heavily discounted professional development programmes for women.

N Written by Navdeep

Find out more

FAQs

FAQs

Skills & interests required for a career in Tourism

To work in tourism you will need to have a passion for travel and culture that you can transfer to customers. It will also help if you are knowledgeable about the area that you are working in so that you can advise others - some research skills will come in handy!

Many of the roles in this industry will be customer-facing, so it'll be helpful if you are a people person and get a buzz from helping people enjoy their holiday and leisure time.

Some tourism companies create a package experience, which means that you will be involved in a lot of planning and organisation on behalf of the customer.

Graduate schemes & other typical career progression routes in Tourism

Most graduates will begin as an assistant before progressing to an executive in their role. Then, you may continue on to be a manager or team leader. Many large chains will have a set progression ladder that you will be able to follow as a graduate, which means you can have a clear idea of your path and earning potential upon entering the company.

Tips for getting into the field

Be able to demonstrate your passion for the industry. It could be through a travel blog, or an Instagram account. Pick an outlet that allows you to play to your strengths.

You can also get part-time work either within the industry, as a tour guide for example, or anything else that is a customer facing role. This will allow you to develop your customer service skills and prepare you for the workplace.

How much can graduates earn in Tourism?

For an entry-level position in a tourism firm, you can expect to earn £15,000-£19,000. As you progress, your salary could progress to in excess of £30,000.

As a professional tour operator you could earn anywhere £21,000-£32,500.

What qualifications do I need for a career in Tourism?

To get into tourism you do not necessarily need to have a degree, although you may find that you are able to progress much more quickly with one. It is also rare that a place of work will require a specific A-level in tourism to qualify for the job.

The qualification requirements depend on the type of role that you wish to pursue within the industry. If you'd like to work in tourism marketing, for example, you may find that a professional qualification in marketing will help you stand out above other candidates.

You may also be in roles that require you to manage money and budgets, which could need a GCSE in maths.