Students can prepare for a variety of tourism and hospitality jobs taking tourism courses. Someone may select specific travel and tourism courses based on the industry in which he or she wishes to work. Some people prefer administrative or office work, while others prefer to be more involved in the travel process leading tours or managing accommodations. Many people choose to specialize in specific areas like corporate travel or cruise lines. Students can enroll in classes either in person or through a home-based or distance learning program.
Basic knowledge of domestic and international travel procedures, including document requirements, is taught in general tourism courses to aspiring travel agents. In addition, billing and ticketing procedures for services such as airline tickets, car reservations, and hotel reservations are frequently included in standard travel agent preparation. How-to courses are also popular, such as how to become a local tour guide or a hotel front desk agent. Many tourism courses include information about the geography of popular destinations; such in-depth knowledge can help an agent working in a field that specializes in travel to specific locations gain professional credibility.
Aside from administrative positions, potential hospitality jobs in the travel and tourism industry range from food preparation and event management to hotel and theme park management. Marketing and sales of niche tours and specialty vacation packages, for example, are topics covered in tourism courses. Family travel, senior tours, and cruises are popular specializations, but agents can also work in highly specialized travel areas like adventure travel and luxury travel. Travel and tourism courses are available to train professionals in these and a variety of other fields.
Completing tourism courses can lead to professional certification in a variety of areas, including airlines and tours. A tourism management degree, similar to a traditional business degree but with a focus on the hospitality industry, is also an option. Associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs are available in a variety of fields. Tourism planning, cultural heritage tourism, emerging issues in international tourism, and tourism advertising and public relations are examples of typical courses. Many degree programs also provide internship opportunities for students to gain practical experience while studying.
Students pursuing a travel and tourism degree often take additional courses such as sustainable tourism, destination analysis, and travel industry law after completing basic courses. Tourism courses are frequently offered at local colleges and universities. Online educational programs, many of which offer self-study options, are also available to students.