Scope and future of tourism management

Tourism is considered to be an important aspect of economic growth and the development of a nation. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), global tourism is expected to reach 1.6 billion (in terms of international arrivals) by the year 2020. Tourism management is generally considered a bright and potential employment sector as it offers a wide variety of career opportunities in both the private and public sector. This article covers the details of tourism management courses and the prospective job opportunities that it can offer you.

What are the different types of tourism?

Tourism is an evolving industry that provides tourists with various experiences that help promote the country, region, or whatever type of destination they are travelling to. There are many different kinds of tourism, and each one caters to a different set of interests. Here are the three main types of tourism:

Domestic Tourism: Domestic tourism refers to travel within your own country. It entails traveling to various regions, cities, or towns within the same country for business, pleasure, or other purposes. Domestic tourism is important for the growth of the tourism business in a country because it helps the economy and encourages other people enthusiastic about promoting local tourism.

Inbound Tourism: Inbound tourism refers to tourism by foreign visitors to a destination country. It involves international travel for pleasure, commerce, or other reasons. People who want to explore new cultures, experience various lifestyles, and visit historical and natural landmarks frequently engage in inbound tourism. Inbound tourism is essential to the growth of a country’s tourism industry because it contributes to the economy and helps promote the country as a travel destination.

Outbound Tourism: Outbound tourism refers to the practice of individuals traveling outside of their country of residence for tourism, business, or other purposes. Outbound tourism plays an essential role to the development of a country’s tourism industry because it adds significantly to the economy and promotes international travel.

What is tourism management?

Tourism management is a multidisciplinary field that includes all activities related to the tourism and hospitality industries. It prepares candidates with the experience and training required to hold managerial positions in food, accommodation and tourism industry. The three major areas of tourism management are:

• Business administration (finance, human resources and marketing activities);
• Management theories and principles;
• Tourism industry (travel accommodation, environmental factors and tourism organizations)

Tourism management implements marketing efforts in attracting tourists to travel to particular destinations. This involves the management of a variety of activities such as:

• Studying tour destination;
• Planning the tour;
• Making travel arrangements;
• Providing accommodation.

Who is eligible for a tourism management course?

• You should obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma certificate or equivalent;
• Your age should be 18 years or older;
• You should gain a minimum IELTS score of 5.5 (or its equivalent for non-native English speakers).

What is the course structure of tourism management?

• Front Office Operations– this includes an introduction about the systems and procedures required for Front Desk Office Operations. It helps students develop skills related to reception procedures.
• Customer Service– this module elaborates on the importance of effective communication skills while dealing with customers. It provides students with a better understanding of customer relations and services.
• Food and Beverage Management– focuses on the operations related to food and beverage management. It includes the following topics:

• • Food and beverage operations;
  • Marketing;
  • Nutrition;
  • Menu;
  • Standard product costs and pricing strategies;
  • Productions;
  • Service;
  • Cost;
  • Controlling;
  • Facility design, layout and equipment.

• Hospitality Accounting– this module can help a student enhance their decision making process in the field of management. It provides an in-depth knowledge about the processes and practices of hotel business.
• Human Resource Management – this module is structured to train students to build a strategic and coherent approach to their organizations assets. Students get an opportunity to learn about effective business practices of the hospitality industry.

Other modules covered by a tourism management course are as follows:

• Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism;
• Housekeeping;
• Food and Beverage Operations;
• Food Sanitation, Safety and Health;
• Organizational Behavior in the Hospitality Industry;
• Facilities and Maintenance Management;
• Marketing in Hospitality and Tourism;
• Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events;
• Issues in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry;
• Resort Management;
• Niche and Specialty Management.

How long is a tourism management course and how much does it cost?

The tourism management course is a full-time program lasting two years. It consists of 48 weeks of in-class academic sessions. The total length of the course exceeds up to 78 weeks, including scheduled breaks. The total course fee of the tourism management program is CAD 19,000.

What is the career scope of the tourism Industry?

Tour Manager (Average annual salary: $49,150) – they must possess language skills and knowledge about weather, customs and tourist attractions. Their main role is to ensure that the tour goes smoothly and tourists get to enjoy themselves during their holiday. Tour managers should have networking and customer service skills as well as a good grasp of the following subjects:

• Archaeology;
• Business;
• Geography;
• History;
• Modern languages;
• Travel, tourism and leisure studies.

Let’s look at some of the responsibilities of a tour manager:

• Accompanying native and foreign groups travelling by bus, planes, boats and trains;
• Welcoming holidaymakers at the starting point and explaining travel arrangements (food, culture, itineraries and destinations) and stop-over points in detail;
• Resolving logistic issues and coordinating travel arrangements;
• Checking tickets or other relevant documents, as well as attending to special requirements such as seat allocations, passport or immigration issues;
• Making accommodation bookings on proposed dates and ensuring that the accommodation is satisfactory;
• Dealing with emergencies and responding to questions from tourists.

The career scope of the tourism industry does not only cover tours and other forms of travel; it also expands to the hospitality sector. Here’s an example of what a career as a Hotel Manager in Canada would look like:

Hotel Manager (Average annual salary: $42,967) – their function is to manage hotel employees and day-to-day operations of a hotel. This may include front-of-house reception, food and beverage operations, budgeting and financial management. They are expected to have an understanding of hotel management practices and relevant laws and guidelines. They execute the following tasks:

• Analysing and interpreting financial information;
• Implementing effective marketing strategies to promote the hotel’s services;
• Monitoring sales and profits;
• Supervising maintenance, supplies, renovations and furnishings;
• Dealing with suppliers, travel agencies and event planners;
• Inspecting services and property regularly by enforcing strict compliance with health and safety standards.

The scope of tourism is so diverse that you can also explore opportunities in properties and real estate! A career as a Property Manager would look like the following:

Property Manager (Average annual salary: $56,702) – property managers are assigned to work at a resort location to oversee the operations of a facility or assets. They are generally hired by property owners and real estate investors who are unable to manage their properties themselves. Commercial properties run by property managers include apartment complexes, retail malls and business offices. The basic responsibilities of a property manager are:

• Building an effective rental program;
• Providing customer services;
• Establishing positive relationships with long-term clients;
• Dealing with renovations;
• Coordinating group visits;
• Managing association-related business;
• Supervising and coordinating building maintenance;
• Resolving tenant concerns and complaints;
• Advertising, demonstrating and leasing vacant units;
• Collecting and depositing rent;
• Communicating with and sending updates to the property owner on the status of the property.

If you enjoy experiencing cultural exchanges, then you should opt for a tourism management career. Toronto School of Management (TSoM) offers an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management course to help students enter the hospitality and tourism sector. This course can help you learn how to develop strategic plans for tourism and understand the needs of the target customers.

FAQs

• What are some of the challenges facing the tourism industry?
  The tourism sector encounters various obstacles, including the effects of climate change, over-tourism in specific locations, geopolitical instability, evolving travel behaviours, and the emergence of accommodation alternatives.
• What are some of the opportunities for growth in the tourism industry?
  Despite the obstacles confronting the tourism industry, there are also numerous growth opportunities in this sector. These include the rise of responsible and sustainable tourism, the expansion of the digital economy, and potential for growth in niche markets such as adventure tourism, health and wellness tourism, and cultural tourism.
• How can individuals interested in pursuing a career in tourism management prepare for the future of the industry?
  Individuals pursuing a career in tourism management can prepare for a stable career by getting quality education in business management, marketing, and finance. It would also help you to have a solid grasp of the tourism industry, including its trends, challenges, and opportunities.