Travel and tourism : Your skills

A degree in travel and tourism provides you with an understanding of the wider social and economic issues related to these areas. The multi-disciplinary nature of the course means you develop strong business management and communication skills, enabling you to compete for work within the travel and tourism sector as well as in other career areas.

Travel and tourism graduates are able to demonstrate:

• an understanding of the principles essential for successful tourism management;
• knowledge of activity in the private sector (including tour operators, airlines and hotels) as well as knowledge of the public and not-for-profit sectors (including tourist boards); 
• the ability to analyse tourism in the communities it affects;
• the ability to evaluate the relationships between consumers and the providers of tourism services;
• knowledge of the principles and issues relating to sustainability and social responsibility within tourism;
• a combination of vocational and academic skills and knowledge;
• an understanding of international tourism;
• awareness of the dynamic nature of tourism in modern society;
• an understanding of products, structures and operations within the tourism industry;
• insight into the nature and characteristics of tourists.

The course also provides you with a range of transferable skills, including:

• leadership; 
• problem-solving; 
• IT skills; 
• research and communication skills;
• presentation skills;
• teamwork;
• ability to work to deadline.

A course in travel and tourism may also develop your entrepreneurial skills and language abilities.

Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile. Take a look at job application advice for some useful tips.