Tourism officer: Employers and vacancy sources

Tourism officers are mainly employed by local authorities. County, district and borough councils also employ tourism or marketing/visitor development officers to market and develop specific visitor attractions and tourist destinations.

Increasingly, most employers in this area expect post holders to become involved with economic development, strategic planning and regeneration issues, in addition to the more traditional tourism activities.

The private sector, which includes private heritage sites, visitor attractions and leisure companies, also provides employment opportunities. There may also be opportunities to work for private development companies and consortia undertaking project marketing and development.

Typical employers also include partnerships between the public and private sector, sub-regional or area destination management/marketing partnerships carrying out Destination Marketing Plans (DMPs). There are also opportunities for career progression with Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and regional tourist boards.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site
• Local Government Jobs
• Individual local council websites. For a list, see the Local Government websites  
• Tourism Management Institute (TMI) - vacancies available to members only
• The Tourism Society
• Marketing Week
• Leisurejobs.net
• Leisure Management
• Leisure Opportunities
• Travel Weekly
• Guardian Jobs  
• TTG Live
• Arts Industry
• Local and regional press

Recruitment agencies rarely advertise vacancies. For a list of relevant member agencies, search the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) consultancy finder.

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