Tourist information centre manager : Job description

Tourist information centres (TICs) exist to provide information and advice on what to see and do in a particular city, town, area or country. Tasks also involve booking accommodation, making reservations and selling related gifts and souvenirs. Some TICs also run special events and generate marketing opportunities for tourism businesses.

The role of a TIC manager is therefore a varied one. As well as ensuring the daily smooth running of the centre, they are involved in everything from staff management and recruitment to networking, event planning and marketing.

To be successful, TIC managers must have the ability to forward plan and predict what the public wants. This can be a dynamic and rewarding area of work but it may also be very demanding and involve long hours for relatively low pay.

Typical work activities

The amount and type of work involved depends very much upon the size and location of the tourism information centre (TIC) and its position within the local authority structure. However, tasks typically include some or all of the following:

• identifying, implementing and monitoring commercial opportunities and additional services to raise revenue;
• recruiting, training, managing, appraising and motivating staff;
• preparing reports for senior management and attending meetings with a variety of people, including senior managers, and tourism businesses.
• controlling and monitoring the TIC budget to ensure the centre achieves its objectives in the most cost-effective way;
• publicising the centre's services and assisting with the marketing of other local amenities;
• gathering information about and working with local businesses and visitor attractions;
• event planning and organisation;
• producing guides and other marketing literature;
• researching and visiting attractions and accommodation;
• keeping up to date with changes in tourist activities and events;
• ICT work - including managing destination management systems, website development, e-commerce and online booking;
• providing support for the senior management team by supplying and interpreting TIC data, as well as working closely with the national tourism organisation;
• implementing health and safety regulations and monitoring work practices, ensuring that the centre is run in accordance with policies and guidelines;
• ensuring that the centre is well presented, efficiently organised, easy to use and accessible;
• communicating information to members of the public;
• dealing with enquiries in person and by post, email and phone;
• operating accommodation and other booking services and selling tickets for travel and local events.