What is tourism management?
In many countries, including Australia, tourism is an important part of the economy. As our global desire for international tourism has grown, so too have employment opportunities across the industry.
In the 2018-2019 financial year, just over 9 million international visitors came to Australia for the purpose of tourism.*
Tourism expenditure contributes billions of dollars to the Australian economy each year, and it is same in many countries across the world.
Tourism is an industry that attracts those with a love of adventure, who enjoy working with people, have a deep appreciation for the delights their location has to offer, and who want to actively create brighter and more sustainable futures for the communities in which they live and work in.
Tourism management draws on core skills and experiences from several sectors to ensure the smooth organisation, management and oversight of the tourist experience. It requires knowledge of hospitality, travel, event management and creative industries, as well as a high level of interpersonal, problem solving and time management skills.
Tourism management roles involve all aspects of business including human resource management, partnership management, project management and marketing. As locations and experiences within the industry compete for tourist dollars, skills in attracting clients to your particular business, event or destination will see you succeed. Many tourism managers work for local or national tourism bodies and government agencies and facilitate the promotion of their location on the domestic and international stages.
This field can also be very hands-on. You may find yourself involved with the customer service aspects of the job, working in social media, managing stakeholder and community groups, and organising events.
Tourism management requires an in-depth knowledge of your business or destination, as you must be able to offer tourists a variety of options and adapt to their needs quickly and confidently. You will also have a strong knowledge of consumer behaviour, and particularly how people behave and make choices when travelling as tourists.
The tourism industry can see you working in a variety of exotic locations, both within Australia and internationally. Embrace the opportunity to work from some of the most desirable locations in the world.
What does a tourism manager do?
Tourism managers can be involved in every stage of organising and promoting a tourist’s journey. They are skilled at ensuring their destination is presented to the world as idyllic, exciting or the place to be.
You may find yourself contributing to the marketing of your destination. This could involve writing copy, shooting stunning pictures and designing an effective campaign that attracts new visitors to your region. Your understanding of travel trends and what makes a location desirable to different target markets will assist you here.
As a tourism manager, you may work for your local council or governing body. Here, your role may be to conceive, pitch and implement events that draw tourists to the area. You may find yourself liaising with local vendors, using social media to promote events and organising performances or talks for tourists to attend. Your strong organisational skills and experience in decision-making will be assets to your career progression.
Food and tourism go hand-in-hand, as tourists search for the most authentic, delicious or affordable cuisine on their travels. Tourism managers often work within or with hospitality venues to ensure the culinary attractions are just as enticing as the leisure offerings. You may find yourself coordinating food and beverages for a major hotel chain, or at a tourist hot spot. Food-based events are also increasingly being used to attract tourists to regional areas, with concepts such as ‘farm-to-table’ growing in popularity.
With their specialist skillset, tourism managers may also be required in more niche areas. You may find yourself working for a private enterprise, designing curated experiences for individual clients or groups. Here, you will work closely with other tourism-focused services to meet your client’s needs and ensure their experience is one of a kind.
Explore your study options in Tourism Management
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Kickstart your career with real-world industry experience and knowledge across the business sphere. Be ready today for tomorrow by learning how to analyse current trends to predict future priorities. Pursue profit and manage loss by developing effective strategies that are fit-for-purpose and unique to a business’s needs. Become a professional who can lead an organisation, support its strategy and innovate its operations.
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Explore the important and challenging work of balancing profit, policy and conservation. Develop your expertise in economic principles, sustainability practices and quantitative scientific methods. Emerge with organisational and critical analysis skills that will see you well-equipped to work within the fields of environmental policy, sustainability consulting or international business.
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Give your career a far-reaching, competitive start with this double business and law degree. Pair your business insight in accounting, economics, management, marketing or tourism, with a strong understanding of legal principles to bring unparalleled expertise to future roles. You'll gain practical experience through real-world case scenarios, internships and mock trials in 'moot' e-court facilities. This course is an approved qualification to practise law in Queensland.
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With an advanced understanding of human behaviour and motivation, a Bachelor of Business — Bachelor of Psychological Science will empower you with the skills to maximise your employability and stand out in your future workplace. Your critical thinking, decision-making skills and knowledge of business operations will be bolstered by an understanding of what motivates employees and how to create healthy, productive work environments.
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Boost your employability with JCU Commerce. Get a head start with tailored industry experience and build your network through practical learning opportunities. In assisting individuals at tax time or navigating trade with international businesses, your studies will equip you with the knowledge and skills to drive success in a diverse career.
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Be equipped to pursue new professional roles or areas of industry as you enhance your career with a specialisation in business administration. Develop contemporary management and leadership skills and learn how to strategically analyse, plan and implement decisions in the workplace. Graduate eligible for positions in management, consultancy and market research.
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What jobs are there for tourism management specialists?
Tourism management provides a vast array of job opportunities, meaning you can find a role that suits your skills, experience and passion.
When you study tourism management at JCU, you’ll develop the industry know-how and organisational skills to succeed within Australia, or internationally. Graduates take roles with small, large and multinational organisations, while others take the plunge and set up their own businesses.
JCU Business students who study Tourism Management understand the principles of commercial enterprise and have a broad knowledge base, combined with subject-specific expertise. Our graduates are equipped to make lasting contributions to their fields in a variety of different tourism jobs.
With a JCU Bachelor of Business, majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management, you could find work in roles such as:
- Tourism marketing manager
- Hotel manager
- Tourism and events manager
- Travel agency manager
- Tourist attraction operator
- Guest and public relations manager
- Tour package creator
- Visitor experience designer
- Destination planner
- Tourism sustainability project manager
- Events and conference organiser
- Public relations officer.
Why study Tourism Management at JCU?
Now, more than ever, innovative thinking is vital in helping the tourism industry to continue to flourish. When you study Tourism Management at JCU, you’ll receive an education that encourages you to become future-focused and design innovative responses to industry challenges.
JCU’s focus on practical learning means you’ll get experience in tourism management from the early phases of your degree. Our knowledgeable lecturers draw on their industry experience and connections to provide you with real-world applicable scenarios. Our small class sizes provide a supportive environment.
Take advantage of the JCU Work Integrated Learning program to gain experience in the field. JCU campuses are located on and adjacent to some of the most desirable tourist destinations in the world. You’ll have the unique opportunity to forge network connections and undertake work experience in tourism-heavy locations.
Extend your employability further by taking advantage of the JCU Professional Development program, which can be completed alongside your degree.
A Bachelor of Business at JCU, majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management, is available at multiple campuses and can be studied flexibly. JCU understands that tourism management is not always a business hours career, so nor should your degree be. Consult the handbook to explore which majors are available at each campus.
Kara Angel
Student
Bachelor of Business
“Choosing to study Business at JCU is one of the best decisions of my life. The staff provide teaching that draws from both academia and real-life experience. The College enables students to experience more than just studying, by providing networking and professional development to enhance our education and future careers.”