Tourism Major
Contact:
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Education
Tourism
Administration Specialization
Functional areas
a) Administration - Service management/operations
b) Event planning (For-profit/commercial
orgs.)
Service programming for corporate events, festivals,
meetings, conventions, family gatherings (reunions weddings etc.), sports
tourism and conferences
c) Marketing - Various marketing functions
including sales
Work settings (Diverse opportunities)
a) Attractions such as theme parks, activity resorts (ski/golf),
museums, zoos, historical attractions etc.
b) Resorts, cruiselines
and convention hotels
c) Conference and convention centers
d) Festivals and Special event organizations
e) Convention/Visitors Bureaus
f) Independent/corporate meeting planners
g) State and regional tourism organizations
h) Transportation: airlines, trains, and
rental cars
i) Tour wholesalers
and incentive travel organizations
Skills and Abilities (Varies by functional areas)
a) Communication skills
(verbal and written)
b) People
and service orientation – one to one contact and understanding the needs of the
tourist.
c)
Fast-paced service environment
d) Creativity
in problem-solving and idea creation
e)
Organization abilities
f) Flexible work
hours
g) Project
oriented with focus on details
Tourism curriculum
a) Applies a social science
background to a business and industry environment.
Tourism administration Program/event planning
Facilities Destinations’
strategies
Hospitality law
Services marketing
Tourism
Studies Specialization
Functional areas
a) Pursue graduate education in tourism
b) Economic
Development (International also)
Work settings
a) State and regional
organizations
b) International
organizations
Skills, abilities and knowledge
a) Communication (foreign
language)
b)
Analytical skills
c) Social
science background
Recreation
Major
Contact:
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Education
Accredited by the National Parks
and
Recreation Association
Focus: 1) Public/Voluntary
Functional areas
a) Public assembly/association management
b) Program/Special events (non-profit setting)
Work settings
a) Government such as Public/city/county/state parks departments, and metroparks
b) Non-profit organizations such as YM/WCA’s, Boys/Girls
Clubs, environmental organizations, church/religious organizations,
professional associations and socially responsible organizations such as
American Heart/Cancer Association (special events for membership, promotion,
education).
c)
Recreation venues and facilities such as arenas.
d) Youth
recreational activities – cruise and resorts
Careers:
Recreation leaders who are responsible for program’s daily operation, organize and direct
participants. Recreation supervisors who oversee
leaders and plan, organize, and manage recreational activities. Director of recreation and
parks who develop/manage all facets of recreation programs. Recreation
workers in the above areas and other positions are projected to grow 21%-35%
until 2012. Half of all recreation positions are in governments, civic and
social (non-profit) organizations (bls.gov/oco/).
Fitness and recreational sports centers
Facility (administrative) managers who plan, direct, or coordinate supportive services
of an organization, such as facilities planning/maintenance have
a mean salary of $43,100. Supervisors of
sales employees have a mean salary of $30,500, other
supervisors mean salary of $42,630.
2) Minor: Environmental Education
Work
settings
a)
Environmental organizations
b)
Government such as public, city, or metroparks.
3) Minor: Therapeutic Recreation
Joint program with
Work
areas
a) Clinical settings such as hospitals,
rehabilitation centers and long-term care facilities
b) Community settings such as city/county parks
dept.
Professional associations: National Parks and Recreation Association, National Council for Therapeutic Recreation., American Society of Association Executives, American Camping Association.
Tourism
Impact on Society
Tourism has become one of the world's most important
sources of employment. (Source: World
Tourism Organization at World-Tourism.org) –In 2004, Travel & Tourism in the world is expected to generate: US$
5,490.4 billion of economic activity 10.4% of total GDP and 214,697,000 jobs or
8.1% of total employment (source: World Travel and Tourism Council at wttc.org)
In 2003, the
In
Also see the Ohio Travel
Association website at ohiotravel.org (scholarship available).
Sample of Careers
for Tourism Majors:
Unless otherwise indicated,
the mean and median salaries noted below are for 2002 or 2003 and reflect
employees who have experience and education across the country. (source: bls.gov)
Event
planning
Meetings and convention planners coordinate activities of staff and convention
personnel to make arrangements for meetings and conventions.
Overall
employment in
Meeting
planners (additional information)
Approximately
30% of Planners with education and experience made up to $40,000. This varies
by type of planners such as association; corporate or independent (source
successmtgs.com).
Event
planners exist in diverse organizations and may have titles such as marketing
and promotions, event coordinator, and coordinator of public programs. Additional tourism settings are in
attractions such as museums and organizations found in the following sections
on lodging and resorts, convention and visitors bureaus, and tour arrangements,
Professional associations:
Meetings
Professional International,
Professional
Convention Management Association, Society of Corporate Meeting Professionals, International
Festival and Events Association. International Society of
Special Events.
Lodging and
Resort
Source of Salary figures from
http://www.bls.gov/oes/home.htm
Meeting and convention planners – See details in Meetings and convention section of
Event planning. Meetings and convention planners at accommodations mean salary
is $37,940 in 2003. Event planning of
recreation activities mean salary is approximately $18,900. Casino hotels meeting and convention planner
mean salary is $34,880.
First line Management positions –
Lodging managers mean salary is $40,700 and projected to increase by
9% in 2012.
Marketing and sales management positions have a mean salary range of $50,000 and up. Sales
and non-retail sales managers mean salary range from $35,000 to
$47,000.
Convention services managers coordinate activities of departments in larger hotels
to accommodate meetings and events.
Management trainees are entry level career positions in lodging and
casino operations.
Professional associations:
American Hotel and Lodging Association. Oho Hotel and
Lodging Association (scholarship available).
International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and
Institutional Education.
The
Tourism major does NOT provide any courses in Food and Beverage operations.
Cruise Lines
Marketing and sales positions corporate / land based.
Event planning – Shipboard such as meetings/events, activities
coordinators and recreation activities involving youth counselors, and other
recreational activities positions. Professional associations: Cruise Lines
International Association.
Destination
marketing organizations
Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB): Organizations that promote and facilitate tourism for
a destination such as a city, community, county, or region.
Career
titles in CVB: Sales and
marketing in specific niches such as tourism, leisure, sports, trade show,
convention. Service operations in areas such as convention,
housing, and visitor services. Service development in areas such as events and cultural tourism. Public relations and
research.
Professional Associations: International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus.
Tour
Arrangements
such as tour
operations/ travel agencies
(planning/sales of packaged
tours)
Sales/Marketing
managers – 73% make between
$20,000 and $50,000.
Operations managers/tour planners – 74% make between $20,000 and $50,000.
Majority
of tour operators in the survey are in small to medium size firms (source:
ntaonline.com).
Meeting
and convention planners – This
position is in travel agencies with the mean salary in 2003 of $32,600 (see www.bls.gov/oes/
Travel guides who plan, organize, and conduct long distance
cruises, tours, and expeditions for individuals and groups mean salary in 2003
of $31,540. .
Professional associations: National Tour Association. Society
of Incentive & Travel Executives. United Motorcoach
Association
Association of Retail Travel Agents. American Society of Travel Agents.
Airlines
First-line
administrative manager in airlines will also supervise reservation and transportation
Ticket Agents (scheduled airlines). All first-line administrative managers
including office and administrative mean salary is $45,990. These
agents make and confirm reservations,
contact individuals and groups to inform them of package tours, provide
tourists with travel information and sell tickets to passengers has a mean
salary $31,000.
Flight attendants - Many airlines today prefer a college degree for applicants
(www.bls.gov/oco). Overall
Professional associations: Association of Flight Attendants. Air Transport Association.
Entrepreneurship
Are
creative, customer oriented, business oriented, risk-taker, adventurous, and
independent minded. Consider a tourism major in tourism administration with
an entrepreneurship minor. Learn about
the key elements of travel and tourism and adopt these into a business model as
an independent business owner.
Rental cars
Management level – begin as a management trainee for major rental car
companies.
Attractions-
Cultural
Museums, historical
sites, performing arts
Meeting and convention planners mean salary is $37,000 for museums/historical sites.
Sales Managers mean salary is $53,180
Other tourism positions in museums and
performing arts include coordinator
of guest/visitor services, group sales, public programs, and event
coordinators. Cultural tourist
coordinators are in regional arts organizations and convention and visitors
bureau.
Professional Associations:
American
Association of Museums,
Attractions
Amusement/theme/waterparks
First line operations managers mean salary of $31,900. First-line
administrative supervisors mean salary of $36,900. First-line
manager of retail sales mean salary of $31,200.
Professional organizations: International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
Trade
magazine: Amusement Business
Attractions
Zoos and
aquariums
Marketing positions
especially in tour and group sales, event and recreation programming, manager
of guest or visitor services and membership events.
Professional Associations: American Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Sports and
Eco-tourism in
Activity Resorts
for
golf/tennis/ski/outdoor
Professional associations: National Club Association. Club Managers
Association of