If travel has always been something that motivates you, then perhaps tourism is a sector in which you could blossom from a professional point of view. Tourism is a multitude of actors who work daily to promote a department, a region, one or more countries, but also to provide unforgettable experiences to those who, like you, like to travel the world and discover its countless riches. Whether you have just graduated from high school or have decided to change careers, here are some tips to optimize your chances of working in tourism.
Take a course
As in many sectors, taking a training course is a major asset and optimizes your chances of working in tourism. There are several of them.
The first one is the BTS in Tourism, accessible after the baccalaureate. This two-year training course leads to a state diploma and allows you to work in several different professions. You can work at the reception desk of a tourist office or a tourist structure, or become a travel advisor in an agency, a leader in a vacation center or a guide for a tour operator.
There is another option for training in tourism after the baccalaureate: a three-year bachelor's degree in tourism and hotel management, as offered byESG Tourisme. This major player in private higher education in France is a business school specialized in tourism. It even offers the possibility of taking your studies even further by continuing with a master's degree in tourism management, followed by a master's degree in event management or hotel management. The opportunities are then even wider, with the possibility of working for tour operators, prestigious hotels or other large catering companies as a product manager, marketing manager or marketing analyst.
The range of jobs in the tourism sector is wide. Don't forget to check out the schools' open houses before enrolling in a course. This is the best way to talk to professionals, ask questions and make the right choice.
Be curious and open to the world
People who want to work in tourism are often travel lovers. Without necessarily going to the end of the world, discovering other territories and living experiences are essential to optimize your chances of working in tourism. This allows you to increase your knowledge of a region or another country. What are the emblematic landscapes? The places that are off the beaten track? The local culture? The specificities of the food? Knowing a great deal about a territory gives you the best chance to promote it during your future professional mission.
And then, by being a traveler yourself, you are better able to identify the expectations of visitors. These are useful elements for many professions, whether you are a travel consultant, a tour guide or a designer of customized tours.
Mastering at least one foreign language
It is difficult to imagine working in tourism without mastering at least one foreign language. English being the international language, it is almost imperative to speak it fluently. It is even essential for many jobs in tourism, such as tour guide or receptionist in a tourist office or museum.
Knowing how to speak a second foreign language is a plus. Languages such as German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese come first.
To learn a foreign language, it is possible to take courses in France, abroad or online. Traveling, watching movies in their original language and reading in another language are also very helpful
