Jobs in the Travel & Tourism Industry

The travelers of the world need help, and travel and tourism workers are just the people to give it. Whether it's working in a travel agency, checking people onto airplanes or teaching the samba on a cruise ship, tourism industry employees specialize in showing people a good time. Although it may appear that technology has facilitated more hands-off service, there is still a need for the waiters, baggage handlers and local tourism offices that actually add the human touch to travel.

According to the Travel Industry Association, United States travelers spent an estimated $540 billion dollars in 2006 alone. That year, there were nearly 48 million international visitors to the United States. With so many people exploring, there are many opportunities for people to help out.

Tourism jobs are valuable for several reasons. Facilitating vacation travel at a location usually brings increased revenue and vitality to local commerce, as well as increased cultural awareness and pride. Around the United States alone, tourism accounts for billions of dollars of spending in places like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle. In extreme cases, such as New Orleans, tourist dollars can help to rebuild and regenerate. Without the help of knowledgeable staffers, these bustling cities wouldn't be able to handle the influx of visitors.

There is a large variety of travel jobs available. One doesn't need to work in a hotel, airport or travel agency to be a tourism employee.

Active tourist destinations often have special tourism offices that focus on assisting tourists with information about events and attractions. Cities may also offer walking tours and historical reenactments. Colonial Williamsburg is an example of a city that employs costumers, actors, craftspeople and historians in addition to many other jobs.

For those that want to dive in and actually travel, there are positions at resorts around the world. If staying in one place seems tame, try working on a cruise ship. Both vacation resorts and cruise ships have entertainment, hospitality and administrative opportunities for the right people. Due to the attractiveness of these jobs, they can be competitive, but they're worth checking into.

Sadly, there are scam artists who advertise quick-fix methods for landing hot tourism jobs. Most of these pamphlets and e-books peddle expired or wrong information. The best way to find a desirable tourism job is to check the websites of the companies that you desire to work for. These sites often have databases that list any open positions, along with directions for applying. Contacting the human resources departments is always a good idea, as well. Don't pay anyone to find you a tourism job.

Tourism jobs are fun, rewarding and are often in better locales than the nearby corporate park. They offer wonderful opportunities to meet people from all walks of life and make new friends. Often, travel employees receive perks such as deeply discounted or free travel, low-cost hotel rooms and friend rates. Although many travel jobs don't offer large amounts of money, their contributions to a person's skill set could have definite benefits further down the line in future jobs. The tourism industry is great fun for those who wish to enjoy what the world has to offer while making some cash.