Why Choose A Career In Tourism?

With world economies in a tail spin and investments questionable, why would anyone even consider Tourism as a career path? Believe it or not, Tourism is still one of the strongest industries in British Columbia.

Yes we have been exposed this past summer to sky high fuel prices which have rocked the automotive, airline and cruise ship industries. We have witnessed terrorism acts in other parts of the world, so why with all the doom and gloom would anyone want to enter into a life long career in Tourism?

Simple…it’s diversity and history! History has recorded that we are a society that does not remain at home. We like to travel, we enjoy travel and we have the need to travel. What happens is a shift in modes of travel, destinations and length of travel. The summer of 2008 was a perfect example, we travelled closer to home, experiencing more of the Tourism attractions in our own province. We saw fewer tourists driving to British Columbia from the United States but had more of them flying into the province. This resulted in an increase of 4% over 2007, also tourism from countries such as Mexico jumped by 28% in 2008.

We have a strong commitment to the Meeting and Conference Travel Niche which has been promoted through Tourism British Columbia to the rest of the world, bringing the large international convention groups to Vancouver and the province, which had created the need to expand our conference facilities. Revenue from this travel niche has jumped from $3.9 Billion to $ 7.1 Billion since 1996. The Spring of 2009 will see the opening of our new Trade and Convention Center in Vancouver to support this initiative. On average, a leisure traveler will spend $ 116.00 per day per person whereas a convention traveler will spend an average of $ 260.00 per person per day.

Our Provincial Government announced an expenditure in the amount of $ 31 Million in the building of cycling paths and trails and cycling infrastructure and an additional $ 11 Million in the Parks upgrades. Since 2001 our provincial government has added 57 new parks, 129 conservancies, 1 ecological reserve and 8 protected areas, we now have 14.26% of our province declared as protected areas. Consequently our Adventure Tourism industry has grown creating a demand to fill 13,000 positions by 2010.

Our active lifestyle has attracted many senior industry managers reaching the age of 60 to take advantage of early retirement options, therefore escalating the careers of middle management and opening opportunities for the younger generation to enter into an exciting, ever changing and challenging career path.

Worker shortages in the industry are forcing companies to seek foreign workers to fill the voids. Without trained professionals to fulfill the needs of the visitors, we shall see a decline in customer satisfaction which will result in a decline in repeat visitors.

Career training through recognized private colleges such as the Canadian Tourism College, can fast track careers with condensed and intensive management diploma programs that can have you career ready within one year. Education is the definitely the key to advancement, yes, you can enter into the industry without an education, however, when the promotions are in line, those with the earned credentials will be considered first.

We have an opportunity in 2010 and beyond to showcase British Columbia as a 1st class destination, but in order to maintain that reputation we need well trained industry professionals to meet the needs of our future guests.

Statistics quoted can be found on the go2 website. www.go2hr.ca

Leslie Skinner

>Enrollment Coordinator

Canadian Tourism College