BOOST YOUR PROSPECTS
Tourism workers and students can improve their skills while waiting for the industry to pick up. Lauren Ahwan reports
TOURISM students should consider upgrading to a higher qualification in a bid to delay graduation until job prospects improve. The tourism industry has been devastated by the effects of COVID-19, with international travel all but banned and restrictions still in force for some state border crossings.
Experts say the sector will return to pre-pandemic activity levels and encourage existing workers to gain skills in compliance and governance to remain employable.
Those partway through a tourism course should upgrade to a higherlevel qualification as a means of biding their time until more favourable employment conditions return, says TAFE SA hospitality, cookery, tourism and events educational manager Belinda Mcpherson.
“Employment right now ited,’’ Mcpherson says.
“If you’re almost finished your certificate III, for example, you would now be better off to go on to a diploma (qualification) because, by the time you finish the qualification, there will be more job openings.’’
Australian Tourism Industry Council executive director Simon is lim
Westaway is urging tourism workers and students not to lose hope in the sector.
“The visitor economy is a very strong one and when it gets the opportunity to bounce back, it will,’’ he says.
He says workers must be flexible to changing conditions, particularly with the easing of restrictions varying from state to state.
“If you can self-quarantine in order to move to some part of the country where you can do some work then I think it’s a good thing to do that,’’ Westaway says.
“It would also be good to be having some governance training or compliance training – that will come in handy (as the industry navigates a new way ahead).’’
International College Management marketing of Hotel director
Simon Ruston says that as the sector recovers, recruiters will favour those with experience so prospective students must be sure to enrol in programs that include industry placements as part of their training.
Toni Oxer finished a diploma-level tourism qualification last year and is now adding on a Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management through TAFE SA.
The 25-year-old hopes to eventually work as a tour guide in the Flinders Ranges.
Oxer says the pandemic has helped raise the profile of local holiday destinations and believes job opportunities will rapidly increase in the future.
“Once coronavirus is out the way, people are going to have a really strong urge to travel and the tourism industry will just take off,’’ she says.