ITT leads tourism careers initiative

IT Tralee is one of the lead partners in a new programme aimed at getting more young people to consider a career in the tourism sector.

The National Tourism Careers Programme – created to highlight employment opportunities in Irish tourism –was launched on Friday by Minister of State for Tourism Patrick O’Donovan.

Run by the Irish Hotels Federation and the Irish Hospitality Institute in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland the programme includes an interactive online resource for students and teachers specially developed by the Institute of Technology Tralee.

The ITT designed ‘Tourism Insight’ programme is a free interactive online resource that provides videos and interactive tutorials on working in tourism.

The programme is split across six new units and can be delivered as part of class in school or for students to complete in their own time at home.

“It gives you a comprehensive introduction to the industry and its landscape, what it means to the country, what’s going on in the different tourism regions in Ireland and the marketing aspects of promoting Ireland as a destination,” said ITT’s Mary Rose Stafford.

The development of the programme was supported by leading tourism employers, including The Gleneagle Hotel Group and Muckross House in Killarney. The free online interactive programme is available now at www.tourisminsight.ie.

Pictured (from left0 at the launch of the National Tourism Careers Programme were Joe Dolan, IHF President; Mary-Rose Stafford, ITT, Minister Patrick O’Donovan TD; Natasha Kinsella, Regional Skills Manager Dublin and Terence Mulcahy, Fáilte Ireland.