What about Travel & Tourism?

Whilst traditionally holidays were booked in high street travel agents’ offices, more and more sales are being made online. The online travel industry was one of the first retail sectors to thrive on e-commerce and its value is expected to double between 2007 and 2010.

Travellers can now research destinations and take care of everything from flights to car rental with just a few clicks. Booking systems have always depended on software experts, but making these systems available online equally calls for website developers and engineers.

Thanks to the work of engineers, passenger planes have changed a great deal since commercial flights first began in the 1930s. Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner for instance is made mainly of composite materials, can carry up to 330 passengers and is more fuel-efficient than previous models.

In-flight entertainment systems mean that you can catch up with the news, watch the latest blockbuster or play games, making long haul flights a whole lot more enjoyable. Plans are already underway to allow passengers to use mobile phones on board and in-flight internet is just around the corner.

Think you’ve experienced all there is to see on Earth? Some say that the next big tourist destination will be outer space. While as of yet only a handful of ‘space tourists’ have made the journey, things may be about to change. Virgin Galactic is one of the leading space tourism providers, with regular flights scheduled from 2009 onwards. Several companies have also expressed an interest in building ‘space hotels’, unlocking  a whole new era for the travel and tourism industry.

Typical Activities

Within the travel and tourism industry, there are many roles for those with an interest in science and engineering. Typical activities

• Developing online booking systems;
• Designing new passenger planes;
• Maintaining planes and cruise ships and ensuring that safety standards are met;
• Improving electronic passenger facilities on board;
• Exploring possibilities of space tourism.

Getting In

Tourism supports some 1.4 million jobs in the UK, many of which involve science, technology and engineering.

A range of NVQs focus on the travel industry, from IT services to resort operations. Engineering NVQs including marine or mechanical engineering could also help you get on board. If you are interested in ships or aviation, you could also enjoy hands on learning with an apprenticeship.

Graduates are increasingly sought after in this industry. Here again, a bachelor’s degree, HND or HNC in areas such as mechanical, software, aerospace, telecommunications or electronic engineering could come in handy.

Typical Employers

The travel industry is dominated by large companies, but many smaller firms survive by occupying niche markets. Here's who you could end up working for:

• Thomas Cook
• Virgin
• Thomson’s
• BA
• Lastminute.com
• Opodo

More reading

People 1st - The sector skills council for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries