New Tourism Career Campaign Launched

A new national campaign has been launched to encourage students to consider a career in the tourism sector.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe launched the campaign in association with the Irish Hotels Federation, which targets 2nd level students aged 15-18 years.

The initiative aims to highlight the wide variety of interesting career opportunities and educational courses available across the tourism and hospitality sector – one of Ireland's most successful industries.

The industry is on track to cater for a record-breaking 8 million overseas visitors this year and contributes over €5 billion in revenues to the Irish economy, including €3.5 billion in overseas revenues. Tourism now supports an estimated 205,000 jobs in Ireland, equivalent to 11% of total employment. With over 33,000 new jobs created since 2011, the industry is well-positioned to create in excess of 45,000 additional jobs by 2025, supported by the Government's recently launched policy; People, Place and Policy; Growing Tourism to 2025.

As part of the campaign, the IHF is publishing Get a Life in Tourism – a free print and digital magazine supported by Fáilte Ireland which will be distributed to over 700 second-level schools. The magazine contains comprehensive information on all of the various careers available in the sector. Careers paths include chefs, accommodation assistants, receptionists, as well as positions in sales and marketing, personnel management, catering, finance and leisure centre management.

Based on a series of 'Day in the Life' interviews with young people working in the industry and profiles of third level students, the magazine provides a realistic picture of what to expect from a career in the tourism and hospitality sector. The magazine also includes a section on going to college, with details of 36 institutions offering courses to kick start a career in tourism.

Minister Donohoe said: "In the context of continued tourism growth, supported by strong Government policy and good prospects for the future, there are thousands of job opportunities in this sector. I commend the IHF, supported by Fáilte Ireland, for playing a proactive part in promoting careers in the industry with the well-presented and informative Get a Life in Tourism magazine. By presenting in this way the many rewarding and exciting educational and employment opportunities available, I think this publication should grab the attention of second-level students and will, I hope, encourage many of them to embark upon a career in tourism. Its publication is particularly timely since it is in line with recommendations to promote career opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector, which are contained in my Department's tourism policy statement, which I launched in March, and the report of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs published last week. Tourism provides jobs in every part of the country so it is important that the information students need in respect of potential career opportunities is freely available. This new-look magazine, which is supported by an online platform, points students in the right direction."

Stephen McNally, President, IHF added: "It is a very exciting time for Irish tourism with enormous career opportunities available as our industry continues to grow and create new jobs. Our success depends on our ability to make visitors feel welcome and we want to attract young, enthusiastic people who aspire to having an interesting, people-focused career. We're encouraging students to explore the many options available, including hundreds of specialist third-level courses throughout the country for those interested in pursuing recognised qualifications. It is a thriving industry offering excellent career prospects, swift promotional opportunities and a life less ordinary where you get to meet and work with great people."

(MH/CD)