Tourism manager is a specialist in the tourism industry who organizes tourist trips for clients. It is currently one of the most in-demand jobs in the leisure and entertainment industry. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in foreign languages, geography and social studies (see choosing a profession for interest in school subjects).

Salary

Salary as of 04/02/2019

Russia 25000—110000 ₽

Moscow 30000—150000 ₽

Short description

The travel manager makes our dreams come true for the vacation that each of us looks forward to. From the outside it seems that this is the most romantic and interesting profession - a holiday every day, the opportunity to travel to distant countries on duty.

But these are different things - to relax on your own or to competently organize a hassle-free vacation, which depends on many people and circumstances.

Tourism manager is a generalized name for a profession that is multifunctional. There are generalists who are able to organize a tourist’s journey from start to finish on their own, but most often in travel companies (tour operators) a division of labor is practiced by specialization: customer service manager, ticket manager, destination manager, visa processing manager and insurance, business travel manager, etc. Each of these specialties can be handled separately by a tourism manager without work experience under the guidance of a more experienced specialist. In large companies, the organization of a tourist trip resembles the work of an assembly line: at each stage of the organization of the tour, different specialists are connected to the case.

The specifics of the profession

The functional responsibilities of a tourism manager depend on where he works: in a tour operator or in a travel agency. In a tour operator, managers are engaged in the development and formation of tourist routes, and in travel agencies, as a rule, they sell tours to customers.

Responsibilities of a tourism manager working in a tour operator:

• route development;
• preparation of excursion programs and entertainment;
• hotel reservations;
• redemption of tickets for regular flights;
• organization of charter flights;
• negotiations with the host;
• registration of insurance and visas;
• formation of tour packages;
• conclusion of contracts with travel agencies;
• conducting advertising campaigns;
• resolution of conflict situations with representatives of the host country.

In travel agencies, the job of a tourism manager is to:

• receiving calls;
• Consulting potential clients (in person and by phone);
• provision of guides, catalogues, maps;
• study of offers on the market and the optimal selection of the tour at the request of the client;
• interaction with managers from tour operators;
• drawing up a contract with a client.

There are travel companies that combine the functions of a travel agency and a tour operator.

Pros and cons of the profession

pros

• the prospects of the industry as a whole and the constant demand for personnel;
• the opportunity to visit many countries as part of work or on last-minute trips and special offers on vacation;
• high level of salary;
• the versatility of the profession of a tourism manager allows you to work with any level of education and experience, there is a job for anyone; when applying for a job there is no strict educational qualification.

Minuses

• high responsibility;
• frequent stressful situations in case of production inconsistencies and force majeure circumstances (an airplane may be delayed, a natural disaster or war may begin, tourists may not be released by customs, etc.);
• trips to different countries are of a production nature and it is impossible to completely relax and enjoy your vacation;
• tourists can disturb with calls at any time of the day, and the manager must calmly respond and answer questions that have arisen, solve problems with the host in favor of the client;
• seasonality of work and dependence on this salary level.

Tourism manager training (Education)

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It gives you the opportunity to get a new profession in the direction of "Domestic and international tourism" on the basis of existing higher or secondary specialized vocational education without interruption from work and place of residence. Programs have state accreditation, therefore state documents are issued.

Colleges

Education for a tourism manager in the specialties "Tourism", "Management (by industry)" or "Management of an organization" (with a specialization in "Tourism") is presented in more than 20 Moscow colleges, including:

• at the Humanitarian College of the Russian State University for the Humanities
• Humanitarian College of Innovative Technologies
• College of Small Business No. 48
• College of the International Academy of Business and Management.

Upon completion, graduates receive a diploma with the qualification "Specialist in tourist services"

Place of work

• travel agencies
• tour operators

Personal qualities

• high stress resistance;
• iron endurance and self-control;
• sociability;
• organizational skills;
• personal organization;
• eloquence;
• diplomacy;
• charm;
• good memory;
• the ability to convince the interlocutor;
• a responsibility;
• flexibility of thinking.

Career

An aspiring tourism manager can apply for the position of assistant manager, whose duties include working on the phone or talking to customers. In the future, he can become a customer service manager. The average salary of a tourism manager is made up of a fixed part and percentages. Specialists with five years of experience and having their own client base can count on twice the salary. In the future, a tourism manager may become a deputy director of a travel agency and even a director. Tour operators provide a richer experience in tourism than travel agencies. Here you can master all the specializations of the profession in the organization of the tour from start to finish. With due diligence and the desire to master all the secrets of the profession, you can grow to the position of a top manager who actually manages the tourism business and is responsible for increasing the profits of the enterprise, developing and expanding the market. His responsibilities include signing important contracts, negotiating, conducting a competent advertising policy, marketing research. As a result, their salaries are high.

A high status in tour operators has a travel manager (travel manager) or tour coordinator, whose duties include the development of individual and corporate tours. They, as a rule, should know perfectly well resort places, hotels, modes of entry into different countries, be able to work with accounts, credit cards, book hotels and air tickets. Travel managers enter into agreements with the host, so they must be fluent in at least English, have the skills to prepare commercial offers and negotiate, know and follow the rules of business etiquette.

Elite specialists are also business travel managers who have to deal with businessmen who are accustomed to high standards of service, clarity and punctuality, regardless of even force majeure.

Over time, many successful managers who have mastered the technology of promoting destinations from start to finish can open their own business.

Currently, specialists in the field of tourism are quite in high demand. This is primarily due to the fact that people have more opportunities to travel. And if earlier there were many difficulties with going abroad, now there is no problem in this. The main thing is the desire to go to another city or country and at least minimal financial opportunities.

The profession of tourism or a specialist in the field of tourism is very popular among the humanities. What professions are related to tourism? What is to be mastered in the course of training and subsequent work? How much are the professions in demand and how well do they pay? Find out the answers to all these questions and more.

It is quite difficult to organize an independent trip, especially when it comes to traveling to other countries of the world. After all, not everyone who likes to travel speaks the language at a high level. Specialists in the field of tourism take care of all the issues of organizing travel. They help their clients decide on the direction of their vacation, the choice of a hotel and its booking. Another issue that experts in the field of tourism solve is moving to a place of rest. In this case, the client receives plane or train tickets. In a word, a specialist in the field of tourism is engaged in the organization of recreation. These are his direct responsibilities.

Short description

A specialist in the field of tourism deals with all issues related to the organization of recreation. In this case, you can work in several areas: socio-cultural service and tourism, management of organizations, tourism. If everything is more or less clear with the first and third spheres, then not so much with the second. Tourism specialists who have chosen the management of organizations are engaged in personnel management, the quality of services provided, and develop tactics for communicating with customers.

Working in the tourism industry is quite interesting. They not only bring money, but also give moral satisfaction, new knowledge. Such work requires knowledge of a foreign language, communication skills, good memory, because the client needs to provide information about countries and resorts, hotels and excursions. A specialist in the field of tourism must love his profession. Then he will be the best of the best.

What specialties to study

So, upon admission to a higher educational institution, you will have the opportunity to receive a diploma:

• a specialist in the field of hotel business;
• specialist in the field of tourism;
• specialist in the field of linguistic support of professional activity;
• specialist in the field of tourism management and marketing;
• a specialist in the economics of the tourism industry;
• tourism service specialist.

What do you have to do at work?

The professional activity of a tourism specialist depends on what specialization he chooses. A specialist in the field of tourism deals with issues related to the organization of recreation. His responsibilities include selecting the best tour for clients, organizing a trip to a vacation spot, booking a hotel room, etc. If we talk about the activities of specialists in the field of management and marketing, then they are engaged in advertising the tourism business, develop ways to increase sales of services, and implement them. In this case, the main responsibility is the development of a competent advertising campaign.

Who suits?

First of all, work in the field of tourism is suitable for those people who themselves like to travel and relax in comfort. They must be sociable, inquisitive, have a craving for learning new things. A specialist in the field of tourism must possess a large amount of information, be able to convey it intelligibly to the client. In addition, language skills are important.

Demand

Currently, specialists in the field of tourism are quite in high demand. And this applies to almost all areas. This is due to the fact that the restaurant, hotel and tourism business is developing at a rapid pace. People love to relax, and therefore restaurants, hotels and travel companies should offer them the best service.

How much do they get

It is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to the question: how much do specialists in the field of tourism earn. The salary depends, first of all, on the chosen field of activity and the organization in which the specialist will work. If we talk about the hotel industry, then the manager earns decent money - from 40 thousand rubles and more. The fee depends on the level of the hotel. Tourism managers also get good money. As a rule, they are offered a rate plus a percentage of sales. This is a good incentive. After all, wages will depend on the number of tours sold. Salary in the restaurant business also depends on the level of the institution and the position held. So if you want to get decent money, take the initiative, improve your knowledge, be persistent.

Is it easy to get a job and how is a career built?

It will not be difficult to get a job as a specialist in the field of tourism. A huge number of restaurants, hotels, travel companies operate in Russia. So in any case, with perseverance, you will find a job. You will have to start from a low position, but over time, if you make every effort, you can make a successful career. There are career opportunities in the tourism business.

prospects

If you like the tourism or hotel and restaurant business and you decide to get an education related to this area of ​​​​knowledge, you can not worry that you will be left without a job. The tourism and hotel and restaurant business is developing at a rapid pace. There are many new restaurants and hotels, travel companies. You will not have problems with employment. The main thing is to get a quality education and have a great desire to work in this area. Then you will definitely succeed.

Who hasn't thought about traveling to other countries? – Meditate under cherry blossoms, soak up the white sand near the ocean, see Paris from the height of the Eiffel Tower. Do you dream about all this and about an infinite number of other magical moments, exciting adventures, exotic countries, meeting new people? Do you want to collect your collection of attractions? But there is no free money to travel around the world yet? - Then the profession of a tourism manager is a business for you.

Many will object that planning and organizing a trip for clients is not at all the same as traveling yourself. Well, indeed, the main task of a specialist in a travel agency is to choose an interesting route and organize a train for a client (and get paid for it), but believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Feature of the profession

Tourism manager is a common title for several positions. If we are talking about working in a large company, then, as a rule, they use a conveyor approach to work. One employee deals with booking tickets, another is a visa specialist, a third works with incoming customers and presents them with different travel destinations, the fourth deals with interaction with insurance companies, the fifth prepares an advertisement for a new hotel offer from a well-known hotel chain. At the exit, the client has a ready-made travel scenario, a booked room, issued insurance and tickets in hand.

But it's more interesting to be a generalist. Many watched the comedy "My Big Greek Wedding" and probably remember the footage with the main character in a travel agency. In this episode, she, fluttering around the office and helping clients decide on the route, thanks to her smile and energy, makes the man of her dreams fall in love with her. This is what it means to do what you love! However, she remains an expert in her field.

As a tourism manager, you will be involved in a wide variety of activities, here is just a short list of them:

1. Advising clients on travel routes, hotels, excursion programs. Sometimes you will even have to give advice on which medicines are best to take with you.
2. Booking rooms in hotels.
3. Ticket order. Selection of flights in such a way that the client does not have to wait a long time for a transfer.
4. Registration of insurance and visas.
5. Interaction with the host travel agency and specialists of related specialties.
6. Conclusion of contracts with foreign travel agencies.
7. Resolution of non-standard or conflict situations.

A competent specialist in the field of tourism does not sit idle, his diary is filled with meetings and projects. It is important to know how to find an approach to different people, to be able to manage conflict situations, to be fluent in all the information on the hotel business. There are no trifles in this area. In order for the client to see you as an expert, you must immediately answer any of his questions, without looking at the Internet or any catalogs. The cost of tickets of different air carriers, the reliability of the insurance company, even the weather forecast at the resort, the description of tours, the rating of hotels and the related differences in service are the minimum list of knowledge that a manager must master perfectly.

How to become a tourism manager

You can get basic knowledge at special courses that train specialists in the field of tourism. As a rule, these are courses lasting from several weeks to two or three months. But this requires excellent knowledge of foreign languages, geography, history, marketing, hotel business, specifics of sales. Such baggage of knowledge is provided only in higher educational institutions.

In addition to standard education, it is necessary to develop such qualities as communication skills, diplomacy, organization, responsibility. Definitely useful and knowledge of rhetoric.

A tourism specialist is a very multifaceted profession, because you are responsible for whether the client liked his tour, whether he was provided with a hotel room corresponding to the order, whether the insurance company helped to solve the problems. The reputation of the company depends on the quality of your work, whether this client will return to you again for the next trip, whether he will advise you to his friends.

With the development of all the secrets of the profession, the development of the necessary skills and the development of communication networks, you can move up to the position of a travel manager, a VIP client manager or a business travel organization specialist, even a travel agency. These are exactly the same positions in the tourism business that will help you realize your passion for travel. The travel manager's job is to design tailor-made tours that require a thorough knowledge of the best resorts and hotels. This level is achieved only as part of a personal practical study of the service on site, let's call it field tests. Is that exactly what you want?

Disadvantages of the profession

As in any other direction, this work has its drawbacks. Be sure to consider them when choosing to be prepared for the difficulties that you will face.

The fact that the tourism industry requires a high level of responsibility from employees is already clear. Even if you perfectly developed the route, correctly issued tickets, a visa, helped with the choice of a reliable insurance company, do not relax. You must be in touch with the client in case of any force majeure situations, for example, aircraft delays, customs problems, hotel check-in problems. For your client, you are the person who is in charge of everything at any time of the day or night. This is where diplomacy is required, both in negotiations with the client, and with the hotel and air carrier. Be stress resistant and remember that a manager who coped with a difficult situation will be recommended much more actively.

Trips to different countries are short and have a working nature, you will have to negotiate more than relax on the beach. Agree that 10 short business trips with interesting meetings and acquaintances are much more profitable than one 2-week trip with lying on a sun lounger (when the client is tired at work and only wants to sleep). By the way, you can practice such trips on your legal vacation. In total, in your arsenal there will be 10 active tours and one beach tour.

Undoubtedly, you will meet clients who are not satisfied with something. There is no such thing that everyone likes absolutely the same. The description of the tour and the impressions from it do not always coincide. Remember those who were delighted with the trip, wrote only positive reviews, there will definitely be ten times more of them than critics.

Benefits of working in tourism

A small number of disadvantages are more than offset by the advantages that can be obtained by working as a tourism specialist. The main plus, of course, besides the opportunity to travel the world, is meeting interesting people, building your own network of acquaintances in all countries, live communication with people of different cultures.

If you work in a small company or have already opened your own business, you can talk about a free work schedule. After all, it is easy to advise clients at home: there would be already configured contact systems, travel agencies, air carriers, hotel directors associated with you.

You can show your creativity and independence. The one who offers non-standard solutions earns more. Develop and offer your clients gastronomic tours or organize a bachelorette party trip for young business ladies.

Go ahead. And remember that the most important thing is to love what you do. Then work will give you great pleasure and every morning will give you energy, positive and joy.

Tourism is currently far from the last branch of the market. More and more universities offer the specialty "Tourism" in their list for study. There are specialized universities based only on this movement. But few imagine, entering this specialty, what awaits them in the future, what they will have to face, what will be expected of them at the workplace.

What is tourism?

The specialty "Tourism" at the moment is a very common direction of study. This program prepares a wide range of specialists who will work in this industry. Graduates will be able to occupy the positions of both low-ranking employees and managers of entire companies.

Traveling around the world is an interesting and quite affordable activity for many people. Yes, it may not be as often as we would like, but at least once a year any family tries to go somewhere outside the usual environment. Travel agencies and tour operators help with this. They calculate directions, their cost, find hotels and other places of residence, orient on excursions and the political situation. In general, the list of actions of the specialty "Tourism" suggests a voluminous one. How and where to get this profession?

Specialty "Tourism": universities

Higher education institutions do not lag behind the demand for such specialists. In Rostov-on-Don alone, this specialization is offered by as many as three universities. One of them is the largest, most famous and prestigious university - the Southern Federal University. In addition to neg, there is also a university at the DSTU, specializing specifically in the tourism business. And in Moscow there are as many as 44 programs at various universities. Thus, applicants have plenty to choose from. And such a huge choice speaks of the demand for the specialty, its progressive development and prevalence both in the country and abroad.

Positions in the field of tourism

You received the specialty "Tourism", who should work with such an entry in the diploma? The question is very relevant. In most cases, graduates are employed by tour operators and agencies. At first, both the salary and the career will be at the very first step. But that's the way it is with every job. It takes a lot of hard work to get ahead. The first position can be an agent's assistant, a tour sales manager, and even a secretary. In the future, logistics will be connected, the ability to conclude contracts with foreign organizations and clients in their own country.

Travel agents often fly on business trips to evaluate the services of their partners. Agents must know what they offer to their customer, be able to calculate the most profitable ticket, know which countries it is better to refuse flights to for various reasons. They need to be fluent in foreign languages. And most importantly - the agent must be a good salesperson. Very often the salary in this profession depends on the number of buyers. That is, a tourism manager is the same sales manager, only with a bunch of additional functions.

What you need to know about tourism

The specialty "Tourism" involves various levels of work in the future. And in order to take a decent level, you need to have certain qualities: stress resistance (since you have to work with people and a lot), the ability to offer your product and negotiate, moreover, in different languages, the ability to work a lot and wear and tear. Without it, you won't be able to get your dream job. The tourism sector is in demand, but there are also quite a lot of specialists. Job competition is quite high. There is often staff turnover. You also need to be prepared for this scenario. Yes, and to earn an acceptable amount, you have to sell a lot. Salary as such may not exist at all. Very often, people in this profession do not work in their specialty.

It takes your breath away when you read in the newspapers and watch ads for travel agencies on television. If you want - go on vacation to the tropics, if you want - on an Antarctic expedition. You are offered to travel on camels, take part in a snowmobile safari ... A dream against the backdrop of daily realities! And who is behind all this? Tourism manager!

This profession has always attracted young people. Let's talk about the fact that the profession of a tourism manager, although associated with the exotic and trips to distant countries, has its negative sides. Let's objectively evaluate all the pros and cons so that you can decide on your dream.

Until recently, the field of tourism practically did not require special education. Well, in the best case, the candidate for the position of manager had a certificate of completion of short-term courses behind him. Such courses of additional education exist in our time, they are designed for several weeks of study. A quick and inexpensive opportunity to get a cherished profession. However, do not rush to rejoice: the courses will not give you knowledge of a foreign language, which means that interesting foreign trips will not shine for you. Yes, and in employment, preference is now given to those applicants who are fluent in international and generally accepted English.

So you should focus on higher education, which will give competence, theoretical and practical knowledge of the tourism industry. The mere fact that students have practice abroad is already a big plus for a future manager. And for career growth, a specialist diploma means a lot.
Are you eager to find out where exactly they teach this interesting and prestigious business? Write it down. You can do:

• at Moscow State University;
• to the Russian International Academy of Tourism;
• to the Russian New University;
• at the Russian State University for the Humanities.

These are the largest higher institutions where there is a specialty "Tourism".

What is good and difficult this profession?

As we have already noted, the profession of a tourism manager has its advantages and disadvantages.

1. You will get the opportunity to visit many countries, but it is unlikely that you will be able to fully explore at least one of them. After all, your trips will be connected not with rest, but with serving tourists.
2. If you want to be a highly paid specialist, the position of manager will give it, but over time. See for yourself how the alignment turns out: in Moscow, the salary of a manager ranges from 33,000 to 50,000 rubles, in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg - from 27,000 to 50,000, in Novosibirsk - from 22,000 to 40,000. And in Nizhny Novgorod this amplitude salaries - from 15 to 50 thousand rubles. It must be borne in mind that, firstly, the earnings of managers are seasonal. Secondly, it depends on what level of company you have to work for.
3. There is always a great responsibility on the shoulders of a tourism manager. Suppose you are in Moscow, you were given these tickets http://aviroom.ru/airtickets_v_avstraliyu/ and sent on a business trip to distant lands - for example, to Australia. In this situation, you must know everything about tourists, control every day of their vacation until the flight home. You are obliged to be their constant companion on excursions, to act as a "know-it-all" in any situation. And just imagine: will you want to indulge in some pleasures after a day of such nervous and physical exertion? Hardly. After all, you just need to relax and gain strength for the next day's events. The only consolation is that even in the days of the Russian winter you will be in a heavenly climate.

What is required of a tourism manager?

If you still find the job of a tourism manager to be romantic, albeit challenging, you should know what personal qualities are required for this job.

• As we have already found out, every day of the work of a tourism manager is filled mainly with communication with people. Therefore, he must necessarily have communication skills and the ability to negotiate, be attentive to each tourist, take into account his preferences and wishes.
• In unexpected situations, he must quickly make the right decision and do it calmly and thoroughly. For example, sometimes on trips it is the manager who has to make a choice between several hotels, evaluate the conditions that they offer. And this is infrastructure, excursions, local attractions. At the same time, analyze the situation in such a way that it is possible to clearly and clearly state the information to tourists.

All this will seem very problematic for people who are unsure of their decision to choose this particular profession. But if all these “minuses”, on the contrary, provoked you and strengthened your idea of ​​\u200b\u200ban interesting and modern business, then you must fulfill your dream.

Tourism manager profession and career

Yes, this is a very real prospect. Although at the start of your working biography, you will come across the fact that it is not so easy to get a job in a well-known company. And career growth will not be fast. Most likely, they will initially identify you as an employee of the reservation department, where you will place orders and tickets. And although this practice will come in handy, nevertheless, the position, for example, of the head of a department, will not shine for you very soon. But in this situation, you will also see positive aspects: your salary is stable, and someday you will still do what you dreamed of: you will form tours, develop a company strategy, and drive, drive, drive ...

If you start working in a little-known company, get ready for the fact that they will offer a completely unprestigious position of an assistant manager or even a courier. Cheer up: in tourism, those workers who have passed all the official steps are considered true professionals. But you will understand from the inside all the complexities of the tourism market. And if you are smart, you will become a full-fledged manager in a year. And from the very beginning to show the ability to work with people, successfully implement tours, safely overcome stressful situations - that means passing the most important exam - demonstrating your professional suitability. And after that, you can count on a further increase. The next step is the head of the department, who must supervise the activities of the department, help newcomers, and resolve the most acute conflicts with tour operators and clients. At the same time, he can sell tours - if he has "his" clients who rely on his help.