- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 1 May 2008 01.09 BST
Photograph: AP
What will I learn?
Tourism and leisure management are two of the world's most important industries, generating millions of pounds each year, and requiring qualified professionals to work within it.
Tourism degrees will look at how people decide where to travel to, how they make their journey, what they do when they get there and where they like to stay. More than that, though, courses will look at the environmental and social impact of tourism on heritage sites, a country's economy and on transport systems. Courses will also touch on the effect that war or natural calamities have on a country's tourist industry.
Management and marketing will also be covered to some degree, depending on the course, and you will probably be expected to undertake some form of work placement in the field - this could be anything up to a year (note: lying on the beach testing the local bar's cocktail selection may not be the best way to impress your tutors).
Leisure management will look specifically at areas including human resource management, accountancy and marketing. Hotel management courses will look at the practical side of running a hotel or guest house. Courses will usually have a compulsory year in industry, which will give aspiring managers a taste of all areas of the business, from working on the reception desk, to cleaning rooms, to promoting evening entertainment in the bar.
What skills will I get?
If you've studied a specific management degree, you should have the vocational skills to get on and do the job as soon as you graduate - you'll have a good idea how a hotel should be run, know how to deal with a feisty receptionist and should know how to find out which company the hotel orders its drinks from.
You should be able to plan and conduct practical activities - perhaps beach activities for children, or special events at a theme park. You should also have a good grasp of managing risk and the safety aspects of your work.
Importantly, you should have developed good communication skills. You will be working in an industry where the customer is always right, so knowing how to politely deal with a tricky customer is a key part of the job.
You should be able to work independently, but also understand the importance of working in a team, and have impeccable judgment skills.
What job can I get?
You could find yourself leading a tour group around the Namibian desert, managing customer complaints for an airline company or taking responsibility for the day-to-day running of a theme park. The choice of jobs is vast.
Graduates can be found in tourism consultancy, working as a tourism officer at a visitor attraction, in a travel agency, or working as a holiday representative in an overseas resort.
What will look good on the CV?
· A knowledge of corporate social responsibility issues
· An understanding of the operation and management of a range of physical, financial, human and technical resources
· An insight into the structure of the hospitality industry.
· For the full range of skills you can develop through a degree in tourism and leisure management, click here (pdf).
