Written by Caroline A. Cooper
Submitted by Manny Tavares
Director of Asian Relations
Johnson and Wales University

The term Hospitality is often defined as "the care and feeding of people away from home". The word hospitable simply means being cordial and generous to guests. Above all, hospitality and tourism are "people" industries that employ workers who have a desire to interact with and serve other people.

In his new book, MegaTrends and Global Paradox, futurist John Naisbitt cites tourism as one of three paradigm industries that will drive the new service-led global economy. In terms of revenue generated, it is estimated that the global gross output of the tourism industry will be the equivalent of 3.38 trillion US dollar in 1995. This figure is expected to double to more than $7.17 trillion by the year 2005 -- $1.56 trillion generated in the United States and 2.04 trillion created by the European Union.

In respect to the job market, it is estimated that in 1995 tourism provided 212 million jobs worldwide and is expected to grow to 337 million by the year 2005. This will account for approximately one in every nine jobs.
As a result of this projected growth, career opportunities are expected to increase in lodging, restaurants, travel agencies and related travel service companies such as airlines, cruise lines, motor coach and passenger train companies and tour companies. It would also affect destination marketing organizations such as tourism offices and convention and visitor's bureaus, event management, sports arena and stadium management, and entertainment centers such as theme parks and performing arts centers. Almost across the board, opportunities exist for careers in management, computer technology, sales and marketing, conference management, food service and guest services.

To assure the tourism industry's continued growth and success, it is imperative that this workforce be properly trained and educated. Historically, training for many of these jobs and career tracks has been accomplished through apprenticeships. In many nations, this continues to be the common entry path to careers in tourism. However, as careers in tourism have become more sophisticated and more technically demanding, formal post-secondary education has become more than just desirable -- in most cases, it's necessary.

Technical skills have long been a prerequisite for workers training for careers in tourism. Indeed, tourism was the industry that first used global computerized distribution systems and which continues to manufacture and operate some of the world's most sophisticated transportation systems. Enormous high-tech advances made within the last 17 years demand that today's workforce have the ability and motivation to keep up with the changes. Add to that the requirement that workers be highly service or "people-oriented", and the result is a need for intensive education and training in these two very different but equally important areas. So what are the specifics of tourism education? Degree programs should offer specific courses that allow students to gain knowledge and training in specific fields such as convention and group sales, hotel and restaurant management, commercial recreation, and computerized information systems for hotel, travel agencies and restaurants.

University programs must integrate classroom learning with an experiential education component that allows students to manifest their knowledge in real life situations through internships, externships and cooperative work. Further, the curriculum should also incorporate course work in accounting, finance, oral and written communication skills, marketing and law -- all of which are geared to specific career fields.

In discussing career opportunities in tourism and hospitality, it is important to note emerging trends. One such trend is growth in the field of leisure and recreation, where job opportunities can range from management of organized activities such as inter-city soccer events, to global competitions such as World Cub Soccer and the Olympic Games. The technology that allows spectators around the world to watch these sporting events on a daily basis has created an increasing demand for more events. One such new event was the ESPN Extreme Games, which took place in venues throughout the State of Rhode Island, USA., in the summer of 1996. The economic impact on the smallest state in the United States was an impressive $14.5 million over a 7-day period.

Schools offering hospitality and tourism degrees are listed in the Guide to Programs in Hospitality published by the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (CHRIE). CHRIE is an international organization directed at improving education and training in the fields of tourism and hospitality. Its accreditation arms, Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA) and the Commission on Accreditation of Hospitality Management Programs (CAHM) have reviewed and approved specific programs that meet the needs of these industries.