Gearing Up For The Future Of Tourism And Hospitality

Paul Strickland, Programme Director of the Bachelor of Business (Tourism & Hospitality) at La Trobe University, Australia, gives an industry overview of the sector and what students who pursue the programme in Singapore can look forward to as they step into the workforce.

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10 Jan 2019

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5 mins

Paul Strickland, Programme Director of the Bachelor of Business (Tourism & Hospitality) programme at La Trobe University, Australia, gives an industry overview of the sector and what students in Singapore can look forward to as they step into the workforce.

A Bustling Industry
Singapore is at the forefront of the hospitality and tourism sectors due to its strategic location, large shipping and airport hubs. It is anticipated that these sectors will continue to grow as more affordable travel becomes available. This creates more employment opportunities for graduating students at entry and management level.

Students studying the Bachelor of Business (Tourism and Hospitality) Top-Up programmes at SIM will refine their entry level and management skills in both theory and vocational training to deliver a well-rounded graduate who is industry ready.

Employment Opportunities
There are four main areas where a student may seek employment in

Opportunities 1:
Businesses, Governments, Organisations that support tourism and hospitality

These may include Singapore Tourism Board, Changi Airport, shuttle bus services or taxis to move tourists around.

Opportunities 2:
Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Cruise Ships

This hospitality sector includes accommodation and Singapore has many standards and types of accommodation options to suit any budget.

Opportunities 3:
Restaurants, cafés, bars, hotels, events

Visitors have to eat and drink and Singapore offers many types of cuisine at different price points. Locals also have a desire to eat out and socialise. Therefore, this is a growth sector.

Opportunities 4:
Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and Attractions.

There are many examples of DMO’s and attractions such as the Singapore Flyer, Sentosa Island and the Singapore Zoo that attract visitors to different places. Singapore is very good in creating a new visitor offering every few years.

Thinking Global
It is extremely important for all tourism and hospitality graduates to think globally for a variety of reasons. If you intend to work in Singapore, you will be welcoming tourists from all over the world. Therefore, you need to have a global appreciation of different cultures, tastes and experiences. Singapore also contains many large international chain hotels which often means managerial opportunities in different countries. The tourism industry is very expansive. However, travel times are being reduced. Expect a larger universal audience and workforce for you to associate with.

Ready For The Future Workplace
La Trobe University is a high-ranking university and we’ve created a tourism and hospitality programme that is designed for graduate employment. This means that students will learn the entry-level skills to enter the workforce and be able to move up the managerial chain with the theory and experience that they will gain at La Trobe. The course has embedded the fundamentals of business plus tourism and hospitality speciality subjects that prepare students for all aspects of the sectors. Students can then choose which direction they would like to pursue as there are no limits.

Service From The Heart
Remember, people will always need to eat and sleep. People will always travel. Even though the industry may change, employment is still required and nothing can replace the service aspect that visitors expect. The sector is always evolving and re-energising itself, make sure you embrace change to your own advantage in an ethical, moral and sustainable way.

What do pineapples and ghosts have to do with tourism and hospitality? Paul shares some interesting facts here…

Posted online, 18 April 2018