Travel and tourism student numbers in decline
The number of students wishing to join the travel and tourism industry is in decline, according to a study by ITT chair Rhodri Thomas.
The Leeds Metropolitan University professor told delegates at the ITT Conference: “Not only is the number of applicants for travel courses declining but there is a decline in the acceptance rate. So, the number of bright young ambitious people wanting to enter the industry via this route is declining.”
He said the number of students accepting places on courses fell from 5,000 in 2001 to around half that by 2005.
His survey of 903 undergraduate and postgraduate travel and tourism students revealed that only 60% said they intended to get a career in travel and tourism after their course, while 30% were undecided.
A study of attitudes of students on three- or four-year courses found they grew less keen to enter the industry as their course progressed.
“That must say something about the education they are receiving – what goes on in the classroom – but I suspect it also says something about what they are starting to learn about the prospects on offer to them,” said Thomas.
He said the industry needs to ‘professionalise’ itself to attract new entries.
“We need extended engagement with tomorrow´s aspiring career professionals and strengthen our claim to being an important and professionalised sector of the economy,” he said.
“We can learn from the professionalisation process that other occupations have experienced and continue to develop a new approach.”
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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