subject: Tour Operator Jobs Specialty Sectors [print this page] As the travel industry is one of the worlds largest employers, there are plenty of tour operator jobs out there for those wanting to launch their career. However, one niche of tour operator jobs can require a very specific set of skills, and those skills can be as diverse as the travel industry itself.
Specialty Tour Operators
Were talking about the subcategory of the specialty tour operator. Today, specialist tour operators serve groups interested in rock climbing, kayaking, cycling, walking, rafting, spelunking, skiing, and almost any other type of sport or hobby you can imagine. Wilderness tours, survival tours, and almost any interest imaginable have become a specialty for a tour operator and if you want a trade that combines a job with your passion, specialty tour operator jobs may just be for you.
The Skills You Need
To be successful, its vital to have not only all the general skills such as organisation, salesmanship, and interpersonal skills, but its also important to have extensive knowledge of your specialty area. If your specialty tour is activity-based, such as rock climbing, kayaking, or even Thai boxing, you need to be an expert in those skills and the hobby generally. If your tour is in a foreign country, itll be beneficial to your organisational efforts to know a little of the language, if not have complete fluency.
Why Specialty Tours?
Travellers themselves are attracted to specialised tour operators, with the common view held that specialty tours offer a more personal service, and a real passion for the destination or activity. For those wishing to work in these areas, if the tour operator jobs are activity-based, the opportunity to meet and form friendships with like-minded people can be a great draw, making personality a real plus to any specialist tour operator!
What to Expect
Some tour operators are classified as specialists not for the activities or locations that they base tours around, but for the demographic of the clients who travel with them. Tour operator jobs can be with companies who specialise in senior tours, physically-limited tours, or even school tours, where a tour operator will be responsible for up to thirty children at a time. These different types of tours dont require many different skills other than the ones necessary for group bookings and travel arrangements, though they do pose some interesting questions. Will the duration of visits have to be shorter on a school tour, to accommodate shorter attention spans and restless natures? Will longer trekking tours be too demanding for older customers? These are just a few considerations faced in specialist tour operator jobs.
Specialise!
If you have a specialty interest and the drive to become successful in the competitive travel industry, then its worth considering if your skills can actually help in your search for tour operator jobs. Its certainly one way of making a hobby work on your CV. Whether you find an internship, an apprenticeship, or even an entry-level position in the travel industry, becoming a specialist tour operator can be the beginning of a truly rewarding career.
by: Barbara Kolosinska
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