Tourism Manager

Tourism managers promote tourism in their region through advertising campaigns and strategies, and provide assistance to tourists. They work with tourists of different cultures and traditions from all over the world and should therefore keep these different needs and requirements in mind.

Tourism is currently the fastest growing industry in South Africa and tourism managers have a key role to play in sustaining and increasing this growth through effective marketing of the South African products and services within their region. Part of tourism managers’ tasks is to identify different target markets and to design appropriate packages to meet their needs. It is important that products attract people and persuade them to come back.

Tourism managers manage tourism information centres, including staff supervision and development, business management and office systems management. They need to ensure that quality services are in place by responding to day-to-day tourism enquiries. They regularly check and report to management on the status of the marketing budget for tourism. They make presentations on tourism awareness or of new initiatives, to industry, community or interest groups. They liaise and build close relationships with the media to promote tourism issues, and encourage community involvement and awareness.

Personal Requirements

able to work with all kinds of people
good communication skills
excellent knowledge of South Africa’s places of interest, geography, its unique history, politics and flora and fauna
organisational skills
able to control groups of people and deal with unexpected situations

How to Enter

Schooling & School Subjects

National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course

Each institution has its own entry requirements.

What to Study

Degree: Tourism Management - Monash, UZ

Diploma: N.Dip: Tourism Management or Travel & Tourism - NMMU, UNISA, DUT, CPUT, CUT, UJ, TUT, VUT.

Certificate: Tourism - TVET colleges such as Boland, Ekurhuleni West, Port Elizabeth, Vuselela, Tshwane S, Northlink, South and Northern Cape, SW Gauteng and Umgungundlovu TVET Colleges.

Employment

game farms
guest houses
holiday resorts
hotel groups
game lodges
entertainment places
SA Tourism Board

Further Information

Association of SA Travel Agents (ASATA)
Suite 6, Lower Ground Floor, Block A,
Hurlingham Office Park
59 Woodlands Avenue (just off Republic Rd)
Hurlingham Extension 5
Johannesburg
Tel: (011) 327-7803
https://www.asata.co.za/

Tourism Business Council (TBCSA)
P O Box 11655
Centurion, 0046
Tel: (012) 654-7525
www.tbcsa.org.za

South African Tourism Board (SATOUR)
Private Bag X10012
Sandton, 2146
Tel: (011) 895-3000
https://www.southafrica.net/za/en/

Getting Started

try to obtain vacation or part-time work in a tourist resort or travel agency
arrange to speak to tourism managers about this type of career and ask permission to observe them at work

Programmes by Study Institutions