Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos & Interviews
Videos on the Web
- Tourism Officer- from: Youtube Search
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Working Life
As a Tourism Officer, you support the implementation of innovative tourism initiatives and marketing is a key feature as you try to promote tourism in a region or country.
Although the titles are similar, it’s important to note that Tourism Officer is a very different role to Tourism Information Officer. While information officers work in tourist information centres and provide information about local attraction to individual tourists, the Tourism Officer has a strategic role and rarely works directly with individual tourists.
You work in partnership with key agencies and communities and your work involves lots of planning and preparation. The work is likely to be a combination of desk work and work ‘on the road’, visiting tourism businesses and communities in your designated area.
Typical duties include:
- market research
- producing promotional material and displays
- writing reports, business plans and press releases
- making presentations
- liaising with local businesses and the media
- sourcing funding and managing budgets
Tourism Officers can work for local and regional authorities, Fáilte Ireland, or the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. But even some large and privately owned Tourist attractions may employ a Tourism Officer, or Tourism Development Manager, to develop tourism strategies and marketing campaigns.
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
- Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
- Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
- Compute cost of travel and accommodations, using calculator, computer, carrier tariff books, and hotel rate books, or quote package tour's costs.
- Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.
- Book transportation and hotel reservations, using computer or telephone.
- Print or request transportation carrier tickets, using computer printer system or system link to travel carrier.
- Provide customer with brochures and publications containing travel information, such as local customs, points of interest, or foreign country regulations.
Qualities - Tourism Officer
As a Tourism officer, you need excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills as your job involves writing reports, producing promotional material and networking with other agencies, community groups and businesses in the tourism industry.
Creativity and innovative strategic thinking along with good PR and marketing skills are needed. Project management ability and a good understanding of visitor needs and of the tourism industry are also important.
Interests - Tourism Officer
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Entry / Progression - Tourism Officer
Qualifications required for this role vary, most employers recruiting a Tourism Officer will look for a third level qualification in a relevant area. Relevant subjects include: hospitality, business and management studies, marketing and public relations. Experience of working in hospitality, but also personal experience of traveling may be beneficial.
In public services and agencies, there are often opportunities to progress your career to more senior positions, such as management and director roles.
Depending on your background and expertise, you may also develop your career in a specific field, such as marketing or hospitality management. Build you skills, knowledge, experience, and qualifications of the Tourism & Hospitality Industry Tourism Careers.
Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research.
Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.
Example search terms include: travel, tourism, hospitality.
Search for FET Courses
PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.
Example search terms include: travel, tourism, hospitality.
Search for PLC Courses
Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate)
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.
Example search terms include: culture, tourism, marketing, hospitality, heritage, business, management.
Search for CAO Courses
Pay & Salary - Tourism Officer
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €27k - €46k
Salaries vary dependiong on empoyer, location, role, and duties.
Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed/ LGMA/ Forsa/ Gov.ie
Last Updated: March, 2024
Labour Market Updates - Tourism Officer
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Sports and leisure assistants; travel agents; air and rail travel assistants; holiday representatives, tour guides; Leisure and theme park attendants; Travel agency managers; proprietors Leisure and travel service occupations n.e.c.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Although employment levels grew between 2021 and 2022 for this occupation, numbers employed remained below pre-COVID-19 levels. The numbers employed across the various roles in this occupation are too small in the Labour Force Survey for further analysis but the CSO Census data shows that approximately half of those in this occupation worked as air travel assistants or travel agents, with 2022 levels for these roles well below their 2016 levels.
Approximately a third of persons employed in this occupation work part-time, higher than the national average. The extent to which employment in these occupations will recover to their prepandemic levels is uncertain as affordability and attractiveness for air travel services in particular remains vulnerable to increased energy costs, and consumer demand and preferences given the green agenda and cost of living pressures.
Useful Contacts - Tourism Officer
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Fáilte Ireland
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National Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions (AVEA)
- AVEA C/o Ground Floor, Unit 5, Sandyford Office Park, Sandyford Dublin 18
- +353 (0)1 293 6807
- [email protected]
- Click Here
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Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
