A Career in Tourism Starts at DKIT
Tourism – A Growth Industry
As one of the fastest growing industries in the world, tourism is increasingly recognised as a vital contributor to job and wealth creation, environmental protection, cultural preservation, and poverty alleviation. In Ireland tourism has grown to employ 300,000 people and was worth more than 6 billion to the Irish economy in 2019, making it Irelands largest industry sector. The industry itself encompasses a multitude of sectors including accommodation, tour wholesales, tour operators, transportation, food and beverage, attractions, retail travel agents, information services, and exhibitions, meetings, and events. A diverse industry, providing opportunities for exciting and dynamic careers for informed, agile, and resourceful graduates.
Tourism and Covid-19
Since March 2020, the impact of the Covid-19 crisis has caused an economic downturn felt particularly in the services sectors including in the travel and tourism industry, causing an almost total shutdown of the worldwide tourism industry. Tourism however is no stranger to crises, having time and again demonstrated its ability as an industry sector to recover quickly and return to growth. Data from the UN World Tourism Organisation outlines a five month return to growth following the SARS pandemic in 2003, six months following the September 11th attacks in 2001 and 10 months following the global economic downturn in 2009. Here in Ireland, Tourism was one of the first industries to recover following the economic downturn, growing faster, and providing more employment opportunities than almost every other sector. It is anticipated the same will be the case following the current pandemic, with tourism bouncing back quickly and supporting economic recovery nationally and internationally.
Tourism - A career
Despite the current Covid-19 pandamic and its immediate impact on the industry, tourism is set to grow both globally and nationally in the coming years, presenting the opportunity to create more quality job opportunities in the tourism sector. The challenge for the industry is to have a well- educated dynamic work force made up of individuals who possess the skills and knowledge to support the expected growth and to achieve tourism sector competitiveness and sustainability. The tourism sector needs a work force that meets current and future market demands and, ultimately, enhances competitiveness and sustainability of tourism destinations.
It may not seem like the right time to study for a career in the tourism industry , but in the coming years more than ever there will be a need for graduates who have the knowledge and skills to help the industry recover and grow into the future. Studying for a degree in tourism, hospitality, events, or culinary arts will equip you with the specialist knowledge and skills for a successful career in the tourism sector. Transferrable skills such as communications, customer service, digital skills, cultural competence, management and finance, can be applied to a wide range of roles in hospitality and tourism.
Here in DKIT programmes in the department of hospitality studies draw on the wealth of experience of the lecturing team, helping students to develop their understanding of hospitality management Event Management, Culinary Arts or international tourism management, along with key business and management competencies. These programmes are designed to prepare graduates who are educated to support the growth and sustainability of the industry on a global scale..International Tourism Management DK850
Culinary Arts DK753
Event Management DK752
Hospitality Management DK750
Hear from DKIT students:
Rachel Curran - Event Management
Thomas Dennis - Culinary Arts
Coleen McKenna - Hospitality Management
Niall Fretwell - Event Management
While there are still uncertainties, this is an exciting time to join the tourism industry , a time when the industry is changing.Studying now will give you the chance to track and assess the recovery of the tourism industry and learn first-hand how to respond to issues which can have a huge effect on the industry and understand the immense need to be flexible, responsive and resilient in this industry.
Graduating in three or four years time, you will be entry and industry which has recovered and repositioned itself with more resilience than before. Upon graduating, you will enter a fast- paced and exciting time in an industry of huge importance to the global economy.
Explore courses in the Tourism and Hospitality sector at DKIT here.
