Hospitality and tourism: the neglected gold mine of vocational training

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, travel and tourism accounts for 8% of the world's jobs and has the highest potential for growth of any industry.  International travel alone accounts for more than 840 million tourists annually.  The economic, social and environmental impact of tourism is significant and vital to creating sustainable jobs and quality of life.

The Uganda Vision 2040 identifies tourism as one of the opportunities that should be harnessed to propel Uganda to a middle income status.

According to the Uganda National Tourism Sector Development Plan 2015/16 - 2019/20, Uganda's inbound visitor numbers have almost constantly grown over the past 20years, and by 2013 they had reached 1.206 million representing 7.9% of the GDP.

Hospitality and tourism represents a broad range of career opportunities in industries that include:

•     hotels and resorts
•     restaurants and commercial food service
•     meeting and event planning
•     tourism destinations and attractions
•     leisure, recreation and sports management
•     airlines, cruises and other transportation
•     environmentally sustainable and cultural tourism development
•     spa and wellness management

As a vast, dynamic and growing industry, hospitality and tourism provides tremendous opportunity for ambitious students who enjoy working with people.  The hospitality and tourism industry operates in a highly competitive environment.  It is important that those seeking careers as successful professionals develop a strong business foundation and customer service skills.  Graduates of hospitality and tourism management programs are well rounded with a combination of business and life skills that are in high demand with employers.

While hospitality and tourism has traditionally been an industry that emphasized hands-on experience, the competitive nature of the business now requires a combination of experience and higher education to build a successful management career.  To meet the needs of the industry, hospitality and tourism programs offered by tertiary institutions and universities have grown rapidly in Uganda.  Today programs are offered by a variety of vocational schools, community institutes and both public and private universities.  Options range from short-term skills-oriented certificates to post-graduate degree programs.

Tourists getting off the ferry at Queen Elizabeth National Park

With so many choices available, how do you choose the right school and program for you?  Hospitality and tourism management programs offered in Uganda vary.  If you seek a bachelor's degree or Diploma or certificate, a tertiary institute or university will provide a well-rounded education with a specific industry focus designed to prepare students for management-level careers.  Tertiary Institutes with a Vocational approach generally offer a more hands-on training to prepare students for specific entry-level positions.

What should you look for in choosing a hospitality and tourism management program that best suits your career goals?  Some important questions to ask include:

Does the school's curriculum meet your career objectives?  Hospitality and tourism is a vast industry with many different career paths.

Is the school located in a tourism destination with a strong representation of major hotels?  What hotels, resorts and tourist attractions does the program draw from?

Do leading industry employers recruit the school's graduates?

What are the academic credentials and industry experience of the trainers?

Is the Institute and programs offered accredited by National Council for Higher Education?

What opportunities does the institution provide for language study?  Hospitality and tourism is a worldwide industry.  An appreciation and understanding of other cultures and languages is essential to a successful career.

The hospitality and tourism industry offers abundant opportunity for students seeking careers in a dynamic, international industry.