How to Work in the Travel Industry

Bitten by the travel bug and want to make travel your lifestyle? Or are you fresh out of college, ready to explore the world one inch at a time? Whether your dream is to travel for a living or simply build a new life abroad, you can work at making the dream come true.  I’ve received many questions from readers and friends about how I made travel my lifestyle. Since going into travel writing, I’ve never been happier. If you’re as crazy about travel as I am, then you might like to check out these possible jobs that can allow you to wander the world.

Travel Writer/Photographer

Let’s face it, it’s everyone’s dream job to be a travel writer or photographer. It’s not easy to get but it’s also not impossible. To begin with, you can first set up your own blog to showcase your work. It’s best to take a writing/photography course to help you lay down the groundwork and have basic knowledge in the field. From there, you can research on possible outlets and perhaps start working for free. It doesn’t happen overnight but when once you get your first paid gig, it’s much easier to go from there. I’d highly recommend checking outMatador U and VIVA Travel Writing Bootcamp (which I attended and it landed me a gig as a guidebook author).

Flickr photo by Ben Stephenson

Travel PR

If your vocation is public relations, then veering into travel PR will be an easy option to unleash the wanderlust in you. PR professionals working with tourism boards, hotel chains or cruise companies tend to travel frequently on press trips (i.e. fully sponsored trips). Qualifications to work in travel PR vary, but generally you will need an education in either public relations, communications or business management. There are numerous PR agencies out there that work with clients in the travel industry, make your pitch and see where life takes you.

Hospitality Jobs

Working in hotels or resorts would be an excellent way to relocate abroad. Start by looking into large-scale resorts and five-star hotels in popular tourist destinations such as the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula, Spain and Thailand. These jobs usually don’t require much qualifications, although you can gain an edge over others by attending hospitality management schools.  Some all-inclusive resorts also tend to hire animators or entertainment staff who are basically involved in daily entertainment programs in the hotel. These jobs allow you to live abroad, explore and experience a totally different culture and environment.

Flight Attendant

Another practical option to lead a jetsetting lifestyle, working as a flight attendant will definitely give you the chance to see more of the world and rub shoulders with seasoned travelers. Most airlines usually require just a high school diploma and some experience in customer service. Requirements tend to vary from one airline to another, although most of them focus on your general physique (weight and height), etiquette and the way you present yourself. Check out the airline websites to apply online.

Cruise Ship Jobs

For the young graduates or gap year students, cruise ship jobs might just be right up your alley. They give you the chance to cruise from one port to another, have some leisure time to explore when off work and learn a thing or two about tourism. But as you can imagine, the cruise industry is competitive and to stand a chance to work on a cruise, you’ll need to display plenty of potential. One way to give yourself an edge over others is to have some experience in customer service, retail or the F&B industry. Speaking more than one language would also put you at an advantage. Some good places to look for cruise ship jobs would be theclassifieds and cruise ship websites.

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