News & Media

The body set up to promote travel as a "career of choice" has urged the industry not to become complacent over the skills shortage as it emerged that pay remains the biggest barrier to attracting staff.

With many companies forced to shed staff or cut hours and salaries, the longer-term challenge of attracting staff is low down the agenda for the industry, the Travel Industry Careers Association (TICA) has admitted.

But TICA vice chairman Sandra Chiles warned firms that the skills shortage is as acute as ever.

The Travel Industry Careers Association in conjunction with TAFE NSW Institute recently conducted  research on the ‘Perception of Travel as a Career Choice’.

The Objective of the Research Project: To discover the perception working age people in Australia have towards a career in the Travel and Tourism Industry.

As part of the Travel Industry Careers Associations quest to attract and retain people to a career in the travel industry. TICA announces that it will offer a new membership category for students studying Travel & Tourism.

This initiative will be rolled out across TAFE institutes within the NSW region and later will be available to all colleges and universities offering courses in Travel & Tourism.

The Travel Industry Careers Association (TICA) officially launched their new website (www.travelindustrycareers.org) on Wednesday, which provides an information resource to people interested in joining the travel industry.

The new website which features the enticing slogan, “If you love travel, then why not make a career out of it”, identifies the many diverse opportunities that exist in the travel sector.

The worldwide economic slowdown has taken its toll across the business divide and travel has not been spared. As David Carroll writes, a career in the industry is still well and truly viable, but there are challenges ahead to ensure young recruits are enticed into the fold.

Companies struggling to attract staff should target older workers and tap into the "life skills" they bring to the job, a recruitment seminar has been told.

Speaking at the Travel Industry Careers Association event in Sydney last night, an expert with SageCo, a
company specialising in the recruitment of mature workers, also rubbished the belief that only the young can cope in the technological age.

Travelport GDS has become the latest member to join the Travel Industry Careers Association.

"Travelport GDS is proud to join TICA in their efforts in promoting the travel and tourism sector as an industry
career of choice," Travelport GDS's Lyn Rook said.

TICA will hold an industry symposium titled ‘Futureproof your Workforce' in Sydney next Tuesday, June 10 at Travelscene American Express - Level 3, 77 Berry Street, North Sydney.

The Travel Industry Careers Associations promoted careers in travel at the National Careers and Employment Expo in Sydney last weekend.

Pictured at the TICA stand, from left: Pam Segal, AFTA Travel
College; Sandra Chiles, inPlace Recruitment; and Karena Elliott, DriveAway Holidays.

"The number one critical factor affecting the industry is the availability of skilled labour", said House of Travel's executive gm - retail Mandy Scotney at a seminar held by the Travel Industry Careers Association
(TICA) yesterday.

The main focus of the event was to make organisations in the industry aware of the 150 interns that will be available for employment from July this year, and educate them about the benefits of hiring an intern within
their businesses.

It’s time to have another look at using interns and the Travel Industry Careers Association (TICA) is bringing together some of the experts in the field to help you understand just how much has changed.