STUDENT VOICE Student Voice SPRING SUMMER 2017 | Page 48
Hope Scott on
TRAVEL and TOURISM
NC Travel and Tourism student
Hope Scott has been taking part in
a work experience placement in the
College’s marketing department
since December 2016.
Here she speaks about her
experience of the tourism industry
and her time at the College so far.
I have been on this course for
just under a year now, but have
worked in the tourism industry for
close to six years.
As a passionate traveller, with an
endless enthusiasm for discovering
new places and delivering a great
customer service, I realised the
tourism sector is the area in which I
want to build an exciting career.
For me, it all started when I was
little, and I wanted to work as a
steward for an international airline
(British Airways to be precise!) and
travel all over the world. Now I am
looking into management options
in the sector.
The fact that it is a diverse sector
with a lot of opportunities makes
the industry so appealing. Travel
and tourism requires you to work in
a multi-cultural environment where
you get to experience people from
all over the world, which for me is
exciting!
Travel and tourism isn’t limited
to tourist attractions - it involves
hospitality, politics, education,
leisure, hotels, historic sites and so
on. It is one of Scotland’s largest
industries. It encompasses the
world and represents a huge range
of cultures and nationalities.
In the course we create travel
itineraries where we match up
products to create a tailored
48
Hope Scott (centre) with Principal and Chief Executive,
Heather Dunk and Board of Management Chair,
Willie Mackie
package for specific clients, such
as family, individuals, businesses,
or leisure purposes. We also
map locations in countries by
researching their cities and
landmarks, to identify places
we can suggest in the package.
We learn about the job roles in
the sector such as travel agents,
overseas representatives, and tour/
attraction guides in this topic.
The course covers other topics
such as marketing, selling,
customer service, tour planning,
tour guiding and Scottish tourism.
My favourite part of the course
so far has been mapping/locating
countries and their landmarks,
matching up products to create
a tailored itinerary and going
on study visits. We will soon be
visiting the Isle of Arran.
I have been on work experience
with the College's marketing
department since December 2016.
It has been a great and rewarding
experience working in marketing
as this subject has been a bit of a
challenge for me in the course.
The placement has really benefited
me, not only for my CV, but I have
gained experience and broadened
my knowledge and understanding
about marketing.
I see a degree in tourism as my
next step in making my goal of
a career in travel, tourism, and
hospitality management become a
reality.
“
it's a diverse sector
with lots of opportunities
That's why it's so
appealing.
”
THE STUDENT VOICE SPRING/SUMMER 2017