Students urged to consider careers in growing Irish tourism sector

The tourism sector is expected to support some 250,000 jobs by 2025 as a national drive to encourage students to consider a career in the sector gets under way.

Aimed at second-level students between the ages of 15 and 18, the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) initiative aims to highlight the wide variety of career opportunities and educational courses available across the booming tourism and hospitality sector.

The sector is set to cater for a record 8m overseas visitors next year. It currently contributes over €5bn in revenue to the economy annually, including some €3.5bn in overseas revenue.

Tourism supports an estimated 205,000 jobs — around 11% of the total workforce of the country.

The Government expects this to rise to 250,000 jobs by 2025.

As part of the campaign, the IHF is publishing Get a Life in Tourism — a free print and digital magazine supported by Fáilte Ireland which will be distributed to more than 700 secondary schools.

The magazine contains information on all of the various careers available in the sector.

President of the IHF, Stephen McNally, said it was an “exciting time” in the industry, with a vast array of career opportunities for young people.

“We’re encouraging students to explore the many options available, including hundreds of specialist third-level courses throughout the country for those interested in pursuing recognised qualifications.

"It is a thriving industry offering excellent career prospects, swift promotional opportunities, and a life less ordinary where you get to meet and work with great people,” he said.

Fáilte Ireland’s head of food tourism and skills development, John Mulcahy, said in order to sustain the growth in the sector, young people needed to be informed of the career opportunities that are available.