How to Build a Tourism Career While Still a Student: A Practical Roadmap

Entering the tourism and hospitality industry is exciting—but also highly competitive. Thousands of students graduate every year with similar degrees, so what makes you stand out?

Early experience, clear direction, and smart positioning.
The earlier you start building your career, the more confident, employable, and connected you’ll be by the time you graduate.

Why Start Your Tourism Career as a Student

Tourism is one of the most global, fast-moving sectors. Employers look for people who already understand how the industry works and can adapt quickly.
Starting early helps you:

Build real-world experience before the competition.
Test different areas of tourism to discover what you enjoy.
Grow a network that will open doors to internships and jobs.
Develop skills that can’t be learned only in the classroom.

Step 1 – Get Clear on Your Ideal Tourism Path

Tourism is not “one career”—it’s a world of possibilities. Before you start applying for internships or volunteering, explore the different paths available.

You can refer to my post “12 Career Paths in Tourism & Hospitality”, which breaks down options like:

Hotel management
Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs)
Tour operations
Events and MICE
Sustainable tourism
Travel tech
Cruise operations
And more

Once you know your preferred direction, you can make smarter decisions about what experience to build next.

Step 2 – Use Your Studies Strategically

Your degree isn’t just something to complete—it can become a powerful career-building tool if you use it intentionally.

Here’s how:

Choose project and assignment topics that match your desired sector (e.g., hotel revenue management, destination branding, sustainable tourism certification, tour design).
Select Erasmus / exchange programmes that expose you to markets relevant to your career goals.
Choose your dissertation topic around an area you want to specialise in—this shows depth when applying for roles.
Work with lecturers to gain access to industry contacts, guest speakers, and project-based learning.

Everything you do academically can contribute to your employability.

Step 3 – Internships and Real-World Experience

Aim for 2–3 months of experience per year, or at least 200–300 hours spread across semesters. Every hour counts.

Best types of internships for tourism students:

Hotel Front Office or Guest Relations – customer service, operations, reservations.
DMO / Tourism Board – marketing support, research, content creation, stakeholder coordination.
Tour Operator / Travel Agency – itinerary building, product research, customer handling.
Events & MICE – logistics, client assistance, registration, onsite coordination.
Sustainable Tourism Projects – certifications, community tourism, environmental programmes.

How to get meaningful responsibilities

Ask to shadow managers.
Request to work on at least one project independently.
Offer to help with busy periods (events, campaigns, check-in rush).
Ask for feedback frequently and show initiative.

Internships are what make you employable—so choose wisely and be proactive.

Step 4 – Build the Right Skills Outside the Classroom

Customer Service & Communication

Volunteering at events or tourist sites
Student ambassador roles
Hospitality part-time jobs
Public speaking / presentation practice

Digital Skills

Social media basics (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Pages)
Canva for content creation
Google Analytics basics
Experience with booking systems (Opera, Amadeus, Sabre, PMS/Channel managers) through tutorials or free trials
Blogging or creating travel content

Languages & Intercultural Skills

Practice additional languages (Italian, Spanish, French, German, Chinese—depending on market).
Participate in exchange programmes.
Volunteer with international groups or events.

These skills matter as much as your degree.

Step 5 – Networking That Actually Works

Use university events and tourism conferences

Attend guest lectures, workshops, panel discussions.
Introduce yourself to speakers and follow up on LinkedIn.
Attend industry fairs and tourism expos.

Join professional communities

Student chapters of tourism associations
Young Skål, MPI, ICCA, EAIE, UNWTO Academy programmes
Online groups on LinkedIn or tourism Slack communities

Networking is not about being pushy—it’s about being visible and staying connected.

Step 6 – Make LinkedIn Your Professional Showcase

LinkedIn is your online CV—and recruiters use it constantly.

Headline ideas

“Tourism student aspiring to work in destination marketing”
“Hospitality & tourism management student | Future event professional”
“Tourism student passionate about sustainable tourism development”

About section

Write 3–4 lines about:

Your studies
Your tourism interests
The type of roles you aspire to
A line about your strengths (languages, customer service, digital skills)

Experience section

Add:

Internships
Volunteering
University tourism projects
Erasmus or exchange experiences

Post content to stand out

Reflections from conferences
Insights from class case studies
Photos or learnings from internships
Destination analysis or sustainability trends

Even one short post per month helps you show thought leadership.

Step 7 – Create a Mini-Portfolio and CV Before Graduation

A portfolio makes you stand out immediately.

Include:

Case studies
Class projects
Tourism marketing assignments
Reports, surveys, or research
Photos of events you helped with
Volunteer experience
Short reflection pieces

Format it as a PDF, Google Drive link, or a page on your blog.

How to use it

Send it with internship/job applications
Share it when contacting hotels, DMOs, or agencies
Bring it to networking events
Link it in your LinkedIn profile

Common Mistakes Tourism Students Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Waiting until graduation to gain experience
→ Start with small internships or volunteering NOW.
Applying only for generic student jobs
→ Look for sector-specific opportunities.
Not tracking skills or achievements
→ Keep a simple document to record what you learn in every role.
Ignoring LinkedIn until the final year
→ Build your profile gradually.

Your Roadmap Checklist

✔️ Choose your tourism career path
✔️ Plan 1–2 internships each year
✔️ Use your studies to support your direction
✔️ Build customer service + digital skills
✔️ Network at events and online
✔️ Optimise LinkedIn (headline, About, posts)
✔️ Create your mini-portfolio
✔️ Keep a running list of skills and achievements

If you are not sure if career in tourism is suitable for you, please read my post below: https://tourismknowledgehub.com/2025/10/10/how-to-know-if-a-career-in-tourism-is-right-for-you/

Tourism Knowledge Hub – Tourism Expertise for Hotels & Destinations