Tourism Operations and Guiding Advanced Diploma

By JANINE OGIER

The Sir George Seymour National College of Tourism and Travel offers an advanced diploma in tourism operations and guiding to give people the practical skills required to get a job in the operational side of the travel industry.

Students learn about New Zealand as a tourist destination so they can guide visitors. They also receive practical experience by organising and escorting a tour.

People can study the 30-week, full-time course at five campuses - Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Students complete the National Certificate in Tourism and Travel Core Skills (NZQA level 3), the National Certificate in Tourism Guiding with strands in excursion guiding and attraction guiding (level 3), the National Certificate in Tourism, Tour Leadership (level 4), and the National Certificate in Computing (level 3), as well as a workplace first-aid certificate.

Graduates work for a variety of travel and tourism-oriented businesses, including airlines, hotels, cruise ships, travel agents, tourist attractions, visitor information offices, tour operators, airport authorities, and duty-free shops.

Students develop skills in presenting New Zealand as a tourist destination, providing customer service in the travel and tourism industry, and communicating in a cross-cultural environment.

Specialist tourism administrative skills are taught, as well as research, marketing and sales expertise.

Students are assessed by assignment or project work. Some of the guiding units are assessed in a practical simulated environment or on a national tour.

Applicants must be over 18 and have NCEA level 2 (60 credits) plus NCEA level 1 (20 credits) or equivalent, or show unit standards, course of study, or work experience deemed equivalent.

Fees total around $6000 including GST, there is an intake once a year and applications close in March. There are 18 student places for the course at each campus.

What graduates think

Kristy Flay, 20

Tour host, Connections Adventures, Te Awamutu

"It didn't really interest me to get a job in an office. I was already in the tourism industry but my aim was to work outdoors. The course is a good way to get your foot in the door and it prepares you for a wide range of jobs.

"They do a wide range of things - computer skills, the legal side of things, ticketing, foreign exchange, learning about New Zealand inside-out, people skills, such as communication and body language, and dealing with sticky situations.

"We did a lot of practical stuff. We organised and ran our own tour and got the chance to set up our own company and the promotional and marketing side of things.

"The best thing was that instead of spreading it over two years it was full-time for nine months, 9am-4pm every day and you could be in the workforce as soon as possible.

"All the tutors are people who have been working in the travel industry and you can ask them about their experiences.

"The course gives you confidence and the opportunity to get a job as they have links with different tourism providers. If I hadn't done that course I wouldn't have got this job."

What employers think

Katina Trout

New Zealand manager, Connections Adventures, Auckland

"Doing the course shows that somebody is interested in the industry from a professional point of view, not just as a passing three-month job.

"We aim towards the 18-35s market in package tours in New Zealand and Australia. We have employed two graduates from the course.

"Their advantage is they have a good background knowledge of New Zealand and a professional outlook on the role.

"It makes it easier for them to go into a job in the tourism industry. They will feel happier in themselves answering passengers' questions and can handle situations in a professional manner.

"The other key ingredient is the personality of the person involved.

"We give people additional training regardless of whether they have done a course - they do a tour with an experienced crew.

"That is to make them familiar with our particular way of doing things, the properties and places that we visit and use."

The Sir George Seymour National College of Tourism and Travel

Phone: 0800 102020

Email: info@sirgeorge.ac.nz

Earnings: $120-$150 a day before tax. But living costs can be kept to a minimum because accommodation and food is paid for while on the job.