Tourism adviser

Rachael Voyce

Name: Rachael Voyce
Age: 36
Job title: Tourism adviser
Working hours: Varies, self-employed so can include weekends
Employer: Tourism New Zealand, regional tourism promoters, tourism operators
Pay: Starting $30,000, rising with experience
Qualifications needed: Marketing and/or business degree, tourism and business experience
Career prospects: Increase business, set up own tourism operation

What do you do?

I help tourism operators. I've eased myself into self-employment by initially working three days a week with Tourism Ruapehu while trying to develop my business and let people know what I do.

I still do work for Tourism New Zealand and I'm about to host some overseas travel agents who are experiencing a week in New Zealand as well as attending a conference. The job goes from that to something more challenging - such as the job I've just come back from - helping a West Coast family-owned tourism operator with their business.

Why did you choose this job?

I started working for Tourism New Zealand in 1999 in Wellington on the operations team. I was a support person for the overseas offices in Britain and the United States. Then I was based in Australia for two years in business development for Tourism New Zealand.

My territory was quite large - Queensland - and I visited travel agents from Cairns to the Gold Coast to encourage them to promote travel to New Zealand. I developed some online training material for travel agents to learn about New Zealand, which has since been developed further and is used all over the world.

Back in New Zealand I wanted to work in regional tourism and worked for Tourism Coromandel. I knew about overseas and distribution. I wanted to get out with operators and help them with their marketing.

What projects have you worked on?

I've been twice to Dubai to a tourism expo promoting New Zealand and joked with Arabs about them wearing their traditional clothing when bungy jumping.

I've assisted Haast River Safaris which does jet boat wilderness excursions on the Haast River. I've helped NZ Harley Tours improve their website and with Wilderness Motor Homes I've been meeting and greeting clients. That's given me some insight.

I met a man off a plane the other day - he'd already spent two weeks in Bermuda - and he had the smallest piece of hand luggage. I asked whether he'd lost his bags but that's all he had. It only looked big enough for two pairs of undies, some pants and a jacket. Some people have piles of luggage and you wonder how they are going to fit it in the motor home.

What's the best thing about the job?

I've made great friends in the industry that will be life-long. It's nice to have variety and to be learning about people's business.

And it doesn't have to be all tourism marketing. I've been interested in farmers' markets for a while and recently helped set up a new fortnightly market in Hamilton.

The worst thing is all the travel - I did 17 trips back to New Zealand from Australia when I was there - and spending time away from home. It was a big factor in coming home from Australia and getting involved in regional tourism. I was pleased to get home after the last five days away but I'll be spending the next two weeks on the road.

What are your strengths?

You have to be a good communicator and well organised. You need to be multi-skilled to go, for example, from hosting a familiarisation tour to analysing a business and suggesting ideas for it. I've got sound marketing experience but I could strengthen my knowledge of business strategy.

Where would you like to be in five years?

I'd like a good work/family balance. If I have a family at that stage I'd like to still be doing this or be in a tourism business for myself.

What's your career advice?

Get travel experience, work in hospitality, get a feel for people and how nice or grumpy they get and how you can help. Business and marketing studies are important. Even if you're the receptionist you can work yourself into a marketing role.

What makes a good tourism adviser?

You've got to be a good listener and communicator, well rounded, energetic, have good marketing skills and an understanding of the industry. Experience makes you a good adviser.