For those interested in the air travel industry or becoming a travel agent, the International Air Transportation Association offers courses teaching students the ins and outs of airplane ticket pricing and interacting with customers as they purchase airfare. This program even allows students the opportunity to learn at their own pace through online courses and self-study. Students learn about billing, remittance procedures and receive travel agent training.
Those interested in travel marketing and tourism development can earn a certificate in Niche Tourism offered by University of California. Davis' Extension school. Students can learn how to identify areas and locales that could attract tourists, and develop seasonal attractions such as ski resorts and amusement parks. This program also teaches students how to bring visitors to local year-round attractions such as museums, theaters and sports arenas. The Marketing for Niche Tourism course shows students how to develop marketing plans that attract tourists to specific locations. Students can learn to identify whether a project is worth pursuing, and how to plan and budget for tourist developments in the Tourism and Economic Development course.
Working and living in a foreign country is a reality for many of those working in the tourism industry. Through Spanish language courses taught by the CELA Spanish School in Venezuela, foreign-language hotel managers can learn how to communicate with their staffs, travel agencies, airline personnel and culinary personnel. They will also learn about government policies that are involved with tourism planning, as well as about specific tourist areas in Venezuela.
Students interested in a management career in the tourism industry can earn the equivalent of an MBA in Tourism and Travel Management, such as the program offered at The Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management. Students learn accounting and finance, research, planning meetings and conferences, and entrepreneur development. Students can even gain on-the-job training in this program.