The Scottish tourism industry is set to have a record-breaking year, according to Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland. While Scotland has long been seen as a must-visit country by people from all over the world, 2014 is set to be a big year for Scottish tourism, with The Homecoming, the Ryder Cup and the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow; the tourist industry is worth £19 billion a year.
But it’s not just tourists and travellers that benefit from Scotland’s wealth of tourist attractions and destinations, as the Scottish tourism industry also promises fantastic employment opportunities for jobseekers of all ages.
How do I get a job in the Scottish tourism industry?
Scottish tourism, much like the landscape of the country, is rich, diverse and plentiful, and for the contemporary jobseeker, there is always something different to experience and explore. Some of the most popular jobs in the sector fall under the ‘hospitality/catering/tourism’ heading, and jobseekers can often find employment in hotels, tourist attractions and restaurants.
People with hospitality or retail experience can often find short-term or long-term work in this sector, as the demand for hospitality staff lasts all year, even in the off-season after the summer.
If you’re looking for work in the cultural or heritage sectors, then a great starting point is looking at local galleries, theatres and trusts in your area, such as the Scottish Book Trust in Edinburgh, the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow and The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen. You can find lots of great ideas by searching for hospitality, leisure and tourism jobs in Scotland.
The great thing about the tourism industry is that it lets you go almost anywhere in Scotland, the only limit is where you want to go and how long you want to work there for.
What else can I do?
If you want to stay in the bigger cities in the country, such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen then jobs in visitor attractions, galleries, theatres and retail shops will be plentiful, especially during the peak season for tourists in the summer.
If you fancy something a little different, however, then look beyond the big cities and consider the Highlands and Islands, where there are plenty of opportunities for employment in more unique attractions, such as working as a Countryside Ranger for the National Trust for Scotland or as a housekeeper at one of the country’s leading castles, such as Stirling Castle or Glengorm Castle on the Isle of Mull.
The road to a job in the Scottish tourism industry can often be much easier than you think, and with so many opportunities available in this growing industry, why not set up an s1jobs alert and view the latest vacancies as they come available?
Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow, image by Scott Manson, shared under a Creative Commons Licence
Glengorm Castle, Mull, image from Flickr by David Sim, shared under a Creative Commons Licence