50 Best High Paying Job ideas in Travel and Tourism

Do you want to pursue a hospitality related career? Do you love to serving people? If YES, here are 50 high paying career ideas in the travel & tourism industry.

The travel and tourism industry is an emerging yet a rewarding one. It is one of the few industries in the world today which is not only profitable but is also sustainable flexible. For the travel and tourism industry, there are many career ideas that can be found therein.

This means that whoever wants to start a trade in this industry must first of all be ready for hard work, as it is also the case with other careers.

These ideas are not only critical but also necessary for individuals who are focused on Career, and wish to know about things they can gain from this wonderful industry. One good thing about this industry is the fact that more and more people delve into the industry with each passing day.

This can be attributed to the fact that it is a flourishing industry. There are so many careers that can be started when one decided to join the industry. In this article, there are only 50 to be looked into. The career ideas in the travel and tourism industry are as follows:

50 High Paying Career ideas in the Travel & Tourism Industry

1. Become a Ski Repair Technician

This is an operational career position in the industry which basically has to do with direct contact with persons especially tourists. This requires the professional to assists customers with the selection of merchandise by providing friendly and knowledgeable service.

Their services include; Greeting customers and identifying their needs, advising customers on how to care for and use products, creating special orders in computer and use Point of Sale system. They must also be aware of current sales promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and store security practices. They must also be committed to achieving sales goals.

2. Become a Bartender Consultant

A bartender popularly known as a barkeep, barman, barmaid, bar chef, tapster etc. It is a person who formulates and serves alcoholic beverages behind the bar, usually in a licensed establishment. They also usually maintain the supplies and inventory for the bar.

You do not have to become a bartender yourself; you can become a consultant, with an operational career. The profession was generally a second occupation is gradually gaining prominence and it is one of the careers that is evolving in the travel and tourism industry.

3. Become a Concierge

The concierge is an emerging profession. It involves those practising it to serve guests of an apartment building, hotel, or office building. Their duties are similar to those of a receptionist.

While in hotels they help in assisting guests by performing various tasks such as making restaurant reservations, booking hotels, arranging for spa services, recommending night life hot spots, booking transportation (limousines, airplanes, boats, etc.).

In hospitals they provides similar services to those of the hotel concierge, but serves patients and employees as well. It is also an operational career position as even it is becoming a major marketing tool in the banking industry.

4. Become an Adventure Tour Guide

As the name implies, this profession which is one of the careers that are inherent in the tourism and travel industry involves its practitioners to serve as guides to tourists and travellers. While it is safe to say that it is a human relations profession, it suffices to say that it is an operational career profession at the least.

Professionals in this aspect must be committed and culturally responsible to different countries, races, languages etc. they must also be bilingual and be able to converse with different persons from different countries especially in their languages.

5. Become a Technical Writer or Editor

For technically and scientifically inclined persons, who have great writing skills, technical writing and editing can be a great tool for them in the industry. This involves writing on a variety of things such as: Website text to software user manuals, to detailed computer hardware specifications.

While it is important to state that this aspect of the profession in the industry involves been conversant with the technical-know-how of the writing profession, it is imperative to state that it is both a rewarding and beneficial profession.

6. Cook

The term “cook”, when used within a restaurant kitchen usually refers to a person with little to no creative influence on a menu and little to no command over others within the kitchen, such as a line cook. Cooks in some instances are familiar with the restaurants and entirely man the affairs of the restaurants on their own.

At times in residences, they are referred to as residential staff or head of the kitchen. They are also responsible for cleaning. It is also an operational career position in the industry due to its nature.

7. Become a Travel Blogger

While it is known that blogging generally is a goldmine that can only be neglected in this century at one’s peril. Likewise in the travel and tourism industry, it is a worthy career that could be undertaken by anyone who is an enterprising sort.

All that needs to be done is to start a travel blog. Though it requires a lot of hard-work especially at the initial stage but it is a worthwhile profession if it grows big and it is professionally monitored with a great business sense.

8. Become a Seller of Goods Online

This is definitely an idea that will be instrumental to the growth and development of anybody in the industry. This involves getting some cool product that you think others would be interested in, or having your own handmade product you want to sell.

It just needs setting up a website or a shop on eBay or any other type of online sales outlet and start selling. Though, success depends generally on many factors but with time, persistence, perseverance and commitment, it will indeed pan out to be a worthy career at the end of the day.

9. Become a Language Teacher

The English Language, as popularly as it is, is not the only language that people are interested in learning. Other languages such as French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, Arabic or anything else? What this career entails is to look for jobs or set up classes by advertising at universities or popular hangouts such as cafes.

This is indeed a nice career idea, that will not only aid the professional income-wise but also increases their exposure, and enables them meet and interact with people that might also be useful and of help to them.

10. Become a Sales Coordinator

Just as the name implies, this has to do with persons who co-ordinate sales in the small, medium and large scales. The sales coordinator ensures that everything goes on fine in their companies or their businesses and the likes.

This idea is a very good career choice for those in the travel and tourism industry as it enables them to become versatile, as they are very important members of a company’s sales team. By supporting sales representatives and coordinating sales-related activities within the company, they contribute to achieving sales targets

11. Become a Guest Service Supervisor

Though the primary purpose of the position is to maintain excellent customer service as a leader. Here, the professional is an effective role model and staffs comfortably and respectfully take direction from him/her.

They are expected to seamlessly take on full leadership of the department in the absence of the Guest Services Manager. They also play an integral role in the ongoing relationships being built with every client that visits their property.

Friendly and outgoing nature, as well as flair for detail and outside-the box thinking, will guarantee that every client you personally interact with will remember their experience you helped create. Building memories is something that is important to these set of professionals.

12. Become an Online Freelance Worker

Online freelance is crucial and essential in this century; whether it is a background or interest in web design, programming, illustration, writing, marketing, consulting, legal work, and engineering or able to do any type of admin work.

You should definitely look at websites such as Elance.com and Odesk.com which are platforms that connect freelancers with people and companies who need work done. Even if your background is in something else, have a look anyway as there is freelance work to be found in dozens of different fields.

13. Become an Affiliate Marketer

While this Career idea sounds difficult especially for novices, it is worthy to state that making money this way is definitely possible even though the competition can be high.

This is only if a person is willing to dedicate himself/herself to a couple of months’ worth of research, you’ll find your niche and hopefully a steady. If you don’t know much about affiliate marketing in the tourism industry, you can get materials and watch videos online to actually know what this is all about.

14. Become a Cafe/Restaurant Worker Trainer

This is a pretty nice career idea for tourists and travellers. All is required is to get the necessary information of cafes/restaurants who employ persons in your destination, and let them know that you are able to help them train their employees.

Sometimes you’ll find a local classifieds/coupon traveller-oriented magazine lying around the hostel as well. Flip it open and many times you’ll find restaurants advertising for help. This career idea is also nice as information regarding it can be readily available, and can easily be sought for from different persons.

15. Become a Website Designer

This career idea is not out of place as it can be practised from anywhere in the world. This is easy and can be practised by persons who know how to build simple websites, or even more complex ones? Start your own business and look for clients online, through family & friends or even overseas.

All that is needed is to let people know your capabilities through the word of mouth or even through advertising online. The monetary reward from this career idea cannot be over-emphasised as persons will be willing and ready to pay substantial amount of money to get their websites designed.

16. Become a Musical Instruments Teacher

This is really a nice career idea that must be considered by people in this industry. Piano? Guitar? Flute? Etc. whatever you can play, there are chances that there are people all over the world who want to learn as well. Advertise in local online classifieds or put up signs in busy areas, such as gathering places of college students, and you just might have a few classes lined up before you know it.

This career idea will really wow you with its returns, especially in this era where people are willing to improve themselves in areas and aspects that could help their growth and development as a person.

17. Become a Dance Teacher

While it might be myopically safe to say that people are not willing to learn how to dance, the career idea especially for this industry is entirely not a bad one.

What needs to be done is to put up some signs around town, find space in a public park and teach others how to get their tango on. In fact, a deal could be reached with a restaurant/bar where they pay you to hold a class at their location because it will bring them plenty of extra business.

18. Become a Travel Writer

Just like travel bloggers, travel writing is exclusive to writers who write decently. This provide opportunities which are out there to write specifically about one’s experiences and the destinations you visit and then have those articles published on websites or online magazines.

It’s not an easy business, but if you can get a couple of articles published and start to establish yourself, your articles might soon become sought after.

19. Become a Cruise Ship Employer

This is one of the best career ideas that is available in the travel and tourism industry. This option is recommended as an excellent way to earn good money while getting a taste of the world, gaining some solid work experience and networking with hundreds of people (both fellow crew and passengers) from around the world. The benefits are not bad and it is one of those careers with a lot of experience, exposure and the likes.

20. Become a Seasonal Fruit or Vegetable Picker

Though the work is long and hard, but demand is often high for seasonal farm labour in Australia and many other countries in the world. If you’re residing in any city with outlying farms, you should be able to find some work picking crops or shearing sheep.

Because the jobs depend on the harvest, timing can be a bit tricky. The choices on fruits to pick and the time, stress etc. that you will undergo must be put into consideration. Any work anywhere is a good place to start looking for jobs and the career is indeed thriving.

21. Become an Ethnomusicologist

While it is safe to admit that, this career will raise a lot of eyebrows owing to the fact that it is relatively unknown to many. Ethnomusicologists are involved in the anthropology of music and study how music and culture relate. The Society for Ethnomusicology is a good place to start.

Though the competition is really fierce, and many persons who are venturing into it never wishes to leave. A good academic background in any discipline can propel one to succeed exceedingly in the profession.

22. Become a Massage Therapist

While you don’t technically need an accreditation to be a massage therapist in certain countries, it may help you land clients and gigs.

There are probably hundreds of styles of massage, ranging from deep tissue to Thai. Pay depends on the country you’re in, but the job can extremely flexible if you work as a freelance massage therapist. This career idea is also evolving and could be a goldmine at the end of the day.

23. Become an Au Pair

In this era, AU pairs are indeed needed on the high side. An au pair is a nanny who may also be expected to do light housework. A large proportion of au pairs are female, and tend to work in Europe, the US and Canada, and Australia and New Zealand.

If you’re looking to cover a lot of ground, this arrangement may not work well, as au pair contracts range from six months and up. Information regarding this career idea can be gotten from the International AU pair organisation, and it suffices to say that this career is one of those that are readily available in the travel and tourism industry.

24. Become a Time Share Salesperson

The bane of resort goers everywhere, time share salespeople make a commission by convincing vacationers to purchase a partial ownership of a vacation property (or multiple properties). For a set amount of money, the vacationer gets access to a vacation property for one or two weeks per year.

Timeshares have taken a beating in the press for scamming vacationers out of their money. Even timeshares on the up and up are often sold with restrictive dates for access, hidden fees and taxes. Check out RCI.com to get an idea of what kind of time shares are available worldwide. This idea is indeed a top notch career idea that will go a long way to aid

25. Become a Transporter of Cars

Car dealerships or car rental companies sometimes hire people to drive cars to a different destination. Car rental companies sometimes find themselves with too many cars in one destination and want to move them to an area where rentals are more in demand.

Car dealerships may need a specific car, with specific options or colours that they arrange to get from another dealer. While most companies work with full time, professional drivers, there may be some opportunities for one time trips. The trick with these jobs is getting a car that’s going where you want to go at the right time.

26. Become an ESL Teacher

Teaching English as a second language is mostly practised by those in the industry and for good reason. Some countries, like Japan, China and Korea are well traversed by ESL teachers, though there are opportunities around the world. Japan and Korea pay reasonably well, while countries in South and Central America generally pay less.

Depending on the country, accommodation may be included in your pay. Many teachers also tutor after hours for extra cash. An English as a Second Language (ESL) Certificate helps, as does a Bachelor’s degree, though with persistence it’s possible to get a job without either if you have the right connections.

27. Become an Online Teacher or Tutor

Many universities and colleges are moving to online learning. While this is great for students, it’s also a fantastic perk for teachers or tutors, who can work from almost anywhere to teach their online students. 

An advanced degree is helpful for teaching, but it is possible to teach for a trade or technology school with experience and good connections. Check out  Teaching Travelling for a profile of a web and mobile design instructor who worked remotely for nine months while travelling from US to Argentina.

28. Become a Marine or Wildlife Biologist

For nature lovers, the great perk of working as a marine or wildlife biologist can be location. Marine biologists can be stationed in fantastic locations like Hawaii and Costa Rica, while wildlife biologists can be found anywhere on the globe.

Biologists need a minimum of a four year undergraduate degree, though researchers who work with universities usually require a PhD. This career idea is best and depends specifically on the country in which a person is, and based on the interest of the to-be-professional in question

29. Become a Busker

This is indeed gratifying and most rewarding for persons with some kinds of talents. Or even those who do not have talent but are but more than willing to have people laugh at you, especially if they’ll throw their spare change in your hat.

Many, many travellers are playing guitar, juggling, dancing and singing their way around the world. It may not be legal in some places though, so be sure to check the rules. This career idea is one many tourists and travellers are really taking advantage of, and are indeed becoming better off it.

30. Become a General Tourist Blogger

This is an idea most people are not taking with levity, though you don’t have to start a travel blog just because you’re travelling or because you’re in the tourism industry. Whatever your interest may be, that might be the kind of blog you should start.

There are always opportunities to earn some money no matter what you choose to focus on. Thus, blogging on any chosen niche of choice is indeed a great way to break even a new career path and make a living in the much talked about travel and tourism industry.

31. Become a Marketing and Sales Executive

If you’re looking for a position that pervades every facet of the tourism industry and allows the most room for movement and advancement, a career in tourism sales and marketing may be the option for you. Everything from hotel rooms, to guided tours, to destinations need to be sold and marketed to the public and to industry partners wishing to send people to the region.

Sales and marketing positions are often closely related if not combined, and require a good knowledge of the industry, the destination, the target market segment and the art of communication and advertising.

32. Become a Travel Agent

When you hear the words travel agent, you probably think of an office at the local mall with big signs advertising fun and sun destinations.

Although the retail travel agent is alive and well and an important sales engine, there are many other incarnations of the profession. Travel agents often work for large corporations as in-house travel coordinators and counsellors who are responsible for arranging business travel for the entire staff.

Travel agents are also employed by specialized agencies that cater only to the luxury client and arrange 5-star tours to the most exotic locales. The travel agent has many possible pathways to follow and often enjoys a host of travel perks and discounts as part of her job.

33. Become a Transporter

It is usually emphasized that it is only with division of labour that things can become better than they are. Usually Pilots may spend long flight hours navigating airplanes and transporting passengers between domestic and international flights, while flight attendants oversee passenger safety and comfort and assist with flight emergencies.

Thus, Taxi drivers, shuttle bus drivers and chauffeurs transport tourists and travellers between hotel, restaurant, airport and entertainment destinations. Thus, a career in transportation is indeed a viable one for the transportation sector.

34. Become an Event planner

Event planners coordinate and manage conferences, meetings and parties. Some planners exclusively organize a specific type of event, such as those who specialize in wedding planning. Others may work with large corporate clients or smaller private groups. Many planners run their own businesses, while others may work for event planning agencies.

Due to the nature of the work, many planners work long and irregular hours. Thus, this career for travellers and tourists is not bad one especially for those who are willing to diversify their career path and become better in whatever they do.

35. Become an Account Team Supervisor

This is a supervisory career role for travellers and tourists in the industry. While these personnel Manage Accounts team to ensure day to day operational team duties are processed in a timely manner;.

They also ensure that all accounts payable are signed by an authorising manager(s) in accordance with delegation policy, are expensed from the correct general ledgers, expensed in appropriate months and are paid in accordance with the terms of payment stated on the compliant tax invoice; they develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders including branch staff and suppliers.

36. Become a Restaurant shift supervisor

These leaders who are really useful in the fast food industry have many responsibilities beyond customer satisfaction and product quality. As supervisors, they must ensure that the operation runs smoothly, efficiently and according to industry standards while also overseeing and directing employees.

A majority of shift leaders work full-time hours and must know how to perform each task required of their crew. They are responsible for cash management, organization, cleanliness and general problem-solving while on duty. This career idea is perfect for tourists and travellers as it enables them flexibility and much time in whatever they do.

37. Become a Maintenance Supervisor

These supervisors ensure that they accomplish maintenance human resource objectives by selecting, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching, counselling, and disciplining employees.

They also have a duty of communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising job contributions; recommending compensation actions; adhering to policies and procedures.

They also ensure maintenance operational standards by contributing maintenance information to strategic plans and reviews; implementing production, productivity, quality, and customer-service standards; resolving problems. They are very critical in any company, firm, set-up etc. it is one of the viable career options for tourists and travellers due to its specialisation and stability.

38. Become a Head Chef

A chef is a person who is a highly trained, skilled professional cook who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation of a particular cuisine. The word “chef” is derived (and shortened) from the term chef de cuisine the director or head of a kitchen.

Chefs can receive both formal training from an institution, as well as serving time as an apprentice under an experienced chef. There are different terms which use the word chef in their titles, and deal with specific areas of food preparation, but the head chef takes charge and lead while others follow in the kitchen, restaurant etc.

39. Ski Area Manager

Ski resort managers look after the operations of winter recreation hills. They make sure that the ski season is as fun and successful as possible.

Their duties include looking after employees and making sure equipment and ski runs are safe. Plus, they monitor the growth of the hill, manage finances and oversee the marketing and promotion of the ski area. They work for both large and small ski areas.

These hills can be privately owned or part of a park system. This career is fast becoming widespread especially amongst tourists and travellers as its relevance cannot be quantified.

40. Become a Director of sales management

These professionals are responsible for planning and implementing sales, marketing and product development programmes, both short and long range, targeted toward existing and new markets by performing some duties directly or through subordinates.

They are very critical to the continual existence of any business and are really essential in ensuring that things go well in a company and are put in proper perspectives. This career idea really exposes the tourists and travellers and indeed let them know more about the sales and progress of businesses by this means widening their horizon.

41. Become a Rooms Division Manager

The Rooms Division Manager is responsible for Executive Housekeeping and Front Office. He/she manages the general operation of the Front Office e.g. Reception, Reservations, Concierge, Switchboard and Night Manager. A Rooms Division Manager is directly reporting to the General Manager or the Deputy Manager.

This managerial role is one of the best career ideas available for tourists and travellers. This is an area that could be concentrated upon by travellers and tourists, and which guarantees them a life-time career prospect.

42. Become an Adventure Company Owner

This is a career idea that paves way for a lot of opportunities for the tourist or traveller. These types of companies are specialists in adventure holidays. Thus, their interests lie in providing persons especially tourists and travellers with the best of adventurous and fun filled holidays.

43. Become a Theme park manager

A theme park manager is responsible for every aspect of the day-to-day running of a theme park. This includes key functions, such as: managing the customer experience; strategic planning and development; monitoring health and safety; overseeing the park’s finances; and staff management.

They propose and implement strategies to constantly improve customer satisfaction and park development. Additionally, they may oversee or take sole responsibility for the marketing of the park in order to generate business.

They are involved in all areas of the park, including rides, retail and food and beverages. Their tasks vary but include the following: planning and implementing strategies to achieve constant improvements in visitor and employee satisfaction.

44. Become a Travel Counsellor

These personnel counsel about travelling, why they should travel to some specific places, what they will learn from certain countries if they travel to it, and the pros and cons of travelling to some of those countries.

This career idea is apt for anyone in the tourism and travel industry as it helps them to know more about their countries’ of interest, earn a decent living, and create a career path that will be useful to them for so many years to come.

45. Become a Kitchen helper

These persons help in the kitchen, and they usually assist the cooks, chefs etc. in the kitchen in their jobs. They are usually expected to master everything that is kitchen-related which ranges from kitchen cutlery to basic oven operations.

These persons basically work behind the scene and are usually key to the smooth operation in any restaurant, home, kitchen etc. This career idea also augurs well for tourists and travellers, as it not only provide them with means of livelihood but it is indeed a worthy career experience that can propel them to success in whatever they do.

46. Become an Interpreter or Translator

Interpreters and Translators are needed very much these days, especially with the proliferation of the social media; people are now interested in learning about other people’s languages, and are willing to do anything to gain same.

Thus for a tourist or traveller who is fluent in either written (a translator) or spoken (interpreter) two languages or more, and possesses a university degree in linguistics, this career idea is mostly useful for them. This idea gives room for self-improvement, exposure, and a worthwhile career to crown it all.

47. Become an Import/Export Guide

The world today is a global village, and in one way or the other people are in need of constantly making use of goods and products from one country or the other. Thus the idea of importing and exporting as a career for travellers and tourists come up.

This involves getting goods from a particular location at a low price, and selling it off in other locations at another price not neglecting the gains from it. This import/export guide is one of the best career ideas that can be embarked upon by a traveller or tourist.

48. Become a Seller of Arts & Crafts at Local Markets

There are markets in many places where foreigners can rent a stall and sell their goods. Usually these are markets that are geared towards tourists and other travellers.

As a result, there are many people who follow the market circuit, bouncing around from market to market all year round, selling their hand-made crafts, artwork, clothes from india or other goods that are in high-demand.

This idea is indeed rewarding, as most at times goods gotten from other places are cheaper than the prices it will be sold in other locations.

49. Become a Photographer

This is an often overlooked and often neglected career idea. Many have forgotten that for those who know what they’re doing with a camera, it is possible to try and sell the travel photos you take.

In fact, this is even easier these days as you could set up your own ‘shop’ on sites online, and you could try and sell your photos to a variety of travel magazines and to companies that have stock photography collections. This career idea should only be taken with a pinch of salt at someone’s peril.

50. Become Someone Who Edits English Signs/Menus

This is very useful for persons who are travelling to non-English speaking countries. Though it might sound silly but there are travellers and tourists out there earning decent money by wandering around touristy areas all over the world and getting paid to correct the English spelling/grammar on signs and menus of businesses that try to attract foreigners. This idea is borne out of the fact that you cannot compare native speakers of English to non-native speakers.

Thus, this is a great opportunity for tourists and travellers, who are native speakers in countries of non-native speakers to maximize very well, mingle with people who speak different languages entirely, and also maximize substantial profit therein, it is indeed a career path worth considering.