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British Columbia’s diverse tourism industry offers employment flexibility, sometimes seasonal, and the opportunity to apply your education and skills in many exciting workplaces. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about working in tourism.

What is tourism?
How can I tell if I am suited to work in tourism?
Where can I work?
What sorts of jobs are available?
How much can I earn?
What education and qualifications do I need?
How do I find tourism companies and jobs in BC?

What is tourism?

Although many of us have been tourists at some point in our lives, describing what tourism is can be difficult. By definition, tourism encompasses the activities of people traveling away from home, visiting a different place for less than a year. Tourists may travel for leisure, business or other purposes. Learn more about tourism.

How can I tell if I am suited to work in tourism?

Whether you’ll be working in a front-line job or behind the scenes, you should exhibit a strong desire to provide guests with an unforgettable experience. Excellent customer-service skills, a positive “can do” attitude and a strong work ethic will contribute to your success in tourism.

To help you assess your skills and interests while providing you with useful insight into the tourism industry as a whole, check out these interactive quizzes, which provide specific information about the different areas of tourism, the wide range of jobs available, and what it is really like to work in the industry.

Where can I work?

British Columbia is so vast and varied that the province is divided into six distinct tourism regions. Each has its own features, such as diverse ecosystems, mountain ranges, mighty rivers, extensive coastline or bustling cities, and thus each region offers a wide variety of tourism operations. You can choose to work almost anywhere — from the heart of the city to a small town to remote backcountry. Check out our interactive map to help you find your way around BC’s six tourism regions.

What sorts of jobs are available?

Tourism consists of five main sectors, and within these sectors there are more than 400 different occupations. There are the traditional tourism jobs, such as restaurant cooks, housekeepers, accommodation managers, tour guides and so on, but keep in mind that tourism employers also require people to fill general roles in human resources, marketing, accounting and other administrative fields. To get an idea of the opportunities available, check out our hot jobs and careers section and learn about the jobs in highest demand.

How much can I earn?

A recent survey of average salary ranges shows what you can earn for selected tourism positions. Keep in mind that many tourism jobs also offer bonuses and gratuities, as well as other perks like employee discounts, association memberships, flex time, and training and development opportunities.

What education and qualifications do I need?

Given the breadth of the industry, education requirements vary greatly, but many entry-level positions in the tourism industry do not require formal education or a degree. However, other forms of certification and training may be necessary, and many occupations require skills that must be learned and practised on the job.

Even though specific education might not be required, the more training you have, the more skills you can bring to help grow a tourism employer’s business, thus increasing your chances of landing that job you want. BC has many excellent education programs, including apprenticeship training and programs that will help you earn certificates, diplomas and degrees. Achieving that extra level of education can really help you move up into supervisory and management positions. See our Training and Education information to learn more.

How do I find tourism companies and jobs in BC?

There are some 18,000 tourism–related businesses in BC today, so you’ll have plenty of choice. A good place to start your search is our Tourism Company Directory, where you can find links to many different companies across BC. Also, you can search for jobs on our BC tourism Job Board and connect with employers on our Move On UP Facebook page.