Sector ‘must do more to woo students’ Samantha Mayling


The organiser of a conference focused on training and education in tourism, hospitality and events says the sectors need to do much more to attract students. The one-day conference at the


University of West London last week was organised by the Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE), the Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME) and the Association for Events Management (AEME). Dr Peter Robinson, head of the


Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Management at Leeds Beckett University and ATHE co-chair, said:


“The key message was that we need to do more to encourage young people to want a career in travel, tourism, hospitality and events. “We need to do much more


to make the careers attractive at a younger age. We all need students.” He said the debates tied


into work being done in the travel sector to develop courses for students aged 16-19. Members of the Tourism


Education and Skills Working Group – set up in response to government plans to axe Level 3 travel and tourism courses in England – hope that meetings with the Department for Education and trade input will shape new post-16 courses.


Concern grows for winter-sun resorts in eastern Med


Juliet Dennis


Travel firms say concern is growing about travel to the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean as a result of the Israel-Hamas war but trading generally is unaffected. Airlines have suspended flights


to Israel and cruise lines have altered itineraries to avoid the region. Virgin Atlantic chief executive


Shai Weiss said the war was deterring travel across parts of the Middle East, while MSC Cruises cancelled sailings to Red Sea destinations until April 17, 2024. The Foreign Office is advising


against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian


4 26 OCTOBER 2023


Territories, but advice is unchanged for neighbouring countries, including popular winter-sun destinations Egypt and Jordan. Blue Bay Travel chief executive


Alistair Rowland reported a “significant” impact on Egypt enquiries, with “lots of clients” wishing to alter their trips but unable to do so for free while official advice remains unchanged. He said: “Enquiries [for Egypt] have dropped significantly and we have taken it out of our marketing programme for now.” However, Red Sea Holidays


managing director Andy Grant said bookings were “largely unaffected”, adding: “Customers are generally aware of the vast distance between


We need to do


much more to make travel careers attractive at a younger age. We all need students


John Garside, Birmingham


Metropolitan College lecturer, hosted a workshop on the post-16 qualification reforms. He highlighted a student’s journey


at BMet who applied to do Level 3 Travel during the second pandemic lockdown and is now studying international tourism at university. “She is a good example of exactly


Red Sea coastline


the reason why we need to maintain Level 3 Travel and Tourism,” he said. Vicki Wolf, Abta head of


education and career development, told delegates about Abta’s work with student representatives and interns, and its partner programme. “It is about making the industry


more attractive [to students and parents],” she said. “We should not be embarrassed that there is no linear path, such as in law for example. There is a career path and it can go many ways, which is positive.” The education working group


will hold industry workshops in November to discuss the content and themes needed for the new qualifications.


Gaza and the Red Sea resorts.” Explore said sales had “softened”


in recent weeks, but forward bookings were still 9% up year on year to the Middle East and Egypt. The mixed picture was reflected


by agencies, with reports of some clients avoiding Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus and Greece. Triangle Travel general manager


Sarah Kenton said bookings and footfall were “strong overall” after an immediate dip when the conflict started, but noted: “We have seen people asking us not to consider Egypt in our late searches.” Greenstar Travel managing director


Martyn Fisher agreed: “People don’t want to go near the [conflict] area,


but I don’t think it’s stopping people from booking other areas.” Oasis Travel director Heidi Evans


reported a cancellation for Cyprus for next April, but said new winter sales were still being made for Egypt. The Advantage Travel Partnership


and Barrhead Travel both said there was no noticeable drop in bookings or demand, but Barrhead president Jacqueline Dobson stressed it was “too early” to gauge a wider impact on the industry. Protected Trust Services


managing director Mark Sutton said a concern was the rise in fuel costs since the war started on October 7, and cited “palpable apprehension among travel businesses”.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/ ERainbow


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