Which major is the hottest in the tourism industry?

Tourism is considered one of the fastest-growing sectors in 2024, welcoming over 17.5 million international visitors, a 39.5% increase compared to 2023. The tourism industry has significant growth potential, and the demand for human resources is projected to continue increasing.

Part 2 of the online television counseling program "Choosing Your Future Major: Tourism and Service Sector" on February 18th will provide information on industry trends, job opportunities, training programs, and admission requirements in this field.

The program will be streamed online at thanhnien.vn , on the Thanh Nien Newspaper Facebook Fanpage, YouTube channel, and TikTok. During the program, readers can submit questions through these channels.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovc0LlikXQI[/embed]

Currently, in the Ministry of Education and Training's Level IV training code catalog, tourism, hospitality , sports , and personal services is a field with many training codes. During the training process, universities offer various specialization orientations for each field. The trend in training programs within this sector is becoming increasingly diverse to meet the changing demands of the labor market.

During the counseling program, representatives from universities will provide information on the training content of majors in tourism, restaurants, hotels, sports, and other service industries. In particular, they will discuss development trends and the future recruitment needs of businesses in these fields.

In addition, experts will share information about the universities' enrollment plans for 2025, including notable new developments in the tourism and service sector, such as new majors, new subject combinations, tuition fees, scholarships, etc.

In addition, representatives from the schools will provide specific advice and guidance to address students' questions. For example, what should candidates keep in mind to get accepted into tourism and service-related majors? What qualities and abilities are necessary to excel in tourism and service-related fields? Which majors are the most in-demand and sought after by businesses in this sector?...

Tourism has experienced strong growth after the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a significant demand for manpower.

The counseling program includes guest speakers.

Experts participating in the second phase of the program.

- Dr. Ha Thi Thuy Duong, Head of the Tourism Department, Faculty of Business Administration, Ho Chi Minh City Open University;

- Dr. Truong Thi Hong Minh, Head of the Tourism-Hotel-Restaurant Department, Hoa Sen University;

- Master Tang Thong Nhan, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Tourism-Restaurant-Hotel Management, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

There is a shortage of tourism personnel, both in terms of quantity and quality.

Dr. Ha Thi Thuy Duong, Head of the Tourism Department, Faculty of Business Administration, Ho Chi Minh City Open University, stated that tourism is a "smokeless industry" that offers many job opportunities. Each year, 40,000 personnel are needed, but only 20,000 students graduate annually, with the percentage of professionally trained tourism workers remaining low at only 43%. This indicates a shortage of tourism personnel in both quantity and quality. According to Dr. Ha Thi Thuy Duong, tourism personnel require proficiency in two or more foreign languages, a skill currently lacking in the tourism workforce.

Dr. Ha Thi Thuy Duong stated that the tourism industry has recovered strongly after the Covid-19 pandemic, with an estimated 8.5 million jobs needed by 2030. This presents a great opportunity and advantage for candidates. The current salary for tourism graduates is 15-20 million VND. However, this profession also faces challenges. Tourism is dependent on politics , war, seasonality, etc. We need to keep up with new tourism trends, constantly improve our capabilities, and enhance our professional skills to meet market demands.

Dr. Truong Thi Hong Minh, Head of the Tourism-Hotel-Restaurant Faculty at Hoa Sen University, stated that customers in the tourism and service industry today desire personalized experiences and services tailored to their individual preferences and needs. This requires training programs to integrate skills, technologies, and subjects to meet these demands. Tourism activities are also increasingly focusing on individual responsibility in protecting the environment and preserving culture in a sustainable manner.

According to Master Tang Thong Nhan, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Tourism, Restaurant and Hotel Management at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, there is a significant shortage of human resources in the tourism industry due to lingering concerns following the Covid-19 pandemic. Hotel corporations and travel companies are continuing to expand, and tourism is a key economic sector in many localities. Candidates should consider majors that align with projected trends in the tourism industry's workforce.

Dr. Ha Thi Thuy Duong, Head of the Tourism Department, Faculty of Business Administration, Ho Chi Minh City Open University.

Training programs related to the tourism and service sector.

Dr. Ha Thi Thuy Duong stated that the admission methods of the Open University emphasize international foreign language certificates. This year, in addition to direct admission and consideration of high school graduation exam scores, the university prioritizes candidates with international foreign language certificates and good academic and training records.

Dr. Truong Thi Hong Minh informed that in 2025, Hoa Sen University will have tourism-service-related majors including Hotel Management, Restaurant and Food Service Management, Travel and Tourism Service Management, Event Management, and also an Elite training program. The university considers high school graduation exam results, academic transcripts, aptitude test scores from the National University of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and direct admission. The university offers scholarships up to 60% of tuition fees for the first semester.

According to Master Tang Thong Nhan, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) offers four tourism-service majors: hotel management, tourism and travel service management, restaurant and food service management, and event management. In addition, there are two specialized programs offered by the Vietnam-Japan Institute of Technology.

The school considers 12th-grade academic transcripts and high school graduation exam scores based on subject combinations. Tuition fees will not increase throughout the course. A 25% tuition scholarship is available for students who apply early.

Dr. Truong Thi Hong Minh, Head of the Faculty of Tourism, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Hoa Sen University

Students sent the following question to the program: "How do the two restaurant and food service management programs, and the restaurant and food service management - Elite program at Hoa Sen University, differ in terms of admission requirements, training process, and job opportunities after graduation?"

Dr. Truong Thi Hong Minh explained: "The admission process is similar to other programs; however, the Elite program includes a direct interview focusing on English proficiency and the applicant's aspirations and reasons for choosing this field of study. The regular programs in Restaurant Management and Hotel Management are four years long, with 50% of the time dedicated to English language study, a business semester, and internships. The Elite program, on the other hand, consists of two years of study at the university followed by 1.5 years of practical training at a company. During this time, students can choose to study in Vietnam or at partner institutions in the USA, Switzerland, or New Zealand."

Participating in the program, students submitted questions such as: "What does the Tourism and Travel Service Management major at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology teach, and is it different from the tourism major? I want to become an international tour guide, so is this major suitable for me, and what is the level of competition in the admissions process?"

Master Tang Thong Nhan explained: According to the 2025 training orientation, in addition to basic knowledge and skills modules, students will be integrated with modules related to AI to enable them to work in a global environment. Furthermore, modules related to sustainable tourism and regenerative tourism will be integrated.

The school regularly organizes cultural exchange programs between Europe and Asia to help students gain experience and interact. Some semesters students can choose to study abroad, while others offer internships.

Currently, Hutech prioritizes students with strong academic abilities when awarding scholarships.

Master Tang Thong Nhan, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Tourism-Restaurant-Hotel Management, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

Essential factors to consider when studying tourism and service industries.

According to Dr. Truong Thi Hong Minh, the dynamic, creative, and ever-changing tourism environment, with its unpredictable elements, provides favorable conditions for students to develop soft skills after graduation. "This industry also has its own pressures and high competitiveness. To pursue it, students must have passion," Dr. Minh emphasized.

According to Master Tang Thong Nhan, working in the tourism industry requires handling many unforeseen situations. However, the development of technology has greatly assisted in many procedures. Along with that, students must constantly update their technological knowledge and application skills. Furthermore, there are challenges related to climate change, geopolitical changes, etc. Therefore, students must constantly adapt to change, possess foreign language skills, and have the ability to communicate across cultures.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nganh-hoc-nao-nong-nhat-trong-linh-vuc-du-lich-dich-vu-185250217230950199.htm