Tourism

Be part of building Scotland’s international reputation. Those who work in tourism have a crucial part to play in making sure that visitors have a fantastic experience and go home to spread the word.

The impact you could make

  • You can play a key role in showcasing Scotland to the world. 
  • You could use your skills to help visitors relax, have fun and take home memorable experiences from the amazing destinations they visit. 
  • You could be part of one of the fastest growing industries in Scotland and be able to help expand it and support the local communities. 

The opportunities within tourism

 There are many roles in demand within tourism. The industry has the potential to:  

  • improve relationships between nations 
  • create entertainment opportunities and experiences for tourists 
  • lead to improved happiness, well-being and education 
Three people

Employment

There are 182,400 people currently working in the tourism industry.*

Speaker

Job availability

Between 2022 to 2025, tourism will need roughly 42,700 people to fill job openings.* 

Briefcase

Job diversity

Within the industry, 1,199 Modern Apprenticeships are in training.*

*Sector Skills Assessment 2022

Scotland’s got a thriving tourism industry, it draws people in from all over the world.

Working in tourism gets you actively involved in all kinds of different roles. 

Naomi

Tourist Guide, Mercat Tours

Some things you may not know about tourism

Tourism

In 2019 Scotland received 133 million day visitors and around 3.5 million overnight visitors.*

Tourism

In 2018, Scotland's top 10 attractions were visited by 12.8 million people and the most visited attraction was the National Museum of Scotland.**

Tourism

Scotland's scenery and landscape are the main reason visitors come to Scotland.*

*Visit Scotland

**Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions

What subjects to take

We’ve pulled together some examples of subjects that could be useful for getting into a career in tourism. 

  • English
  • Computing
  • Maths
  • Business
  • History
  • Modern Studies

For most jobs, you might not need specific subjects. If your school does not provide all of these subjects or you're just unsure — do not worry. There are many more subjects you can explore by using the Option Choices tool or speaking to your careers adviser in your school. 

What routes you can take

There are different options you can choose from after school. We’ve pulled together some of them to help you decide which is best for you.