THE GUILD of Business Travel Agents has launched a factsheet for young people in an attempt to stem the downturn in new recruits to the industry.
The industry has been concerned for some time about the shortage of good business travel consultants and GBTAmanager Mike Riddle said the situation had now hit crisis point (Travel Weekly June 28).
The GBTA has consulted education and careers experts on writing the factsheet, which will be distributed to colleges, universities, careers offices and recruitment fairs.
Riddle said:”We have realised that school-leavers were signing up for travel and tourism courses without having any idea of the choices available within the overall spectrum of travel as a career.
“Business travel offers some excellent career opportunities as there is currently a shortage of trained personnel and the industry would welcome an increase in new recruits.
“We want more colleges to offer specific business travel courses, but supply always has to match demand and we have to encourage students to request business travel as their preferred subject,” he added.
The GBTAis also planning to step up its involvement in business travel courses around the UK. It will add a customer-service section to the existing City and Guilds qualification which it helped to develop and which is now offered through a number of UKcolleges.