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Tourism Marketing Manager

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Primary Secondary Post-16

A Tourism Marketing Manager is responsible for promoting destinations, attractions, or travel services to attract visitors. This role involves developing marketing strategies, managing advertising campaigns, overseeing digital and social media presence, and collaborating with tourism boards, travel agencies, and event organisers. The job often includes analysing market trends, creating promotional materials, and monitoring the effectiveness of marketing activities. Communication skills, creativity, and an understanding of the travel industry are important for success in this role. Tourism Marketing Managers may work for local councils, tourist attractions, hotels, or travel companies.

Tourism Marketing Manager

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📊 Statistics

Average Salary

Tourism Marketing Managers in the UK typically earn between £28,000 and £50,000 per year, depending on experience and location.

Job Openings

As of 2023, there are approximately 3,500 positions for marketing managers within the tourism and hospitality sector across the UK.

Industry Growth

The UK tourism industry is predicted to grow by 3.8 percent annually, increasing demand for skilled marketing professionals.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Digital Marketing Executive for Visitor Attractions

Focuses on promoting museums, theme parks, or heritage sites using digital campaigns and social media to attract more visitors.

Destination Brand Manager

Works on creating and managing the image and reputation of specific towns, cities, or regions to encourage tourists to visit.

Event Marketing Coordinator for Tourism Boards

Plans and promotes special events and festivals to boost tourism in a particular area, often working closely with local authorities.

Build a Strong Educational Foundation

Achieve GCSEs and A Levels

Focus on subjects such as English, Business Studies, Geography, or Media Studies at GCSE and A Level.

Prioritising subjects that develop communication, analytical, and research skills is essential. Geography can provide insight into global destinations, while Business or Media Studies will introduce you to key marketing concepts. Good grades will also support your application for further education or apprenticeships.

Complete a Relevant Degree or Equivalent Qualification

Pursue a degree in Marketing, Tourism Management, Business, or a related field.

Universities and colleges across the UK offer courses specifically tailored to tourism and marketing. These courses often include modules in market research, consumer behaviour, digital marketing, and tourism industry trends. Alternatively, consider a higher-level apprenticeship in marketing or tourism if you prefer a more hands-on route.

Gain Industry Experience

Undertake Work Placements or Volunteering

Gain practical experience through internships, placements, or voluntary work in tourism or marketing.

Many tourism boards, travel agencies, hotels, and event companies offer placements for students. Volunteering at local tourist attractions or helping with promotional campaigns can also build valuable skills and contacts in the industry. Real-world experience is highly valued by employers.

Develop Marketing Skills

Build your skills in digital marketing, social media, and content creation.

Tourism marketing increasingly relies on digital channels. Take online courses in social media marketing, SEO, and analytics, or get involved in creating promotional materials for university societies or local events. Understanding tourism software and customer relationship management tools is also beneficial.

Progress to Management Roles

Apply for Junior Marketing Roles

Start your career in travel, tourism, or marketing as an assistant or coordinator.

Look for entry-level jobs in travel agencies, destination marketing organisations, or hospitality businesses. These roles will allow you to learn from experienced marketers, contribute to campaigns, and gradually take on more responsibility.

Advance to Managerial Positions

Gain experience and work towards becoming a Tourism Marketing Manager.

With experience, you can move up to supervisory or managerial positions, leading marketing teams and developing your own campaigns. Building a portfolio of successful projects and continuing your professional development through industry bodies, such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing, will support your progression.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Tourism Marketing Manager. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

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Career Progressions

This page showcases various career options and the pathways to reach them. Each career listed here shares transferable skills and knowledge, making it easier for individuals to transition between them.

Your current career is highlighted to help you see how it fits into the broader landscape of potential career choices. By clicking on any career, you can learn more about it, including the training and education required to pursue it.

Remember, progressing in your career often involves further learning and training. This page provides insights into future career options as well as those that can lead up to your current one.

These career progression decisions are informed by comparing the skills and knowledge needed for different occupations, along with data on how people move between them. Explore the possibilities and discover the exciting journey ahead in your career!

Sample Qualifications

A Tourism Marketing Manager shares similar responsibilities with a Marketing Manager, including developing marketing strategies, managing campaigns, and overseeing promotional activities. Both roles require strong knowledge of marketing principles, strategic planning, and team management within the context of the tourism or broader commercial sectors.

How to become

You could get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

University

You can become a marketing manager as graduate of any subject. Some higher national diploma or degree subjects might be particularly relevant like:

  • marketing
  • business management
  • digital marketing
  • advertising
  • psychology

Some companies might offer graduate marketing management schemes.

You might be able to fast-track through professional marketing qualifications if your degree is accredited. 

You can find out more about the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) accredited degree.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

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Apprenticeship

You could start by taking a Marketing Assistant or Marketing Executive Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

If you already have some marketing experience, you might be able to do a Marketing Manager Level 6 Higher Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

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Work

You could start as a marketing executive and then take a qualification offered by a professional marketing body such as:

Direct Application

You might be able to apply directly for marketing manager jobs if you have experience in a related area like:

  • sales management
  • advertising
  • communications
  • public relations

More Information

Professional and industry bodies

You can join The Chartered Institute of Marketing for professional development and training opportunities.

Further information

Learn more about how to get into marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing.

You can also find out about marketing events and challenges by DMA Talent on the Institute of Data and Marketing.

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