New Adventure Tourism Course Starts In Tauranga And Taupō

A new Adventure Tourism course starting in Tauranga and Taupō is getting ready to launch students into a career of thrills and action.

Kicking off in July, the Certificate in Adventure Tourism (Level 3) will be offered at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s Taupō and Windermere campuses, and Programme Manager Nick Chater says students can look forward to a year of full-on, hands-on fun.

“Surfing, SUP, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing – there’s so much available in this region for tourists, and employers are crying out for skilled workers who have trained in the outdoors in a range of wilderness activities.”

According to the MBIE New Zealand Tourism Forecasts 2017-2023, the country can expect a growth rate in international visitor arrivals of 4.8 per cent per year until 2023.

Nick Chater says this “extremely popular” course has been running at Rotorua campus since 1990, and with New Zealand’s tourism industry facing a shortage of skilled workers Toi Ohomai is responding to employer demand and offering extra courses in Tauranga and Taupō, tailored specifically to the local tourism market.

Led by industry experts, the one-year course introduces students to the world of Adventure Tourism – perfect for those who aren’t sure which career direction they want to take. It covers hands-on learning in the outdoors, and on-campus training in leadership, risk management, communications and first aid.

“Many of our Level 3 students haven’t had any outdoor experience before but they absolutely love the course and their self-confidence improves massively,” says Nick.

He says mid-year is a great time to start because by next June, employers will be looking for new staff to train up before the summer season begins, often in frontline customer service roles or as junior outdoor guides.

Graduates of the Certificate course can also go on to complete the Diploma in Adventure Tourism (Level 5) – currently offered in Rotorua (and Tauranga from mid-2019) – to become qualified adventure guides.