Travel and tourism jobs: Here’s what we have our eye on right now!

Our Employment Consultant Sarndra (top right) is dedicated to helping graduates find work.

Did you know that ITC has a dedicated Employment Consultant? That is, someone purely dedicated to keeping an eye out for travel and tourism job opportunities around New Zealand, who helps ITC students and graduates to apply for those roles.

And considering the number of jobs out there, and how many of them are being filled by ITC graduates, you’d never know there’s a tough jobs market amongst other sectors!

Read on to see which jobs we’re watching right now, and to see how some of our graduates have been going on their job hunts!

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Why Students Choose ITC: Real Feedback from Future Tourism & Aviation Professionals

Choosing where to study is a big decision. Students today have more options than ever before, so we recently asked some of our learners a simple question:

Why did you choose ITC as your education provider?

Their answers revealed something we’ve always believed sets ITC apart: it’s not just what we teach, it’s how we support our students every step of the way.

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Catching up with Leandri: ITC Graduate Making a Splash in Exciting New Role!

Leandri is an ITC graduate living her dreams, and has recently moved back to New Zealand and started a great new role.

It’s been a year since we chatted to Leandri, an ITC graduate who was doing an International Working Holidays internship in Florida – and loving it.

At the time, she was one of just five team members (out of 1,300!) nominated for the coveted title of Associate of the Semester at Ocean Reef Club, which is a huge achievement on its own.

We couldn’t have been more excited that Leandri then went on to win the Associate of the Semester award!

But that’s just one of the exciting updates on Leandri’s journey so far as an ITC graduate, as she is now back in New Zealand and working in another great role. We chatted to her for more updates and news! 

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Experts predict gap between tourism demand and available tourism workers

With New Zealand’s ongoing tourism boom, experts are predicting a shortage of skilled workers to keep up with the demand.

New Zealand’s tourism is absolutely booming. We’ve seen nothing but constant positive news stories about how much tourists are spending in New Zealand, rising visitor numbers, and more and more international conferences being held here.

It’s no wonder that now, experts are predicting that we simply won’t have enough workers in the tourism and travel industry to accommodate all of these visitors.

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Meet Mercedes Laing, mother of two and Level 5 ITC student (with plans to become a pilot)!

Mercedes is a seriously impressive ITC student – with plans to become a pilot!

Mercedes Laing is the kind of student who is exciting to watch. She has returned to study after raising her children, is about to graduate from Level 4, and will be getting started on her Level 5 training in July.

But that’s not all – she has aspirations to fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a pilot, and we couldn’t be more excited to be the first step on that journey, and to cheer her along the way!

For anyone who has ever thought about returning to study, or wondered if it was too late to make a career change, read on for some serious career inspiration!

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5 statistics that will make you want to study travel and tourism!

Our Airport Training Centre is just one of the many perks of studying at ITC!

Every year, the Ministry of Business, Innovation, & Employment releases their annual Tourism Sentiment Survey. This survey offers an insight into how Kiwis are feeling about all things tourism, and if the recent release is anything to go by, it’s an exciting time to be in the industry!

Here are just 5 of the coolest facts from the latest survey results!

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Study Tourism or Aviation in 2026 and Make the Most of Fees Free Before It Ends

If you’ve been thinking about starting a career in tourism, travel, or aviation, now is the perfect time to make your move.

The New Zealand Government has confirmed that the current final-year Fees Free scheme will end after 2026. That means students who complete an eligible qualification during the 2026 calendar year can still apply for Fees Free, but future intakes may not have the same opportunity.

For students enrolling in ITC’s June and July 2026 intakes, there’s still time to complete your qualification by the end of 2026 and potentially access Fees Free before the scheme finishes.

Whether you want to study on campus or study from home anywhere in New Zealand, these upcoming intakes are designed to help you get qualified quickly and start building your future in one of New Zealand’s largest and most exciting industries.

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Meet Rose, the student who found ITC and happiness after years trying other paths!

Rose tried lots of study and work options, but wasn’t truly happy until she switched to Travel and Tourism!

It’s incredibly tough to know what you want to do with your life at just 18. Once you get a little older, you realise how challenging it is to have to try to pick a career path at that age – and then stick with it forever!

Rose was one of those students. Throughout her 20s, she studied all manner of pathways, and worked in all manner of jobs. But she knew none of it was really for her. That’s when she took interest in travel and tourism, discovered ITC, and made the life-changing decision to enrol.

Rose’s story is a particularly inspiring one, and one that will resonate with anyone who has ever been unsure of which path to take! (more…)

Meet Mike Matata – Inspiring the Next Generation of Tourism Professionals in Northland

At ITC, we are proud to have passionate industry professionals guiding our students toward exciting careers in tourism, aviation, travel and hospitality. One of those incredible educators is Mike Matata, who delivers our full-time programme in Whangārei and has helped many students pathway into tourism careers, airline roles, internships and even paid overseas exchanges.

With decades of industry experience and a genuine passion for helping young people succeed, Mike brings real-world knowledge and inspiration into the classroom every day.

A Passion for Aviation and Travel from a Young Age

Mike’s love for the tourism and airline industry started early.

“I was very fortunate that my family travelled frequently overseas when I was a kid and decided this was the industry for me, although I wasn’t sure which part at the time because the industry is so large.

The real passion started as a very young teenager, spending many weekends riding my bike out to Auckland International Airport with a friend plane spotting. My love for commercial aircraft and airlines became overwhelming, and that’s when my passion for the airline industry was born. I have never lost that passion.”

A Career Across Airlines, Cruises and Tourism

Mike’s tourism journey began when he studied a Diploma in Travel Management at ATI. While studying, he secured a Managerial Cadetship with Atlantic & Pacific Travel, one of New Zealand’s largest travel wholesalers and agencies at the time.

His dream of working for an international airline soon became reality.

“After three years at A&P, I was employed as a Sales Executive with Thai Airways. It was my dream job — working in sales for a large international airline.”

From there, Mike went on to work with several major international airlines including Virgin Atlantic Pacific, Ansett and America West Airlines before moving into the cruise sector.

“My love for the cruising industry started with Holland America Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Marco Polo Cruises. I’ve also worked across many different parts of the industry including wholesale, retail, inbound tourism and GSA operations.”

Today, Mike brings this wealth of industry experience into the classroom for ITC students in Northland.

Preparing Students for Real Industry Success

Mike believes one of the most important parts of teaching is helping students build confidence, professionalism and practical skills that employers are genuinely looking for.

“With continuous training and experience across different parts of the tourism and travel industry, I feel well qualified to prepare students for the workforce.

I focus heavily on practical skills and interpersonal communication — not just basic customer service, but strategies that help students confidently work with clients, solve problems and communicate professionally.”

Mike also trains students in airline, hotel and cruise reservation systems, travel product knowledge, presentations and one-on-one consultation skills to ensure they are work-ready.

Mike with our Whangarei student at Industry Expo

Watching Northland Students Grow

One of Mike’s favourite parts of teaching is seeing students develop over the year.

“Seeing how much they grow within the first four to six months is incredible. The confidence and knowledge they gain compared to when they first start is amazing.

Another highlight is seeing students offered employment opportunities and internships at the end of the year.”

Sharing a Passion for the Industry

For Mike, teaching is about more than qualifications, it’s about helping students realise they can achieve careers they may never have thought possible.

“I love sharing my knowledge of the industry with the next generation and helping students achieve their dream of being part of such an exciting industry.”

He also believes Northland students bring something truly special to tourism.

“It’s important to teach students how to work professionally while still keeping the warm, hospitable nature that Northland people are known for. That is very special.”

Mike’s Advice for Future Tourism Students

Mike encourages students to see study as an investment in their future.

“One year is minimal in a lifetime of employment. Preparing and learning about the industry before entering it can make a huge difference.

Having advanced knowledge, practical skills and industry experience is invaluable to employers when selecting candidates for jobs.”

Through his passion, experience and dedication, Mike continues to make a lasting impact on students across Northland,  helping them build confidence, gain industry skills and take their first steps toward exciting careers in tourism and aviation.

Learn from experienced tutors like Mike at ITC

Study at ITC, where the entire team has experience in the industry and is excited to share everything they’ve learned with you!

 We’re enrolling now – so register today and kick start your own career in tourism and travel!

Switching to ITC: Your FAQs Answered

Thinking about switching to ITC? Here are some of the most common questions we hear!

Note about Fees Free: The Government has confirmed that final-year Fees Free will finish at the end of December 2026. Learners who complete an eligible provider-based qualification or work-based programme in 2026 will remain able to apply for their final-year Fees Free entitlement within 12 months of completion, up to 31 December 2027.

Sometimes we chat with students who are already studying at a tertiary level, but want to learn more about how we do things at ITC.

These students might already be studying travel and tourism, or they might be enrolled in a completely different course. They might be local and keen to join us on campus, or they might live elsewhere in Aotearoa and want to try our distance learning option with Study From Home.

Whatever the case, we’re always here to answer your questions – and perhaps even to welcome you to our ITC whanau!

Here are some of the most common questions we hear, and how we answer them.

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