Come Fly with Me: Careers That Travel

World Tourism Day is September 27 – so what better time to feature some of the best ways you can be a professional tourist? Here are a few transportable careers that could see you traipsing the entire globe.

Travel writing

An obvious portable profession given the title, travel writing provides a great gateway to the world. Be warned that it may not be as glamorous as an episode of Getaway and it won’t always be five- star. Or three-star. It could possibly be no-star.

Having said this, it’s a great way to get culture and coin at the same time. My own travel writing experiences are limited to working for a regional newspaper and being sent 300km down the coast at the request of Port Macquarie Tourism. Even without the frequent flyer points, a weekend of all expenses paid had me feeling like a bit of a rock star.

TESOL

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is high on the list of roving roles. While some teachers remain in Australia and teach to non-English speakers domestically, there is plenty of room to travel and teach abroad.

Given that there’s no single governing body for TESOL jobs worldwide and the requirements differ by country, be sure to do your research first. Asia is considered to be one of the top destinations for TESOL professionals but other potential working destinations include Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Hospitality

Much of the hospitality industry is founded on travel so it only makes sense that the job opportunities are just as mobile. Whether it be working as wait staff for a cash injection while travelling or something a little more long term, the world is your hospitable oyster.

You don’t necessarily have to wait until you’re overseas to find work, either. With Hilton Worldwide boasting more than 540 hotels and resorts around the globe, this is one industry where transfers are definitely included.

Business

Business travellers get the roomier seats and the plush lounges. Business, as broad a category as that is, can take you almost anywhere – and often does. Business dealings cross all borders and money is the international language, so business credentials can be your ticket to the world.

Trade shows are one example of how business professionals can log an impressive amount of airtime. From domestic to international, business people follow the exhibition trail to make the most of these modern marketplaces. My own experiences with expos, while limited to NSW, still provided a change of scenery from my computer screen and the opportunity to meet new people. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a novelty staying in motels either.

There are plenty of jet-setting jobs out there to choose from – so if travel is your passion, why not make it your profession as well!