Cairns Tourism Employment
Hotel swimming pool, Cairns Esplanade
Being such a popular tourist destination, a significant proportion of employment opportunities in Cairns are in the tourism industry. Locals’ knowledge of Cairns is highly valued by the region’s visitors, and travel agencies, tour desks and accommodation properties rely on the friendliness and approachable nature of Cairns residents.
Cairns residents interested in a tourism job might wish to pursue the following popular employment options:
- Tour guide (multi-lingual tour guides, especially Japanese and German, are particularly sought-after)
- Travel agent reservations
- Car rental reservations
- Resort/hotel management
- Hotel receptionist
- Dive instructor
- Dive boat crew
- Helicopter flight assistant
- Sales & marketing
...and many, many more.
Employment in tourism provides a wealth of useful skills and knowledge. Customer service frequently plays a role in tourism jobs, and local knowledge amassed from one position will help with the next.
Finding and applying for a tourism job
When seeking a job in tourism, your industry contacts will be your best starting point. Consider joining organisations such as the Cairns Tourism Association, Cairns Chamber of Commerce and the Cairns Business Women’s Club, or volunteer at the Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) visitor information centre on the Cairns Esplanade.
A prospective employer will be primarily seeking a friendly, likeable, approachable person. Local knowledge is important, but not as important as a genuine enthusiasm to learn more about Tropical North Queensland and convey its attractions to visitors. An acute ability to identify market trends and develop novel marketing concepts will be appreciated for sales & marketing positions.
To contact an employment agency specialising in the Cairns tourism industry, browse our employment agencies page.