Destination manager to tour operator manager
A destination manager already meets 59% of what the tour operator manager role asks for. The move turns on 14 required skills not yet in the profile.
51.6/ 100
1 How much of what a tour operator manager is expected to do is already part of a destination manager’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the tour operator manager role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A tour operator manager role treats 16 of its required skills as things a destination manager already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- build a network of suppliers in tourism
- build business relationships
- comply with food safety and hygiene
- develop strategies for accessibility
- manage budgets
- manage contracts
What stands in the way is 14 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 33 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A tour operator manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a destination manager background worth leading with.
- already held select optimal distribution channel management skills
- already held oversee the design of touristic publications management skills
- already held oversee the printing of touristic publications management skills
- already held manage production of destination promotional materials communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held manage distribution of destination promotional materials communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held develop strategies for accessibility management skills
All 33 carried skills, including the 16 the tour operator manager role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 18 missing skills fall into 4 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn translate strategy into operation required
- still to learn develop revenue generation strategies required
- still to learn prepare travel packages required
- still to learn manage distribution channels required
- still to learn plan marketing strategy required
- still to learn plan medium to long term objectives required
- optional, not held identify suppliers optional
- still to learn negotiate tourism rates required
- still to learn develop tourism products required
- still to learn maintain customer service required
- still to learn maximise sales revenues required
- still to learn provide customised products required
- optional, not held develop tourism destinations optional
- optional, not held negotiate tourism experience purchases optional
- still to learn handle personal identifiable information required
- still to learn oversee quality control required
- still to learn tourism market required
- optional, not held property management software optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a tour operator manager role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 negotiate tourism rates practise this
- 02 translate strategy into operation practise this
- 03 develop revenue generation strategies practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 33 skills that carry over
- already held build a network of suppliers in tourism skill
- already held build business relationships skill
- already held comply with food safety and hygiene skill
- already held develop strategies for accessibility skill
- already held manage budgets skill
- already held manage contracts skill
- already held manage staff skill
- already held manage visitor flows in natural protected areas skill
- already held measure customer feedback skill
- already held oversee the design of touristic publications skill
- already held oversee the printing of touristic publications skill
- already held perform market research skill
- already held recruit employees skill
- already held sales strategies knowledge
- already held select optimal distribution channel skill
- already held set up pricing strategies skill
- already held augmented reality knowledge
- already held coordinate operational activities skill
- already held create annual marketing budget skill
- already held develop working procedures skill
- already held ecotourism knowledge
- already held educate on sustainable tourism skill
- already held engage local communities in the management of natural protected areas skill
- already held improve customer traveling experiences with augmented reality skill
- already held manage conservation of natural and cultural heritage skill
- already held manage distribution of destination promotional materials skill
- already held manage production of destination promotional materials skill
- already held promote virtual reality travelling experiences skill
- already held self-service technologies in tourism knowledge
- already held support community-based tourism skill
- already held support local tourism skill
- already held use e-tourism platforms skill
- already held virtual reality knowledge
4 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held develop tourism destinations optional
- optional, not held negotiate tourism experience purchases optional
- optional, not held property management software optional
- optional, not held identify suppliers optional
24 held skills the tour operator manager role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role apply strategic thinking skill
- not needed by the target role assess an area as a tourism destination skill
- not needed by the target role build a strategic marketing plan for destination management skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate efforts of stakeholders for destination promotion skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate public-private partnerships in tourism skill
- not needed by the target role deliver presentations on tourism skill
- not needed by the target role design press kit for media skill
- not needed by the target role develop inclusive communication material skill
- not needed by the target role develop tourist information materials skill
- not needed by the target role execute marketing plan skill
- not needed by the target role geographical areas relevant to tourism knowledge
- not needed by the target role lead the brand strategic planning process skill
- not needed by the target role local area tourism industry knowledge
- not needed by the target role maintain relationship with suppliers skill
- not needed by the target role manage yield skill
- not needed by the target role market analysis knowledge
- not needed by the target role measure sustainability of tourism activities skill
- not needed by the target role plan digital marketing skill
- not needed by the target role plan measures to safeguard cultural heritage skill
- not needed by the target role plan measures to safeguard natural protected areas skill
- not needed by the target role report touristic facts skill
- not needed by the target role supervise crew skill
- not needed by the target role tourist resources of a destination for further development knowledge
- not needed by the target role train employees skill
2 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn tourism market required
- optional, not held property management software optional
Common questions about this move
Can a destination manager become a tour operator manager?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A destination manager already covers 59% of what a tour operator manager is expected to do: 33 skills carry over, 16 of which the tour operator manager role treats as required.
What skills does a destination manager need to become a tour operator manager?
14 required skills are missing, plus 4 optional ones. They fall into 4 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by management skills. The single most important is negotiate tourism rates.
How hard is the move from destination manager to tour operator manager?
Its learning distance is 51.6 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.