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Tourism

Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the United States and, after the health services industry, employs the most workers in the country.  Wisconsin expects to need 13 to 14 percent more people in this industry by the year 2014.

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism helped lead the tourism industry in the development of this Youth Apprenticeship Program to meet the demand for highly skilled personnel.

Work-Based Requirements

Industry mentors are trained to teach youth apprentices the skills and knowledge needed to find entry level employment in the tourism industry.

Youth apprentices may rotate through up to four major areas at the worksite (see Skills Standards Checklist) and take related classroom instruction at the local high school, technical college or at the worksite.

The Tourism program has two options available. The one-year option includes two semesters of classroom instruction which support a minimum of 450 work hours. The two-year option includes four semesters of classroom instruction, which support 900 work hours.

Related Instruction Requirements

Tourism instruction focuses on:

• Customer Service, Marketing, Sales and Public Relations
  This unit provides an in-depth exposure to the principles of customer service, human resources, the functions of sales and marketing and how they impact an organization, and an introduction to the functions of public relations.
• Human Resources and Public Relations
  Hiring, staffing and training functions in addition to an in-depth introduction to public relations are included in this unit.
• Management Operations and Fiscal Resources
  Development of specific skills in managerial functions and fiscal responsibility are introduced.
• Specialized Training
  This unit combines higher level skills with class work in a specialty area. Youth apprentices select from two the following specialties:
  • Banquet and Convention Services
  • Recreation Services
  • Member Services
  • Special Events
  • Motorcoach Services

Skill Certificate and Advanced Standing

After successful completion of the requirements for a high school diploma and the school-based and work-based requirements for Youth Apprenticeship, the students receive a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency from the Department of Workforce Development.  Students who complete the two-year Tourism Youth Apprenticeship are eligible to receive nine or more advanced standing credits from a Wisconsin Technical College offering Tourism related associate degree programs.

Downloadable Documents

Skills Standards Checklist
Order Form from Dept. of Administration Document Sales Unit