A lot of effort has obviously paid off for two students from Llangattwg Comprehensive School - their excellent work on their GNVQ Travel and Tourism assignments has resulted in them being invited to address the delegates of the Global Travel and Tourism Programme in Glasgow later this month.

Travel and Tourism is big business, employing more people world-wide than any other industry – but there difficulties in recruiting quality people into the industry whilst competing with other employment sectors. Diverse cultures and economies such as Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Hungary, Hong Kong and South Africa have similar problems in recruitment and need to attract people into Tourism by providing quality education programmes in their schools and colleges.

The Annual Global Travel and Tourism Conference brings together 11 directors of Travel and Tourism Programmes worldwide to discuss global tourism issues, share developments in each other’s programmes and to plan for the future. The meeting in Glasgow will also focus on Springboard UK’s Travel and Tourism Programme and look at the developments in the UK over the past year. All delegates will receive copies of the innovative resource packs that Springboard has developed in conjunction with partners such as Legoland Windsor and Techniquest, Cardiff.

Greg Williams, 15 and Lloyd Williams, 15 (no relation!) will have an opportunity to tell the delegates how they have benefited from their school’s membership of the TTP which has resulted in exceptional support for the Travel and Tourism curriculum and information and guidance on careers in the industry through activities facilitated by Springboard Wales.

Greg and Lloyd will also enjoy 2 days in Glasgow, a trip to Gleneagles Resort Hotel, and a further night in London where the conference concludes with a Dinner at the House of Commons, preceded by a ride on the London Eye.

Greg said, “I’m looking forward to meeting all the delegates from the different countries. Before I took this course I wasn’t aware of the sheer size of the tourism industry and the range of opportunities available. I am interested in following an IT career, but within this sector – I’m sure that this experience will improve my understanding and knowledge of the range of employment opportunities available to me in the future”.

Jayne Clancy, their teacher, added, “My involvement and experiences through membership of the TTP have opened my eyes to this vocational area. The TTP links give industry relevance to my teaching and the recent events at Dan yr Ogof and Oakwood Leisure have provided very valuable resources and information for my students and myself”.