Cayuga Community College to offer tourism-management certificate

AUBURN, N.Y. — Cayuga Community College is launching a new, one-year, tourism-management certificate program.

The community college will offer the certificate program beginning in the fall semester, which starts Aug. 29, it said in a news release.

The program prepares students for entry-level careers in tour companies, tourism bureaus, destination-marketing organizations, tourism-promotion agencies, visitor centers, cruise lines, inns, and hotels.

Some of the courses in the certificate program are available in the traditional classroom setting, but Cayuga Community College also notes that the courses are available “fully” online.

Classes are offered over the course of two consecutive semesters, with students taking five courses each semester, the school said.

Courses include marketing for hospitality and tourism, introduction to tourism, and business communications.

The program also incorporates a business internship to provide “hands-on” learning.

Cayuga Community College has arranged internship opportunities at the Cayuga County Office of Tourism, Auburn Holiday Inn, Auburn Hilton Garden Inn, Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, The Lodge at Welch Allyn, and the Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District.

The community college says it has developed the certificate program to “address a demand” it has seen for jobs in the tourism industry.

New York’s tourism industry includes more than 10,000 businesses in the performing arts, sports, amusement, gambling and other recreation industries, the school said. The industry also includes historical sites, museums, and 146 wineries.

Cayuga Community College also cites the Finger Lakes regional office of Empire State Development as indicating destination tourism is one of the “top 10 industries in the area.”

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com