Blue Generation Project

The Blue Generation project is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein
and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment

Coastal Tourism

WATCH AN INTRODUCTION TO COASTAL TOURISM

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT

The sub-sector represents one of the most important areas of the Blue Economy.

Tourism is a great resource for Europe and more than half of the total tourism accommodation in the EU is located on coastal areas. Coastal tourism accounted for 40% of the gross value added (GVA), 61 % of the jobs and 42% of the profits of the total EU Blue Economy in 2016.

This growth must be harnessed in a way that is sustainable and delivers robust economic development. There are a multitude of sectors and services that are on offer.

For example, Nautical tourism includes recreational boating, cruises, marinas, water sports as well as maritime history tourism, marine wildlife tourism and many other land-based related activities such as nautical museums and resorts.

Increasingly, tourists are attracted less by traditional “sun & beach” style vacations and are instead opting for innovative activities such as coastal and marine archaeology, subaquatic tourism and culinary traditions.

The operators of the industry are adapting and offering ever new solutions and ideas, like for example exploiting the potential of the digital platforms of the “collaborative economy”, providing an ever increasing scalable and tailored experience to the consumer, creating employment and helping the social, economical and cultural development of their environments.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been substantial for the European tourism industry, bringing it to an almost complete standstill in much of the first and second quarter of 2020. The repercussions will continue to be felt in the coming years with tourism only slowly restarting, initially at regional, domestic and European level. International tourism will likely be affected longer due to border closures and less willingness by tourists to travel by plane. The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) estimates a 60% to 80% reduction in international arrivals, amounting to losses of between €840 and €1.100 billion in export revenues worldwide. In Europe, the summer is a crucial season for tourism. According to the European Commission, EU residents make 385 million tourism trips during an average summer season (June-August) and spend €190 billion.

Some areas of the tourism sector may be affected longer than others. The 2020 season has so far shown a varying picture with some regions benefiting from consumer interest in non-mass tourism activities and domestic, as well as European tourism. Young people wanting to enter the blue economy will be impacted and will have to carefully analyse the job market in the region they have chosen and adapt their skill-set. New opportunities will arise as tourists also adapt their interest to the new normal of COVID-19 and activities that potentially offer easier social distancing will become more popular.


Hotels and Accommodation

Hotel Manager: A Hotel Manager oversees all operations and day-to-day activities in a hotel organisation. They take on a variety of duties including managing everything from accounting, sales, business development, and customer service. It is sometimes referred to as a Hotel Operations Manager. You'll be responsible for the day-to-day management of a hotel and its staff. You'll also be commercially accountable for budgeting and financial management and will need to plan, organise and direct all hotel services, including front-of-house (reception, concierge, and reservations), food and beverage operations and housekeeping. In larger hotels you'll often have a specific remit, such as guest services, accounting or marketing, and your role will form part of a general management team.

Water sports, Beach Sports

Skipper: The skipper of a floating vessel can be described as the heart of the vessel. He is responsible for the boat and takes care of everything related to it. As a rule, everything the skipper says should be treated like a command by those present on the boat, because at times, the decisions taken by the skipper are of paramount importance. The skipper’s job not only concerns the work on board, but it can also involve recommendations on interesting routes, new places to visit or guidelines to follow while in water or on shore. He is ultimately responsible not only for the safety of the boat, but also the safety, comfort and welfare of all those on board his boat.

Walking, Bicycle and Activity Hobbies

Service providers to the sector (ITC, Web based services, equipment supplies, printing services)

Infrastructure builders, operators and logistics

Agro and Rural Tourism

Gastronomic and Spa Tourism

Boat Maintenance Services

Ship Captain & Maritime Boat Captain: A Ship Captain or Maritime Boat Captain maintains ultimate command of the vessel they are operating. While this may be a high-pressure and demanding job, it is very much a rewarding experience, requiring someone with excellent people-management skills and an eye for detail. They have to ensure that all legal and company standards are adhered to in both the vessel and the crew, paying particular attention to any environmental issues such as oil spills or the emission of any other pollutants. Working within Maritime as a Ship or Boat Captain you will be responsible for the safety of the crew and any cargo, and so the Captain must regularly inspect vessels to assess whether they are seaworthy, and whether any machinery on-board is safe for use. Experience within the Maritime sector and technical knowledge of the vessel is required to be successful in this career, as is an in-depth understanding of tides, navigation and the effects of weather conditions.

Marina and yacht harbours

Boat charter and boat hire

Meet professionals working in coastal tourism in the menu Interview.

Congress and Events Tourism

Events and congresses are a key component of the coastal and maritime tourism sector. A number of high-profile events take place by the coast and benefit from the unique location. This includes a number of trade fairs providing their services to several industries. This includes those related to the coastal tourism industry, such as at the boating sector in the form of boat shows (Genoa, Cannes, Barcelona). There are a number of other high-profile events and congresses that take place at the coast. They require specific expertise and offer many job opportunities for young people. Working as a congress or event organiser requires a number of transferable skills, such as networking, people and organisational skills. It offers a highly attractive and gratifying work environment by bringing together regional, European and international audiences to Europe’s coastal locations.

There are 1,000’s of opportunities in this sector, here are a few examples:

  • Ship Captain & Maritime Boat Captain
  • A Ship Captain or Maritime Boat Captain maintains ultimate command of the vessel they are operating. While this may be a high-pressure and demanding job, it is very much a rewarding experience, requiring someone with excellent people-management skills and an eye for detail. They have to ensure that all legal and company standards are adhered to in both the vessel and the crew, paying particular attention to any environmental issues such as oil spills or the emission of any other pollutants. Working within Maritime as a Ship or Boat Captain you will be responsible for the safety of the crew and any cargo, and so the Captain must regularly inspect vessels to assess whether they are seaworthy, and whether any machinery on-board is safe for use. Experience within the Maritime sector and technical knowledge of the vessel is required to be successful in this career, as is an in-depth understanding of tides, navigation and the effects of weather conditions.

  • Beach Life guard
  • Lifeguards work at beaches, rivers, swimming pools and water parks where they ensure the safety of swimmers and water sport participants. Lifeguards explain and enforce safety rules, rescue people in danger, and use their first aid knowledge to save lives.

  • Coast Guard Services
  • Environmental Officer
  • ITC services i.e. Website designer
  • Description: Implementation of new projects, including preparation of documentation and coordination of the entire process

Tasks:

  • 3D modelling
  • Creating executive documentation
  • Contact with other company departments and subcontractors in order to prepare the implementation
  • Supervision of construction of the prototype
  • Correspondence and meetings with team members in France
  • Participation in the tests of the new mode
  • Product improvement

Skills needed:

  • Fluent service of design programs
  • Fluent communication in English
  • Good work organization and accuracy
  • Ability to improvise
  • Ability to work in a team

Working hours, patterns and environment career:

Working hours 7.00-15.00
Possibilities of development: improvement of skills needed in the current position, development within the position.

Qualification levels:

At the beginning:

  • Knowledge of English
  • Basic engineering knowledge
  • Ability to work with CAD programs.

Now:

  • Everything that at the beginning, but better and faster, and teamwork skills.
  • Future of the career: Ease of working thanks to the further development of computer aided design software.
  • Chef or Restaurant Staff
  • Marine Consultant
  • Description: Training for marine companies such as shipyards, marinas, refit yards, charter companies, marine services on the following matters: emergencies, environmental management, lean manufacturing, improving operations, quality management.

    Tasks:

    • Improving skills of the marine staff
    • Improve procedures
    • Achieve coordination amongst workers

    Skills needed:

    • Engineering knowledge
    • Marine operations knowledge
    • Environmental impact skills
    • Organizational skills
    • Educational “vocation”

    Working hours, patterns and environment career:

    Working hours 7.00-15.00
    Possibilities of development: improvement of skills needed in the current position, development within the position.

    • 9h-19h
    • Open timetables
    • Availability to travel
  • Water Sports Instructor
  • Walking Holiday Guide
  • Tour Guide As a tour guide, your job will involve introducing tourists to the unique and popular attractions, such as historical monuments, botanical gardens, museums, art galleries and other areas of cultural interest in coastal tourism areas. It also includes walks on beach places, tours on boat by the shore to see the coast and dolphins and other attractions. Your primary responsibilities will include planning and organizing tours around a certain coastal area. You will play the role of a cultural ambassador, offering commentary and interesting titbits of information, which will allow visitors to fully experience and enjoy the countries social, cultural and historical highlights.

  • Cycling Team Tour Guide Leader or Operator
  • Tourist Information Advisor
  • Travel Agent: The purpose of a Travel Agent is to sell transportation and accommodation to individuals and groups planning trips, in this case mostly to coastal areas. They provide advice on travel destinations, plan itineraries, and collect payments. These professionals are passionate about travel with an aptitude for sales and customer service.

  • Apartment and Villa rental agent
  • Property Management
  • Charter Vessel Operations
  • Excursion Operations
  • Power boat skipper or instructor
Interview 1

With thanks to: Carl H.

How would you describe your Job?

I started my own business 10 years ago in Cala Dor, Mallorca, Maintaining and Cleaning boats. The business has now grown and I now have a small team working with me. It is very enjoyable work.

What tasks do you have to do in your work?

Day to day we provide a range of services to our client boat owners inc. - Interior and exterior cleaning, laundry, dry cleaning, steam cleaning - Repairs to gel, teak, fittings, - Maintenance to electric systems, generators and engines

Do you need any special Skills or Qualifications to do your job?

A large amount of common sense, a willingness to learn, some basic practical abilities and a positive outlook will get you far. As many of our clients are English as well as Spanish, languages are very important.

What do you think the future brings in this sector?

This sector is growing and there are more and more new, bigger boats coming to the western Med every year. The owners demand many services and we and other people working in this sector are well placed to enjoy the results.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The work is very fulfilling. It not only allows me to continuously interact with my customers but also I see my staff develop their knowledge and skills through the work experience. But other than the job itself, there are not many careers in the world where you can work hard for 9 months of the year and then at a much slower pace for 3. The boats I work on are valued between 50,000€ and 4 million € which means the work environment is pretty impressive. Finally, I am also a qualified professional skipper which means I get to drive these amazing machines as part of my job.

Do you have any tips for someone considering a similar career to yours?

Essentially, if you have a passion for the work and then you can develop a small enterprise into a prosperous affair. I love what I do and I recommend this as a job to any young person with lots of common sense. But in the end, it entirely depends on which seagoing career path you would like to follow.

Interview 2

With thanks to: Lucia Vilaplana Blasco (Administration)

How did you become interested in the marine environment?

It was a coincidence; I never had any contact with this sector before my job interview. I’m very glad I did, since it is a very pleasant sector to work with.

What are your tasks?

I am responsible for the administration and accountability department of a marine consulting company. I manage our clients boat documents and make sure everything is correct. My job is to flag and register new or used recreational boats. This includes change of ownership, listing, change of name or navigation area, port of registration, and dealing with all the documents related to the boat. I also organize surveys, make labor contracts for crews, provide insurance quotations, incorporating companies. I am also responsible for all of the accounting of our company, including managing payments from suppliers, paying fees and taxes and preparation of the quarterly and annual statements.

Do you need any special Skills or Qualifications to do your job?

The main ability to carry out the tasks with the greatest possible professionalism is organisation, perseverance and the desire to learn. I also have to deal with clients and therefore it is very The main ability to carry out the tasks with the greatest possible professionalism is organisation, perseverance and the desire to learn. I also have to deal with clients and therefore it is very important to be educated and kind. Knowing how to work in a group is also a must. Degree in administration and accounting is the preferable certificate. One of the qualifications to work here is to be able to speak different languages and to have the desire to work. You need to be organized. Knowledge about the nautical sector is also important.

What do you think the future brings in this sector?

More than changing the profession in the future I would change the way we work to be more effective. Our aim is to provide more high-quality services to the customer.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What I most enjoy is having contact with people working in this industry. You find passionate people working in it.

Do you have any tips for someone considering a similar career to yours?

Learning English and other languages is really important. Perseverance and the desire to learn will help them to be able to start a career in our sector.

Interview 3

With thanks to: Marek Wąsowski (Designer)

How did you become interested in the marine environment?

Through a passion for sailing and an article in "Żagle" ("Sails") magazine about the profession of yacht designer, which I read as a kid and I already knew what to do.

What was your entry route?

When I finished my studies, I found an ad from Ostróda Yacht, I sent a CV and go the position.

What are your tasks?

As a designer and project manager, I deal with comprehensive implementation of a new product from the planning phase, cooperation with designers and marketing through tests and modifications, and preparation for serial production. My duties cover construction and design issues, including the preparation of documentation and planning of the entire process.

More than changing the profession in the future I would change the way we work to be more effective. Our aim is to provide more high-quality services to the customer.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Variety of tasks and contact with people.

Do you have any tips for someone considering a similar career to yours?

Practice on production, then the transition from building forms, through lamination to assembly and then to the office.

Interview 4

With thanks to: Jose Luis Fayos (Marine consultant)

How did you become interested in the marine environment?

I like boats and sailing.

What was your entry route?

Working as consultant for marinas, at the beginning as an environmental consultant.

What are your tasks?

Assessing my customers and being on time with the deadlines.

Do you need any special Skills or Qualifications to do your job?

As an expert assessing marine companies it is very important being qualified including in technical and management skills.

What do you think the future brings in this sector?

Training in the marine industry will change with the support of the new technologies and providing more detailed and customized courses, probably using simulators and specific apps.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The marine environment where the business is developed and the opportunity to change day to day and meet new companies and people.

Do you have any tips for someone considering a similar career to yours?

Be passionate of what you do and enjoy it.

Interview 5

With thanks to: Marzena Pietrołaj (Specialist for product quality)

How did you become interested in the marine environment?

The marine industry connected to me my due to my interest in motorization and with time, also the field of study, which I chose to choose - Ship and Yacht Construction at Gdańsk University of Technology.

What was your entry route?

After completing two internships (additional and compulsory), I wanted to continue my cooperation with Ostróda Yachts.

What are your tasks?

I deal with qualitative and complaints as well as prototype validation and testing. I am responsible for the technical documentation of the projects.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The work dynamics and teamwork. The duties performed allow to acquire a wide range of knowledge regarding the design and construction of the yacht.

What do you think the future brings in this sector?

Changes are very possible, both at the software stage, which is used to create boat models as well as in the scope of production processes and their instrumentation.

Do you have any tips for someone considering a similar career to yours?

If someone is interested in working in a technical profession and gets pleasure from creative work, he should find himself in a similar position.

Interview 6

With thanks to: Paulina

Interview 7

With thanks to: Sara Carasco Samartin

Interview 8

With thanks to: Veronica Gonzalo

Interview 9

WIth thanks to: Stafan

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