Transformations  in
Business & Economics

FUTURE PROFESSIONALS' PERCEPTION OF CAREER IN TOURISM SECTOR - THE CHALLENGES OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Vilija Bite Fominiene, Biruta Svagzdiene

ABSTRACT. The article analyses the career management of tourism sector professionals as an essential part of organisation's human resources, focusing on future professionals' career perception and expectations. As it becomes evident that the subjects of human resource management in Lithuanian tourism organisations have no knowledge of the perception of future professionals, this research focuses on the establishment of future professionals' career perceptions in tourism sector. To reach this aim, quantitative method of research was chosen. The research results showed that the majority of students, studying in the study programme that provides the skills necessary to work in the tourism sector, did not choose this programme randomly and they are planning to work in the tourism sector after graduation Family members, friends working in tourism sector and priority of study programme influenced their choice of studies. However, the majority of future professionals have a rather vague perception of tourism sector and have not set their career aims. Women tend to work in the tourism sector more frequently than men; so far, females have not demonstrated negative perception of career opportunities in this sector .

KEYWORDS:  tourism, career, human resource management, students.

JEL classification:  L83, I23, M12.