The Rugby World Cup in 2011 is going to bring an unprecedented number of tourists to the shores of New Zealand, which provides all businesses, especially in the tourism industry, the chance to generate additional revenue and capitalise on the popularity of the event and the increased numbers of potential customers. Furthermore, as we are now entering the peak summer months of tourism trade, the next year represents a period where the recessionary woes are placed beyond memory and strategies are put in place to capitalise on the promising times ahead.

Totalling a number of 48 matches over a period of six weeks, the games are dispersed throughout twelve regions in New Zealand. Research from the New Zealand Government has estimated that more than 85,000 visitors will result as a direct result of the Rugby World Cup, with more as an indirect consequence of the event. It has been estimated that the event will add an extra $500 million in additional revenue earnings for the country.

Furthermore, with the extended worldwide coverage, it provides the perfect platform for New Zealand, and the businesses contained within, to showcase their capabilities to a captive worldwide audience. Tourism businesses have a real opportunity to capture the business of the increased visitors, while building long term brand awareness, communication channels and sales channels for driving business results after the Rugby World Cup is over.

Nonetheless, the ability of hospitality and tourism industry to capitalise, both in the short and long term, from the Rugby World Cup, means that those businesses must ensure that they possess qualified and experienced staff that will ensure that customer experiences exceed their expectations. As a result of this, there will be an unprecedented demand for qualified tourism specialists in all positions including front of house staff, to tour and activity operators, to those charged with responsibilities of management and marketing.

As a direct result of this, tourism training will become a key component of any strategy to maximise the benefits from the event; whether this involves up skilling current staff or hiring new staff that possess the necessary education and skills to make an impact on the business success and bottom line profits. Those students attending tourism training courses are in a luxurious position of being in high demand in the very near future – the peak tourism periods demand higher numbers to be involved in the tourism industry while the Rugby World Cup will be even more influential in human resource requirements of many tourism businesses. Capitalise on the opportunities that are being presented and enrol in a tourism training course today.