The tourism industry needs leaders able to think strategically as it rebounds from floods, cyclones and exchange rate pressures.

That's according to Capricorn Enterprise Tourism Manager Krista Brown, who says a deep, strategic-level understanding of tourism achievable through a university degree is valuable for students who aspire to leadership roles in the industry.

Tourism industry manager Krista Brown believes in the value of university study

Krista is a tourism graduate of CQUniversity, which is now introducing fresh Bachelor of Tourism and Bachelor of Business (Tourism) degrees.

She says her tourism studies gave her a head start in the industry, leading to roles with companies such as; award winning Capricorn Caves, Marketing Manager at Capricorn Resort Yeppoon as well as Capricorn Enterprise, where she is now responsible for managing the Tourism and Marketing Department.

This current role includes destination marketing, product development, brand and communication and overseeing the region's five accredited Visitor Information Centres.

As well as her Bachelor of Tourism degree through CQUniversity, Krista has a Certificate IV Heritage & Interpretive Tourism, and is currently undertaking graphic design studies to extend her skills.

The new CQUniversity Tourism programs cover areas such as tourism management and marketing, as well as key consumer tourism areas such as events, special interest tourism, nature-based tourism, and resort and hotel management.

The Bachelor of Business (Tourism) also allows students to choose a number of elective subjects that give them the flexibility to pursue other interests and career goals such as human resource management and marketing.

There's still time for applications for degrees starting in late February. To explore your options further contact CQUniversity via http://www.cqu.edu.au/ or 13 CQUni (13 27 86).

The first graduates from the two new CQUniversity Tourism programs due to begin in February will be presented with an unprecedented demand for their services as they enter an Australian tourism industry facing a shortage of more than 90,000 workers.

A recent Australian Government report confirmed an estimated 35,800 current tourism vacancies across the nation, with an additional 56,000 people needed by 2015, the same year the majority of CQUniversity's first group of Bachelor of Tourism and Bachelor of Business (Tourism) graduates will enter the job market.

With the report finding almost half of the vacancies would require skilled workers; CQUniversity Head of Tourism Programs Dr Scott Richardson said the timing could not be better for the graduates, who will be in unprecedented demand.

"We expect gaps throughout the industry and, with our graduates highly trained in a number of aspects of the tourism business, the opportunities will be substantial," Dr Richardson said.

"It won't stop in 2015 either, with China, South-East Asia and India booming, the number of inbound and outbound tourists will be larger than ever before and will provide opportunities throughout the region.

"Australia in particular will be well placed to capitalise on the rapidly expanding number of Chinese tourists, so it will be an incredibly exciting time for the tourism industry here."

The report acknowledged the crucial role CQUniversity and other educational institutions would play in addressing the shortage, citing a need for skilled workers as among the "most prominent labour force pressures facing the industry", with structured career pathways and better training key factors in meeting the demand.

The new programs will be offered at CQUniversity's Noosa and Mackay campuses, as well as by distance education, and Dr Richardson said the programs would offer solid career pathways into local, national and international tourism industries.

"We engage directly with local industry - such as Mackay Tourism, Tourism Noosa, Tourism Whitsundays and the Sheraton Noosa - to ensure the program is relevant to industry needs," Dr Richardson said.

"CQUniversity also recently was appointed as an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), which is the leading international tourism body, and the University is also a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

"These memberships allow us access to the latest data, research and policy decisions relating to tourism at the highest international level."

Dr Richardson and fellow CQUniversity tourism lecturer Steve Noakes are members of the UNTWO's Global Panel of Tourism Experts, a group of leading industry figures appointed to give strategic policy advice to the organisation on international tourism issues.

Dr Richardson said, between them, he and Mr Noakes had more than 45 years of experience in the tourism industry.