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Tourism Manager Cover Letter: Example, Template + How to Write One in Australia

Tourism Manager Cover Letter Guide + Winning Examples
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Struggling to translate your passion for travel and destination management into words that capture an employer’s attention? You’re not alone. Many experienced tourism professionals find it challenging to convey their industry knowledge and strategic thinking in a compelling cover letter that stands out in Australia’s competitive tourism sector. The challenge lies in balancing operational expertise with strategic vision while demonstrating both your customer service excellence and your ability to drive visitor numbers and revenue growth. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to craft a tourism manager cover letter that showcases your unique blend of destination marketing, stakeholder engagement, and business development skills. Whether you’re a recent graduate working towards professional development with Tourism Research Australia or an experienced professional looking to advance your career, you’ll discover proven strategies to land interviews at tourism boards, attractions, and hospitality organisations across Australia.

Tourism Manager Cover Letter Example (Text Version)

Rebecca Armstrong
[email protected]
0424 678 901
linkedin.com/in/rebeccaarmstrongtourism

2 June 2025

Mr Andrew Sullivan
General Manager
Great Ocean Road Tourism
100 Great Ocean Road
Torquay VIC 3228

Dear Mr Sullivan,

Your organisation’s innovative approach to sustainable tourism development, particularly the recent “Protect Our Coast” campaign that balanced visitor growth with environmental conservation, aligns perfectly with my commitment to responsible destination management. As a tourism professional with seven years of experience in regional destination marketing and visitor experience management, I am excited to apply for the Tourism Manager position advertised on the organisation’s careers page.

During my tenure as Tourism Development Officer at Grampians Tourism, I managed strategic initiatives that increased regional visitor numbers by 28% over three years whilst improving visitor satisfaction scores from 4.1 to 4.7 stars across key attractions. My work coordinating 45 tourism operators resulted in the successful development of three new touring routes, generated $3.2 million in additional visitor expenditure, and positioned the Grampians as Victoria’s premier nature-based tourism destination. My expertise spans destination marketing, stakeholder engagement, and tourism product development, with particular strengths in building collaborative partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and community groups to deliver sustainable tourism outcomes. I hold a Bachelor of Business (Tourism Management) from La Trobe University and have completed professional development through Tourism Australia’s Destination Marketing Programme.

What distinguishes me is my ability to balance commercial imperatives with community and environmental considerations. My recent development of a dispersal strategy for the Pinnacle Lookout reduced peak-time congestion by 35% whilst extending visitor dwell time across the region by an average of 4.2 hours, benefiting accommodation providers and hospitality businesses throughout the area. I work collaboratively with tourism operators, local councils, Parks Victoria, and Traditional Owners to ensure tourism development respects cultural heritage and natural values whilst delivering economic benefits. My technical proficiency with Tourism Research Australia data, social media analytics platforms, and destination management systems, combined with my understanding of Tourism Australia’s marketing frameworks and Victorian tourism strategies, enables me to develop evidence-based initiatives that drive visitation whilst maintaining destination integrity and community support.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my destination management expertise and commitment to sustainable tourism can contribute to Great Ocean Road Tourism’s vision of being Australia’s most iconic coastal destination. I am available for an interview at your convenience and can provide references from tourism industry partners and local government stakeholders upon request.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Armstrong
[email protected]
0424 678 901
linkedin.com/in/rebeccaarmstrongtourism

How to Format a Tourism Manager Cover Letter

  • Length: Max 1 page (3–5 paragraphs)
  • Font: Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman (10–12pt)
  • Spacing: Single or 1.15 line spacing
  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides
  • File format: PDF

What to Include in a Tourism Manager Cover Letter (Australia)

Crafting an effective tourism manager cover letter requires a strategic approach that demonstrates both your industry knowledge and strategic capabilities to potential employers in Australia’s tourism sector.

  1. Contact Details: Include your full name, professional email, mobile number, LinkedIn profile, and optionally your professional website showcasing tourism projects or campaigns you’ve managed.
  2. Salutation: Address the letter to the specific hiring manager, general manager, chief executive, or tourism director. Research the organisation’s leadership team via their website or LinkedIn to find the appropriate contact person.
  3. Opening paragraph: Hook the reader by mentioning specific campaigns, attractions, or strategic initiatives of the organisation, state the position you’re applying for, and provide a compelling summary of your key qualifications including relevant experience and tourism sector knowledge.
  4. Middle paragraph(s): Highlight your most relevant tourism management experience, destination marketing achievements, stakeholder engagement successes, and measurable outcomes. Quantify achievements where possible and demonstrate knowledge of tourism trends, visitor data analysis, and your ability to work with diverse stakeholders across the Australian tourism industry.
  5. Closing paragraph: Express enthusiasm for the opportunity, mention your understanding of the destination’s unique positioning and challenges, and include a confident call to action that demonstrates your readiness to drive visitor growth and sustainable tourism outcomes.

Right vs Wrong Example

“Having followed Tourism Tasmania’s award-winning ‘Come Down for Air’ campaign and your recent success in attracting high-yield international visitors whilst maintaining authentic Tasmanian experiences, I was excited to discover your opening for a Regional Tourism Manager. With a Bachelor of Tourism Management from Southern Cross University, certification in Destination Management from the Australian Tourism Export Council, and five years of experience developing tourism products across regional Australia, I bring proven expertise in stakeholder coordination, marketing strategy development, and delivering measurable increases in visitor expenditure and length of stay.”
“I am writing to apply for the tourism manager position at your organisation. I have experience in tourism and hospitality and love to travel. I think I would be good at promoting destinations because I enjoy learning about different places.”

Entry-Level Tourism Manager Cover Letter Tips

Breaking into tourism management in Australia requires strategic positioning that emphasises your industry knowledge and customer service experience alongside your formal qualifications.

  • Focus on transferable skills and enthusiasm: Highlight customer service excellence, marketing abilities, project coordination experience, and any hospitality, events, or retail work that demonstrates understanding of visitor expectations and business operations
  • Highlight course projects, volunteering or part-time work: Showcase your university industry placement projects, any work with visitor information centres, volunteer roles at tourism events or festivals, or experience in hotels, tour operations, or attractions
  • Show career motivation: Demonstrate your commitment to the industry through membership with organisations like the Australian Tourism Export Council, completion of additional certifications, participation in tourism conferences, or knowledge of current tourism trends and challenges

Entry-Level Cover Letter Sample for Tourism Manager

“As a recent Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management graduate from Griffith University with distinction and completion of a six-month industry placement at Gold Coast Tourism, I bring contemporary destination marketing knowledge combined with practical experience in visitor services and stakeholder engagement. During my placement, I assisted with the coordination of the Destination Gold Coast trade famil programme, supporting 12 international wholesalers through itinerary planning and operator meetings that resulted in three new product listings worth an estimated $450,000 in annual bookings. My capstone research project analysing social media sentiment for Queensland’s tourism regions was commended by Tourism and Events Queensland and demonstrated my ability to apply data analytics to strategic tourism planning.”
“I recently graduated with a tourism degree but don’t have management experience yet. However, I’m passionate about travel and tourism. I’m looking for an entry-level position where I can learn about destination marketing and develop my tourism management skills.”

Top Mistakes to Avoid in a Tourism Manager Cover Letter

  • Repeating your resume word-for-word: Your cover letter should provide strategic context and demonstrate your destination management philosophy to complement your CV, not duplicate it
  • Not addressing the company or role directly: Failing to research the destination’s unique selling points, target markets, or current strategic priorities shows lack of genuine interest and industry awareness
  • Using filler phrases like “I’m a team player” without proof: Instead, provide specific examples of successful partnerships with tourism operators, government agencies, or community stakeholders that delivered tangible outcomes
  • Focusing only on personal travel experiences: While passion for travel is valuable, employers need evidence of professional destination management, stakeholder coordination, and business development capabilities
  • Ignoring sustainability and community considerations: Modern tourism management requires balancing growth with environmental protection and community wellbeing – demonstrate this awareness

How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to a Job Ad

  • Use keywords from the ad (but naturally): If they mention “stakeholder engagement” or “tourism product development,” incorporate these terms when describing your relevant experience
  • Mirror the tone and priorities of the employer: A regional tourism organisation will value different qualities than a major attraction, tour operator, or state tourism body
  • Mention specific tools, software or experience if listed: Highlight familiarity with their preferred systems (Tourism Research Australia data, CRM platforms, destination management systems) and relevant market segments or tourism sectors
  • Research the destination’s positioning: Reference the organisation’s marketing campaigns, target markets, or strategic plans to demonstrate industry knowledge and genuine interest in their destination

How to Sign Off Your Tourism Manager Cover Letter

  • Use “Sincerely,” “Kind regards,” or “Yours sincerely” for professional closing
  • Include full name, phone number, and email address for easy contact
  • Add LinkedIn profile if it showcases your professional achievements and tourism industry connections
  • Keep it professional yet personable – reflecting the relationship-focused nature of tourism

Cover Letter Signature Example

Kind regards,

James Mitchell
[email protected]
0417 890 234
linkedin.com/in/jamesmitchelltourism

How to Submit a Cover Letter in Australia

  • Always attach as a PDF (unless instructed otherwise) to maintain formatting across different devices and operating systems
  • Label file professionally (e.g. JamesMitchell_CoverLetter_GreatOceanRoad.pdf) for easy identification by hiring managers
  • If submitting via Seek or LinkedIn, include a brief personalised message in the application along with your attached documents
  • Follow submission guidelines exactly – tourism organisations may have specific requirements for portfolio examples, campaign samples, or additional documentation demonstrating your marketing work
  • Include relevant examples when requested, such as marketing campaigns you’ve developed, stakeholder reports, or tourism strategy documents (ensuring confidentiality is maintained)

Final Tips for Writing a Great Tourism Manager Cover Letter

  • Make every sentence count – avoid tourism clichés and focus on clear statements about destination outcomes and strategic initiatives
  • Use enthusiastic, professional language that reflects your genuine passion for the destination and tourism industry
  • Proofread carefully – attention to detail is crucial when representing destinations and coordinating complex stakeholder relationships, and errors suggest carelessness
  • Match tone to employer (formal for government tourism bodies, more dynamic for attractions or adventure tourism operators)
  • Quantify achievements where possible – mention visitor number increases, revenue growth, campaign reach, stakeholder engagement metrics, or satisfaction improvements with specific figures
  • Show strategic thinking – demonstrate how your initiatives connected to broader destination objectives like seasonality management, market diversification, or sustainable tourism development

More Resources for Job Seekers

Complete your application with our detailed Tourism Manager Resume Examples that perfectly complement your cover letter and showcase your destination management achievements effectively. For complex application processes, our Selection Criteria Templates will help you address capability requirements with confidence. Once you secure that interview, prepare thoroughly with our comprehensive guide to Common Interview Questions to demonstrate your expertise in person.

Your cover letter serves as the gateway to your tourism management career in Australia’s vibrant visitor economy. By following these guidelines and adapting our examples to reflect your unique destination management experience and strategic approach, you’ll be well-positioned to capture the attention of leading tourism organisations across the country. Remember that organisations like Tourism Australia, state and territory tourism bodies, and professional associations like the Australian Tourism Export Council provide valuable resources and maintain industry standards that inform best practice in destination management. The Australian tourism sector continues to evolve, shaped by changing traveller expectations, digital transformation, sustainability imperatives, recovery from global disruptions, and the ongoing need to balance tourism growth with community wellbeing and environmental protection. Make sure your cover letter demonstrates not just your marketing knowledge, but also your understanding of contemporary tourism challenges including overtourism management, Indigenous tourism development, climate adaptation, and the shift towards experiential and regenerative tourism models. Show your commitment to building partnerships that deliver authentic visitor experiences whilst generating economic benefits for local communities and protecting the natural and cultural assets that make Australian destinations unique.