STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM CAREERS: EVIDENCE FROM KLANG VALLEY, MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJMOE.831104Keywords:
Hospitality Students, Perceived Career Risk, Nature of Work, Salary and Benefits, Social StatusAbstract
Malaysia’s hospitality and tourism industry plays a significant role in the national economy, yet attracting students to pursue long-term careers in the industry remains a concern. This study examines students’ perceptions of three factors associated with pursuing a career in the hospitality and tourism industry, namely nature of work, salary and benefits, and social status. A quantitative descriptive research design was adopted, involving a survey of 300 hospitality and tourism students from private universities in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, to determine students’ overall perceptions and the relative importance of the three factors. The findings indicate that students generally held positive perceptions across all three factors. Addressing these aspects may contribute to improving the attractiveness of the industry as a long-term career pathway for hospitality and tourism graduates.
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