Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 7, 1995 TAG: 9503070094
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On the Roanoke clock, the time is 10 a.m. In London, it is 3 p.m. The time is 6 p.m. in Kisumu, Kenya, and 7 p.m. in Wonju, Korea, Roanoke's sister cities.
At the computer terminals, the students check out flight schedules and fares for airlines, hotels and rental cars.
There are pictures of New York, London and the Caribbean Islands.
The sign reads: Fleming Travel Connections.
It looks like a travel agency because that's what it's supposed to be - at least, a simulated agency that has all the trappings of the real thing.
It's part of the new Academy of Travel and Tourism at William Fleming High School.
The program, which began this year and is being financed in part with a federal grant, is designed to prepare students for entry-level jobs in the travel industry.
On Monday, school officials showed off the new facilities to travel agents, hotel managers and other tourist officials.
The school agency has computer access to most of the same information as travel agents, but it does not book reservations.
``At this point, we are not competing with travel agents, tourist agencies or the rest of the tourist industry,'' said Joan Snyder, director of the academy. ``We want them to be our friends, and we have an advisory board of them to help advise us.''
Loree Clarke, a senior who is taking the travel and tourism course, said the students can learn the travel industry without having to actually make the bookings.
``We have access to the same information and can go through all of the same steps they do,'' Clarke said.
The school doesn't want to get into the travel business at this point because of the financial risk. It also would need a business license.
Snyder said the academy is designed to teach the students a number of skills.
``We want them to be able to work in a broad range of jobs in the tourism industry, not just travel agencies,'' she said.
Twenty students are enrolled this year, and 60 have signed up for next year, she said.
Snyder said the teachers take a project approach to teaching. ``For example, we'll have them organize a trip to Brazil with a side journey to Hong Kong,'' she said, ``so they can see what is involved.'
The travel and tourism industry is one of the largest sources of employment and income in the United States and the world. It is the second largest industry in Virginia.
By the year 2010, travel and tourism is expected to be the country's largest service industry and will need more than 20 million trained workers.
The Fleming travel agency is part of the school's magnet school programs. The school received $90,000 in federal funds to buy the equipment and renovate the building for the program.
by CNB