GEOGRAPHICAL COMPONENT IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF TOURISM PROFESSIONALS: ESSENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

The paper reveals the significance of the geographical component in vocational training of professionals for the sphere of tourism. The author proves that geographical knowledge is necessary for studying Tourism discipline and for the students’ future professional activity. The paper analyses the essence of the geographical component in higher Tourism education, basing on the example of the 100400.62 Tourism curriculum (Kemerovo State University), the author considers the competences that students acquire in the course of studying geographical disciplines within this major and that will be useful for their further professional activity. The author focuses on the reasons of the decrease in the level of geographical knowledge of modern secondary schools graduates. The author emphasizes that is the school training in the field of Geography that is the base of formation of an adequate picture of the world and geographical thinking, and also the development of interest to tourism industry professions.