Tourism students had an amazing opportunity this week to visit Moreton Island and experience a live tourism destination first-hand. After an early start, the class arrived at Moreton Island to be greeted by Tangalooma Resort staff who shared real-life island living and working experiences. The students were keen to learn about island life and employment prospects. They also gained an understanding of dolphin environments, learning how staff are trained to recognise and call for dolphins by name to hand feed them on the island. The resort plays an integral part in rescuing wildlife and works with SeaWorld on the Gold Coast to free marine mammals from fishing lines and other dangers.
A behind-the-scenes tour looked into the industry sectors of hospitality; front reception, eco-tour desk and guest relations. The island also had a visiting cruise ship on the day, with over 3,000 guests on board, making the island come alive.
No visit to the island is complete without a Desert Sand Safari and the opportunity to go sandboarding down the slopes of the dunes. Here, students learned about the skills of tour guiding. Students were also fully catered for with lunch in the café, supplied as they looked over beautiful Moreton Bay.
