Assistent/Assistentin für Gesundheitstourismus/-prophylaxe

Assistants for health tourism/-prophylaxis receive school-based training. For in-person events, learning locations are classrooms at the educational institution. For combined learning forms (e.g., blended learning), learning locations are classrooms for in-person events and home for online learning units. During internships, they might be at tourism organizations or travel agencies, for example.

Occupation type: Vocational training (Ausbildung) occupation. Type of training: School-based training at various educational institutions (internally regulated). Training duration: Varies, 2-3 years (full-time) - depending on the educational offer and learning form. Learning locations: Educational institution and internship company. What does one do in this profession? Assistants for health tourism/-prophylaxis develop target-group-specific holiday offers as well as wellness and health programs for on-site activities. They negotiate conditions with hotels and health service providers or travel agencies, plan advertising measures, contribute to the creation of information material, or initiate contract conclusions through direct customer contact. They also handle billing and clarify financing by health insurance companies if necessary. If directly employed by providers of health and wellness services, assistants for health tourism/-prophylaxis advise customers and monitor operational processes.

Varies depending on the educational offer and learning form: Full-time: 2-3 years.

Depending on the course of study, e.g.: Course fees, examination fees, costs for specialized literature and work materials, costs for external accommodation.

During the training, one acquires knowledge in areas such as: Tourism management, health tourism (e.g., project management, wellness and fitness travel), management and corporate leadership (e.g., business administration (BWL), economics (VWL), accounting, law, controlling, marketing, e-sports), languages & communication (e.g., presentation, English, Spanish), practical skills (e.g., body and movement, health and nutrition, fitness and wellness, excursions). Internship: During internships and the practical phase, which follows the theoretical training, aspiring assistants for health tourism/-prophylaxis work, for example, at travel agencies both domestically and abroad.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: Theoretical lessons: Lesson time: Full-day lessons on at least four weekdays. Learning form: For in-person events: Participation in lessons at the educational institution together with other aspiring assistants for health tourism/-prophylaxis (possibly not at the place of residence), processing content at home. For combined learning forms (e.g., blended learning): In-person events in a classroom setting at the educational institution and self-directed learning via electronic learning platforms and systems from home. Practical exercises/Internship: Practical collaboration (under guidance), e.g., in tourism offices or at travel agencies. Requirements: Business acumen (e.g., when calculating or marketing health tourism offers), customer and service orientation (e.g., when advising customers or receiving customer requests, suggestions, and complaints), communication.

For an Ausbildung (vocational training) abroad, there are possibilities in Switzerland, for example. Training offers are available in the wab - The Swiss further education database (e.g., with the search term "Gesundheitsförderung"). The Europass offers the possibility to document training sections and learning stays completed abroad.

Attending school-based institutions is not remunerated.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for a successful Ausbildung: German (e.g., to communicate with customers), English and other foreign languages (e.g., to negotiate with international healthcare providers), Economics (e.g., for tasks in offer design and marketing), Mathematics (e.g., to calculate prices), Biology (e.g., to consider body anatomy in health programs).

The following Ausbildung alternatives are available for the profession of Assistant for Health Tourism/-Prophylaxis: In the field of Tourism and Leisure Industry: Specialist - Beauty and Wellness, Merchant for Tourism and Leisure, Sports and Fitness Merchant, State-certified Tourism Assistant, Wellness Manager. Commonality: Advising customers on offers in leisure activities, tourism, wellness, and sports, and if necessary, developing offers and concepts. In the field of Sports and Movement: Sports Specialist. Commonality: Informing customers about sports and movement offers, developing offers and concepts.

Assistant for Health Tourism/-Prophylaxis is an Ausbildung regulated by the internal regulations of the educational providers. It lasts 2-3 years full-time.

Graduation titles (depending on the educational provider) e.g.: Assistant for Health Tourism, Certified Tourism Management Assistant with a focus on Health and Wellness.

Finding suitable employment after training: Assistants for health tourism and prophylaxis (Assistent/Assistentin für Gesundheitstourismus/-prophylaxe) primarily work for tour operators and in tourism offices. Securing employability: Through adaptive continuing education (Anpassungsweiterbildung), assistants for health tourism and prophylaxis can keep their specialist knowledge current or bring it up to date. The range of topics extends from tourism to finance and accounting. Career advancement: Upward continuing education (Aufstiegsweiterbildung) helps to advance professionally and achieve leadership positions. Taking the examination as a tourism specialist (Tourismusfachwirt/in) is a logical step. With a higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung), one can also pursue university studies (Studium) and, for example, obtain a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management. Becoming self-employed: The step into self-employment is also possible, for example, with a travel agency, potentially within the framework of franchising.

Legally, no specific prior education is prescribed. Educational institutions set their own admission criteria. A secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss), a university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife), or a general university entrance qualification (allgemeine Hochschulreife) may be required.