Tourism Cares Professional Development Scholarship Programs

In 2010, Tourism Cares will offer internships and scholarships for professional development through the following ASTA and NTA programs. Deadlines and application procedures will be announced in late March. Please do not attempt to use the academic scholarship on-line application system.

Tourism Cares will offer a variety of reimbursement scholarships which are either the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Professional Scholarships or the NTA Professional Scholarships.

ASTA George Reinke Professional Scholarships. Eligibility Requirements: The applicant must be a person entering or working in the travel and tourism or hospitality industry; have completed a travel and tourism specific certificate program at a state-licensed school in the United States or Canada; and be a permanent resident of the United States or Canada.

NTA Dr. Bill Newton – Kathy Neville Professional Scholarships (2 offered). Eligibility Requirements: The applicant must have successfully completed the International Tour Management Institute (ITMI) Tour Guide or Tour Director Training, or attended the ITMI Symposium.

In addition, there are seven Regional ASTA Chapters’ Professional Scholarships: Allegheny, Arizona, Orange County, Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington), Rocky Mountain (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming), San Diego (California Counties: Imperial and San Diego), or Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee). These scholarships can be used to reimburse the cost of ASTA Educational Programs, ASTA International Destination Expo (registration fee only), or any of the various programs offered by The Travel Institute.

Eligibility Requirement for the Regional ASTA Chapter Professional Scholarships: The applicant must be an individual member of the ASTA regional chapter, or be employed at an office where at least one travel agent is a member of the ASTA regional chapter; have at least two years experience in the travel industry; be a permanent resident of the United States, and have completed an ASTA or The Travel Institute Educational Program (or attended the ASTA International Destination Expo).

A new 2010 Summer Internship Opportunity will be announced for individuals aspiring to become luxury travel agents. Please stay tuned for specific information about this.

Please check back in late February/early March for more specific information on each of these offerings, the 2010 application forms, and application deadlines. The requested documents will have to be scanned to PDF and emailed as an attachment to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . (In 2010, the applications for the professional scholarships or internships will not be made through the STARS online application platform, since that system will only give access to academic scholarships.)

For questions, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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