Tourism

If we want Life to look colourful or we need a break from Everyday tensions, we often go on a Vacation to our favourite Tourist spots, Local and Global. Visiting new places and Exotic locations has the power to dispel stress from our Daily routine life. Countries all over the world recognised the importance of Tourism and have developed Tourism as their major source of income. The Tourism industry has grown exponentially and is affecting the economies of countries. This has created many Job opportunities worldwide. According to the Union Tourism Ministry, our Tourism sector alone has created over one crore and forty lakh Jobs in the last four years. World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimated that, by the year 2028, Job opportunities in our country's Tourism and its Allied sectors will rise from the present 4.29 crores to 5.23 crores nearly. You can grab these opportunities by completing the necessary courses relating to Tourism Development.

The Tourism sector is an amalgamation of International Companies, Immigration and Customs services, Travel agencies, Airlines, Hotels as well as Service sectors such as Airline Catering, Guides, Sales etc,. India is the seventh fastest growing Travel and Tourism economy in the world. Tourism also contributes a large share to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Employees working in this field are in direct contact with people during Package trips, Pilgrimages, Adventure trips or Business trips, etc,. at all stages.

Opportunities…

Airlines: Jobs at these companies are Challenging and Attractive. You can travel to new places. Many job opportunities with designations such as Traffic Assistant, Reservation and Counter Staff, Sales and Marketing Staff, Customer Services Staff etc,. are provided by Air India, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Air Sahara, British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, etc,.

Travel Agencies: Resorts and Travel agencies use Travel agents to promote their Tour packages. Employees who work in these companies assess the needs of Travellers and Business people and assist them by giving suggestions on suitable places to stay, Current exchange rates, Tourist attractions to be visited, Weather conditions, etc,. Services are provided according to the tourist budget and special needs. These Travel agencies offer job opportunities such as Reservation/ Counter staff, Sales and Marketing staff, Tour escorts, Tour operators, Cargo/ Courier agency. Some Travel agencies employ and train fresh graduates.

Hotels: Hotels play an important role in arranging Accommodation and meals for Tourists. Depending on the popularity of a place and the number of Tourists who come there, Hotels recruit a large number of skilled employees.

Transportation: The Tourism industry can connect different parts of the country through Transportation. By offering different Rental transportation facilities such as Buses, Cars and other Vehicles from one Tourist attraction to the other, the Travel industry can earn profits.

Top Recruiters:

❏ IRTC

❏ Sheraton Hotels

❏ Holiday Inn

❏ Marriott Hotels

❏ Make my trip

❏ Cox and Kings

❏ Thomas Cook

❏ Yatra.com

❏ Jet Airways

❏ Balmer Larry Travel & Vacations

Roles and Responsibilities…

There are a variety of jobs present in the Travel and Tourism sector.

Travel Agent: A Travel Agent helps in choosing the places that are best for a vacation and arrange necessary facilities for those who want to Travel individually or in groups.

Tour Operator: A Tour operator’s responsibility to co-ordinate all aspects of the Tour and Travel and to design holiday packages.

Event and Conference Organizer: The duty of an Event Manager to ensure that the entire program runs smoothly. Event Mangers take care of the Mics and other sound systems necessary for the conference and they choose suitable location for the meetings.

Tour Planners and Guides (Regional/ State/ Local): Tour Planners play a major role in the Tourism Industry. They guide groups of Visitors/ Tourists. In order to choose this career, you need to know the history and full details of the place to explain the same to the Tourists.

Leisure Activity Co-ordinator: They work in Resorts and Hotels. It is their responsibility to ensure that the program runs smoothly according to a pre- determined plan.

PR Manager: A PR Manager's Primary responsibility is to protect the reputation of a Brand. He/ she acts as a Spokesperson on behalf of the Organization.

Some other Jobs…

✽ Information Assistants

✽ Interpreters

✽ Travel and Tourism Manager

✽ Travel Counselors

✽ Tour/ Destination Manager

✽ Travel Media Specialist

✽ Travel Educationist

✽ Ticketing Officer

✽ Adventure Tourism Expert/ Operator

✽ Transport Officer

✽ Tour/ Holiday Consultant

✽ Tourism Trainer

✽ Travel Executive

✽ Executive Facility Management

✽ Tour Management Executive

Courses to Pursue…

✽ Graduate, Postgraduate, Diploma and Certificate courses are available to help you settle down in the Tourism Industry. Some Universities in the country offer a Master of Tourism Administration course, along with the Indian Institution of Tourism and Travel Management. Post-graduate degree helps in getting Managerial and Administrative level Jobs.

✽ The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a World- class Organization, offers Certificate courses in the Travel, Tourism and Cargo industries. Knowledge of any Foreign language is considered as an additional qualification. Having a Diploma in Public Relations or Advertising can help you grow in your career.

✽ There is a demand for operational jobs in Public sector undertakings for those who have a Degree in Travel and Tourism. Those who qualify in the competitive examinations conducted by the Staff Selection Commission will be selected for the posts of Information Assistant in the Tourism Department. Candidates with knowledge of Indian History, Arts, Architecture and Knowledge of English can appear for the competitive examinations conducted by the Staff Selection Commission.

Graduation:

Those who have passed the Intermediate or Equivalent course are eligible to join the Undergraduate Courses in Tourism.

✽ Bachelor in Business Administration (Tourism and Travel)

✽ Bachelor of Tourism Management

✽ B.Sc Travel and Tourism Management

✽ Certificate course: Those who have passed 10 + 2 are eligible to study Tourism Certificate courses.

Diploma Courses:

✽ Advanced Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management

✽ Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management

Post Graduation:

Master of Tourism Administration: The duration of this Regular course is two years. It has the approval of the Central Department of Tourism. Candidates who have passed any Graduation can get Admission in this course by qualifying in the Entrance examination, Group discussion and Interview conducted by the respective Institutes.

MBA Tourism and Travel Management: Must have passed any Degree. Must have Management Aptitude Test (MAT)/ Common Admission Test (CAT)/ Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)/ Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)/ Graduate Management Admission Test.

✽ Postgraduate Degree in Tourism

✽ MBA (Tourism and Travel)

✽ MBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management

✽ MBA Tourism and Hospitality

✽ Ph.D in Tourism

✽ Ph.D in Travel and Tourism

Adventure Tourism:

✪ Adventure Tourism is currently playing a key role in the Tourism sector. These include Wildlife Tourism, Trekking, Mountain climbing, Paragliding, Biking, Scuba diving, Rafting, Parasailing and Bungee Jumping.

✪ The various Mountains, Hills, Forests, Beaches, Deserts and Rivers of India that involve a diverse Geography invite Adventure Tourists. Those interested in Mountaineering, Diving, Rafting and Paragliding can opt for a career as a Tour operator in Adventure Tourism. Holders of Certificate/ Degree/ Diploma in the relevant field will get better opportunities.

✪ Confidence, Co-ordination and Physical fitness are important traits to seek a career in Adventure Tourism. They should be able to explain the Tourists about the threats and dangers and other Critical situations involving in this Field. They are responsible for the protection of Tourists. They must have Good communication and Planning skills. They should know the procedures to be followed in case of any emergency. They should learn any Foreign language to interact with Tourists all over the world.

✪ They can find Employment in Travel Agencies, Excursion Agencies, Holiday Resorts, Leisure Camps, Commercial Recreation Centers, Sports Centers, Athletic clubs, etc,. Those who are interested can set up their own Adventure Sports Club. However, the Adventure Tour Operator (ATO) should take permission from the Union Ministry of Tourism department and must adhere to the principles of protection and quality approved by the department.

Universities offering Courses: