How to begin a career in Travel & Tourism after class XII
What to do after class 12? A job oriented course in Travel & Tourism can be very promising. There are a variety of courses that offer job opportunities in this industry, from short-term courses to post graduate degrees, discover the options available to you.
If you are standing at the threshold and still undecided about what to do with your life after class 12 then a job oriented course could be your best bet. At this juncture, a course in travel and tourism is quite favourable since the industry is witnessing a mammoth growth, and this trend is expected to continue. The industry pundits predict a bright future for the sector and others that exist alongside it. Business analysts foresee a boom in the travel & tourism industry and all its allied sectors and expect job opportunities to rise to 4.5 crores within the next 10 years.
This is one sector that has been slow to take off, but with more foreign tourists seeing India as a tourist destination the growth is aiming to be spectacular. More Indians plan weekend getaways and family vacations than ever before, creating an exponential growth from within the domestic circuit as well. Added to this is the government's initiative to promote tourism which is giving the industry the much-needed boost. A career in this field has bright prospects.
The World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) report on India can put to rest any apprehensions someone interested in this field might have. The reports state that the potential of the travel and tourism sector has not been fully tapped in India. The vast natural beauty and it's historic past, clubbed with its mystic charm make India an attractive tourist destination. The report goes on to point that the Indian economy can profit immensely through this sector. The ballpark figure rise calculated is around 8.5 lakh crores, within the next couple of years. This means the GDP will improve as will the employment prospects.Travel & Tourism - career options
A course in travel and tourism opens doors to different career opportunities. These include jobs in/as –
Here is a look at opportunities in some of the allied industries –Airlines
Airlines employ people with background in the travel & tourism industry as Ground Staff. The job entails manning counters, booking & reservations and traffic assistance.Hotels
Hotel, is a broad term for camping grounds, rest houses, cruise lines, inns etc. Employment opportunity in this sector includes PR, Front Office, Maintenance, Sales, Operations etc.Tourism Departments
Individuals with requisite qualification in travel & tourism can work as tour guides or tour planners. They can be appointed as Information Assistants in state-run tourism departments. There is also the scope of working as interpreters. They have the opportunity to be employed as sales and marketing staff and manning information booths and reservation counters.Transportation
Jobs in this sector are related to management and operation positions, in various modes of transportation – railroad, ferry, coach, aeroplane, cruise and more.Travel Agent
This is a complete genre in itself and travel agents can hold different positions such as destination manager, tour guide, foreign exchange dealer, itinerary planner, sales PR, travel counsellors and travel managers. A travel agent can also become a franchise of popular travel agencies like MakeMyTrip.
Recommended reading : Guide on becoming a MakeMyTrip franchise.
Owning a franchise entails a different set of responsibilities as compared to working in an organised sector. There a number of legal issues that must be sorted out to ensure that the business runs smoothly. Therefore, understanding of legalities becomes crucial.
Recommended reading : A short lesson for first-time franchise owners
An individual with suitable qualification in this field can choose to become an adventure tour operator, a travel educationist, a travel media specialist or a global distribution services manager. Travel & tourism industry – its key features
Pay and perks
The pay packages in the industry are pretty good. In addition to the regular salary, employees and franchisees can earn handsomely through commission and bonuses on booked orders. Many allied services offer commission and /bonus if you book through/with them. For instance, hotels and airlines, respectively, offer commission on every reservation and ticket booked.
Other perks range from concessional rates on accommodation and travel to complimentary stay and free travel, for self and family, from agencies that you partner with. Overall, it is a good deal.Courses in travel & tourism
While the travel and tourism field allows you to learn on the job, but it is always better to have a requisite qualification in the field to get a head start. There are a plethora of courses that you can pursue, ranging from undergraduate to master's degrees, to certificate and diploma courses. Some universities make available distance learning programmes as well.
Popular choices of courses in various sectors of travel & tourism include –Undergraduate courses in travel & tourism, after class 12
Universities and colleges in almost every city and town offer courses in travel and tourism at the undergraduate level. Here is a list of a few of the best places to study various courses in travel & tourism –Undergraduate programmes in travel & tourism
Institute of Technology & Future Trends (ITFT) Chandigarh
Course : Bachelor of Management Studies (Airlines, Tourism & Hospitality)
Programme details :The Institute was established in 1994 and is affiliated to the Punjab Technical University and offers a full-time 3-year, a 6-semester intensive programme in management studies in three disciplines, namely airlines, tourism and hospitality.
Placement :The best names from the travel & tourism industry and its allied branches recruit graduates from ITFT. The recruiters include Jet Airways, Qatar Airways, The Leela, Indigo, MakeMyTrip, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Cox & Kings, Thomas Cook, Lemon Tree Hotels, Four Seasons, Taj group, Ginger and Holiday Inn.
Website : ITFT, ChandigarhMount Carmel College (MCC), Bengaluru
Course :B.Com in Business Management in Travel & Tourism
Programme details :MCC Bengaluru is an autonomous institute affiliated to the University of Bangalore. The Institute established the Department of Travel & Tourism in 2012 and has since been offering a full-time 3-year programme, admission to which is through the MCC entrance test.
Placement : Some companies where MCC graduates are employed are Indigo, Eco Woods and Green Rooms.
Website : Mount Carmel College, BengaluruAmity University, Mumbai
Course :Bachelor's of Tourism & Travel Management
Programme details :Amity University, Mumbai offers a Bachelor's of Tourism & Travel Management course. It's a full-time, four-year course, admission to which is based on ACAT results.
Placement :The advantage of studying at Amity is the chance to work with big names in the industry. Amity attracts brands like Maurya Sheraton, Lemon Tree, The Oberoi group, Old World Hospitality, Radisson Blu MBD, Trident Hilton. The Intercontinental Grand, Ananda Spa, Expeditors and Fast Booking India Pvt. Ltd.
Website : Amity University, Mumbai
Other places where you can pursue an undergrad degree in the field are –Masters Programme in Travel & Tourism (MTA)
The Master of Tourism Administration is a two-year postgraduate programme in tourism studies that provides skills required in the tourism industry. It encompasses vast areas related to tourism including marketing strategies, event leadership, leisure management, sustainable tourism and cultural tourism etc.
A PG Degree in Travel & Tourism opens many avenues on the job front. Since the industries growth is predicted to accelerate candidates would be able to find employment in the niche industry with prominent tour companies and operators and allied industries in the private and public sector.
The best place to get a Masters degree in Trave and Tourism -Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management, Bhubaneswar (IITTM)
The IITTM is an autonomous institute under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism, GOI. The Institute offers an MBA in Tourism & Travel Management. The two-year programme includes two paid internships – the first is a two-month stint at the end of the second semester, while the second takes place during the fourth semester. This ensures students receive hands-on training in the industry.
Students of IITTM have been placed in Cox & Kings, SITA Travels & Services, Akbar Travels Pvt Ltd, Just Holidays Pvt Ltd, Zenith Holidays and Ritual Holidays.
Website : Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management, Bhubaneswar
Other colleges to consider –
The Institutions focus on various sectors of the industry. While the IITTM Delhi's curriculum focuses on Travel & Leisure, the IITTM at Nellore has a course that emphasises on Tourism & Cargo. International Tourism is what IITTM Gwalior focuses on, while IITTM offers a general Travel & Tourism course. All curriculums are structured after careful analysis of the demands of the industry, with an aim at filling the gaps.
Recommended reading : UG/PG/Diploma courses in travel & tourism at St. Xavier's MumbaiShort term training programmes in travel and tourism
A number of travel agencies conduct short- term training programmes. Cox & Kings is one such agency. PG Diploma in Travel & Tourism Management
This is a year-long, part-time programme held at Delhi, Pune and Mumbai. A 3-month paid internship is included in the programme. Advance Diploma in Travel & Tourism Management
The duration of the programme is 18 months and it's conducted at Pune, Delhi and Mumbai.IATA Foundation
Held in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi, this is a part-time course that lasts 4-months.
Check the official website of Cox & Kings for further course details.Vocational courses
The Costa Training Institute partners with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to provide vocational education to the marginalised and underprivileged youth to bring dignity into their lives. The institute conducts various job-oriented, short-term and long-term courses in travel and tourism.
Short-term courses offered by Costa are –
Find the complete details of the programmes - TISS vocational programmes in travel and tourismEssential skill sets required for the industry
The travel and tourism is a dynamic industry and one of its foremost requirements is excellent people skill. And then the following –
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