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How to Start a Career In the Travel and Tourism Industry

Career in Travel and Tourism

Introduction

The Career In the Travel and tourism business is one of India’s fastest-growing industries. The substantial expansion achieved by the travel and tourism industry in recent years has never been seen before. Tourism refers to travel for pleasure, leisure, or business. According to several projections, by 2025, the industry is predicted to provide over 45 million employment in India. In the Career In the Travel and tourism industry, students have a lot of opportunities.

The Career In the Travel and tourism industry is rapidly expanding. People are more exposed to different tourism destinations throughout the world because of social media. Career In the Travel and tourism professionals come to the rescue to assist people realize their goal of travelling.

In the fast-growing Career In the Travel and tourism industry, students have a multitude of job options. At the undergraduate or postgraduate level, candidates might pursue a degree, diploma, or certificate program in travel and tourism. Candidates can also obtain a PhD in their chosen field of travel and tourism to advance their research career.

Requirements

Technical Skills:

  • Customer Service: Tourism industry professionals must be able to provide excellent customer service to clients, ensuring their satisfaction and repeat business.
  • Foreign Language Proficiency: Fluency in one or more foreign languages can be a valuable asset in the tourism industry, allowing professionals to better communicate with clients from around the world.
  • Geographic Knowledge: An understanding of geography and travel destinations is crucial for tourism industry professionals, enabling them to provide accurate information and recommendations to clients.
  • Marketing and Sales: A strong understanding of marketing and sales strategies can help professionals in the tourism industry to promote their products and services effectively.
  • Event Planning: Organizing and executing events such as conferences, trade shows, and exhibitions is an essential part of the tourism industry, and requires strong event planning skills.

IT Skills:

  • Online Booking Systems: Familiarity with online booking and reservation systems is essential for tourism industry professionals, allowing them to efficiently manage bookings and streamline the booking process.
  • Social Media Marketing: With the growing importance of social media, tourism industry professionals must possess knowledge of social media marketing strategies, enabling them to promote their business and engage with clients through social media platforms.
  • In addition to the above technical and IT skills, tourism industry professionals must also possess excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills, as well as a strong work ethic and attention to detail. 

Eligibility

10th standard

12th standard

Graduation

Post Graduation

The candidate must have completed the 10th standard from any recognized educational board.

The Candidate should then complete the HSC exam from a recognized board.

Most travel agents have a  Bachelor of Arts (BA), or Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Hospitality Management/ Travel and Tourism/ Hotel Management.

The Candidate can go for a master’s degree even though it is not necessary.

The candidate should gain at least 50-60% marks to be eligible to enter a stream of their choice. 

The Commerce and Arts streams are the most common streams selected by students.

The candidate should try to gain at least a minimum of 50-60% marks. Then they may  become eligible for a bachelor’s course.

Most candidates have a degree. Two recognized certifications that will enhance your skills are CTA (Certified Travel Associate) and CTC (Certified Travel Counsellor). CTA can be applied for with at least 12 months of experience in the retail travel industry. CTC designation can be applied after getting 5 years of experience in this industry. 

Some common master’s programs are


  • Masters in Tourism Management
  • Masters in Tourism and Travel 
  • MA in Hotel Management

Courses

Here are some of the entrance exams for undergraduate and graduate programs in the tourism industry in India:

  1. National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination (NCHM JEE)
  2. All India Management Association Undergraduate Aptitude Test (AIMA UGAT)
  3. Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management Entrance Exam (IITTM Entrance Exam)
  4. Christ University Entrance Exam for Bachelor of Arts in Tourism and Travel Management
  5. Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam for Bachelor of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (BHMCT)
  6. National Eligibility Test (NET) for Tourism Administration and Management
  7. IGNOU Entrance Exam for Master of Tourism and Travel Management (MTTM)

These entrance exams are designed to test the aptitude and knowledge of applicants for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs in the tourism industry in India

Top Colleges

Here are the top colleges in India for a career in the tourism industry:

  1. Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM)
  2. Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition (IHM)
  3. Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism
  4. Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Jamia Millia Islamia
  5. Christ University, Bengaluru – Department of Tourism Studies
  6. Delhi Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (DIHM)
  7. Institute of Tourism Studies, Lucknow University
  8. International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), Kolkata
  9. National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM), Hyderabad
  10. Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad (IHM Aurangabad)

These institutions offer various undergraduate and postgraduate courses in tourism and hospitality management, providing students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills to succeed in the tourism industry.

Work Description

The job description varies from person to person. Every profession has its own specializations. Some common work activities of all travel and tourism graduates are as follows-

  1. They plan and offer travel services such as transportation, lodging, insurance, and other travel services.
  2. Make hotel reservations, book transportation, and collect payment/fees.
  3. To market plan tour packages, employ advertising strategies, and produce promotional materials.
  4. Identifying clients’ needs and recommending appropriate trip packages.
  5. Organizing trips from start to finish, including tickets, lodging, and transportation.
  6. Providing passengers with valuable travel/holiday materials and important information.
  7. They examine costs, customs, weather conditions, and reviews for various destinations and modes of transportation.
  8. Attend seminars to stay up to date on the latest tourist trends.

Job Profiles

Internships are necessary for students of every vourde and profession. Internships provide them with real world work experience. The candidates can practice their theoretical education practically while pursuing an internship. Students of travel and tourism can also go for internships. There are several companies who provides internships for the graduates. You can go for paid as well as unpaid internships as per the relevancy.

Internships

Internships are necessary for students of every vourde and profession. Internships provide them with real world work experience. The candidates can practice their theoretical education practically while pursuing an internship. Students of travel and tourism can also go for internships. There are several companies who provides internships for the graduates. You can go for paid as well as unpaid internships as per the relevancy.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

FAQs

Q1: What are the career prospects in the Travel and Tourism industry?

A1: The Travel and Tourism industry offers diverse career opportunities due to its rapid growth.

Q2: What qualifications are needed to enter the Travel and Tourism field?

A2: Qualifications range from high school to postgraduate degrees, with options for certifications and specializations.

Q3: What skills are essential for success in the Travel and Tourism industry?

A3: Customer service, foreign language proficiency, geographic knowledge, marketing, sales, event planning, and IT skills are crucial.

Q4: What are some top colleges in India for studying Travel and Tourism?

A4: Top colleges include Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Institute of Hotel Management, and Christ University.

Q5: What are the pros and cons of working in the Travel and Tourism industry?

A5: Pros include decent salary and diverse experiences, while cons include high engagement with people and the need for hard work to succeed.

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