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Career opportunities in Travel and Tourism Industry

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Travel and Tourism

The Travel and Tourism Industry globally is witnessing an upsurge. India is a favourite holiday destination on the International traveller’s list. Even the employment opportunities in Tourism, Travel and Hospitality have multiplied across various segments of this most resilient Industry.

A career in Travel and Tourism! Sounds great to every youngster today because it entitles a person to travel around at the cost of the company they work for, see the world and meet people. But is that really all about?  No, of course not, it is just like any other job or any other career you opt for and you pursue your professional education accordingly. The courses in Travel and Tourism both at Under Graduate and Post Graduate level at Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, opens the doors for entry into a variety of career options in the Travel Trade. 

Career opportunities in Travel and Tourism Industry

One may opt to work for a multinational or a leading National Tour operation company, a Travel Agency, an Airline, a Hotel, a Destination Management Company, a Tourism Board Representation Company in India, a Cruise liner, an Event Management Company, an Adventure Tour Operations Company or from any of many new avenues coming up every day in Travel Trade. Besides, India with its diverse landscape offers huge scope for various theme-based travel jobs like medical tourism, heritage tourism, pilgrimage tourism, golf tourism, wellness tourism, eco-tourism and wildlife tourism among others

The tourism and Travel industry today is a huge growth sector valued at more than Rs. 23 million crores, contributing 5% to the GDP and receiving 5 million foreign tourists arrivals to our country. It is estimated that by 2012 this would reach to 10 million mark and by 2016 it will touch the 18 million mark. The average tourist spending is US $ 1500. World Travel and Tourism Counseling estimates that Indian Tourism demand will continue to grow at an average rate of 8.8% between 2007-2013 making India the world’s fastest-growing tourist market. The Indian outbound tourist traffic has also been growing at an annual growth rate of around 25% because of the economic boom in India.  World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that the present number of 8 million outbound tourists will reach the 50 million mark by 2020.  To handle such a large number of tourist movements both to and from India the Tourism and Travel Industry will be in need of a large number of trained professionals.  World Travel and Tourism Council has also estimated that the Industry employees approximated 220 million people and in India the contribution of this sector is expected to go up from 49,086,000 jobs in 2010 to 58,141,000 jobs by 2020.

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Keeping in view the promises of growth in this sector the government has declared Tourism and Hospitality as a high-priority sector with a provision of 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100% and also has decided to increase its spending on Tourism substantially. Presently India spends only 0.97% of its GDP on Tourism against the International average of 3.8%.  With this increased investment in the Tourism sector, the industry will generate over 2 crore new jobs in the next 5 years.  An investment of every 1 million rupees has the potential to generate 73 jobs in Tourism as against 51 in the manufacturing industry or 45 jobs in the agriculture sector. In the 11th five-year plan (2007-2012) provision of more than Rs.15, 000 crores has been provided for Tourism infrastructure and an additional provision of Rs. 13,000 crores has been provided for super structural development for the Tourism sector. Hence one can imagine the present and future magnitude of the employment opportunities in the Travel Trade.

The Industry offers employment opportunities both in the public and private sectors.  In fact, this Industry constitutes largely the ever-expanding private sector and the role of the public sector is shrinking.  Hence the private sector offers unlimited opportunities to young aspirants to work in Travel Agencies, Tour Operating Companies, Airlines, Hotels, Destination Management Companies, and Online Travel Portals as well as with representations of various International Tourism Boards in India.

This segment also offers opportunities for Entrepreneurship because of being low cost-intensive operations particularly if one is opting for the franchisee option of a well reputed Travel Company which in return could not only provide strong credibility, and back office support but also promises discounts and commissions on deals, which can be passed on to customers to increase the business in a short period of time.

There are many Universities and Institutions offering a diverse range of courses in Tourism, Travel and Hospitality ranging from certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma to Under Graduation to Post Graduation Programmes, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida is one of the premier Universities having two independent Institutions conducting courses in Tourism, Travel, Aviation Management and in Hospitality Management at Under Graduate and Post Graduation level.  Both the Institutions are ISO 9001-14001 certified and enjoy the benefits of ASIC, and UK Accreditation, other Universities offering courses in Travel and Tourism include Kurukshetra University, HNB Garhwal University, Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Lucknow University, Pondicherry University & Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

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The alumni of the Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism have always received extra attention from the industry both in terms of placement and interaction due to the technical edge of having an advance and industry Driven course structure. As a result, the alumni of Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism are making strides in companies like Cox and Kings, Thomas Cook, American Express, Le Passage to India, British Airways, Orbitz Corporate & Leisure Travels (I) Pvt. Ltd., SOTC, Kingfisher Airlines, Air Canada, Make My Trip.Com, Yatra.Com, Pierce & Leslie, Tracs Representations, Carlson Wagonlit, Tallis & Company, ETS Holidays, CONTACT, WNS Global Services, Make My Trip (India) Pvt. Ltd., Discoveries4u, Kings Tours and Travels, Aryan Tours etc.

Also Read: Build a career in the global hospitality and travel industry

The Travel Industry offers good remuneration.  Over the years the starting salary package has increased significantly.  A fresh graduate starts with a monthly salary of approximately Rs. 10,000 or so depending upon the salary structure or HR Policies of a company.  However, for the Hospitality segment, the starting remuneration for a fresh graduate trainee may vary from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 15,000 a month depending upon the competencies and capabilities of the individual.

To be a part of the Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Industry, besides qualifications, one must also possess the following soft skills and assets:

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Friendliness, Self-Motivation, Well Groomed, Cooperative, Punctual and Efficient, Self-Directed, Good Work Attitude, Team Spirit, Good at Problem Solving, Empathetic, Adaptable, Good Knowledge about Travel / Hospitality sectors.

Qualification alone does not guarantee any job in the tourism industry but a lot depends upon one’s presentation, attitude, communication skills and positive approach to work in particular and life in general Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida aim to create Tourism / Hospitality professionals imbibed with all these qualities with the help of a team of experts both from academic and corporate.

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Prof Dr M Sajnani
Prof Dr M Sajnani
Prof. (Dr.) M Sajnani is Director, of Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida. The views expressed are his own

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