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Travel & Tourism


"Around the world in 80 days" is what the Travel & Tourism industry epitomes - What a better way than this to feel the entire pulse of the world at your fingertips???

Business and leisure provide the maximum clientele to the travel and tourism industry. Besides promoting cultural understanding, tourism is responsible for the generation of diverse and widespread economic activity. Tourism is declared an industry today and both, The Government of India and State Governments have identified Tourism as a priority sector. Setting up of resorts, hotels , amusement parks have been taken in with full swing.

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Major Institutional sectors at the National /State level:

  • Hotels
  • Travel Agencies
  • Directorates
  • Development Corporations

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  • Air
  • Rail
  • Road

Individual Level Services :

  • Ticketing
  • Reservations
  • Documentation
  • Sales
  • Publicity
  • Tourist Guides

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Interaction is the name of the game in this industry. Work at every functional level will require you to interact with lots of people. You can be doing this on a one-to-one basis over the counter providing tickets and suggesting a travel destination, or with airline, railway, road , shipping and transport company staff , or as hotel personnel and various other agents (so many options to pick and choose from!!)
Entry into this industry is mainly through a travel agency or a tour operating company. You can always apply for a position in a government department or corporation, by answering the advertisements in the newspapers which come from time to time. Private sector companies are very flexible when it comes to recruitment. They do not lay stress on the educational qualifications but on the aptitude and interest of the candidate (... wish everyone would do that?) On-the-job training is definitely provided to the new entrants. But, since this field is very competitive, a basic diploma in Travel and Tourism will prove to be advantageous (always pays to have a little foresight!!)


A quick and lively mind, freshness, aptitude for figure work, organizing ability, good memory and accuracy are some of the qualities you need to possess. Awareness of people, places, areas of interest, ability to handle people (very important!), verbal fluency, aptitude for languages, friendly manner and appearance, good health, enjoyment of travel (who doesn’t like that!) and willingness to work long hours will take you places.		 resort4.jpg (2190 bytes)

If you wish to apply for a government post, you will be required to pass an entrance test, interview and medical examination.

There are other institutes around the country too which offer courses in the different aspects of travel and tourism. Above all, there are correspondence courses for those who want them.

At the undergraduate level, eligibility for admission is a HS pass certificate.
Graduation in any discipline enables you to take up the post graduate course. The duration of the training varies between 1-2years. The Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism is a premier institution for education and training in tourism.

Upto Tourist Guide level - 10+2 certificate and fluency in speaking.
For higher positions - Graduation in any discipline. Specialization in History of art and architecture, geography, archaeology or related subjects is an asset. And of course, the knowledge of one or more foreign languages is extremely beneficial.

Job prospects in the travel and tourism industry have positions in:resort5.gif (1636 bytes)

  • Travel agencies
  • Tour operators
  • National and International Airlines
  • Hotels
  • Transport and Cargo Companies
  • Government tourism departments, including the ITDC and the State Departments of Tourism
  • Travel Consultancy Organizations
  • Self employment is always an option as long as you have capital and experience.

Good remuneration and perquisites, which include free travel for employees and their family is the high point of a job in this industry. Salaries in foreign airlines and agencies are much higher than the domestic ones (are we counting the money already!?!)

This Industry is the largest foreign exchange earner among all the industries. If you thought this was enough, here’s another consolation - there will always be a demand for skilled , trained personnel in various spheres of this industry.

Women work in various levels and capacities within the industry, some even heading their own agencies. Mind you, achievement is the key to success here. .
Memo If you’re young - with the right drive and motivation - go ahead and make things happen...

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