Drive your way

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Drive your way

Wednesday, 08 May 2019 | AMIT JAIN

Drive your way

The tourism sector is booming the world over. AMIT JAIN shares tips on how students can make a career in the field

India, world’s third-largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity is witnessing a huge scarcity of travel professionals due to a big gap between the demand for qualified personnel and supply of qualified personnel to cater to the needs of the ever-growing tours and travel industry.

The industry is registering an annual growth rate of 7 to 9 per cent, and according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), India is more likely to contribute Rs 8, 50,000 crore to the world’s GDP by 2020 through travel and tourism. The sector is not only doing well in India, but its global performance is even, more better. In the year 2017, the worldwide industry turned out to be 10.4 per cent of global GDP with 313 million employees, as per the report of WTTC. These growth trends clearly depict that tourism industry is opening new vistas for job seekers, equipped with professional degrees.

Career opportunities: In the wake of globalisation, it appears as if people have understood the fact that limited study and knowledge gained from only a particular university or institution is not going to take them to newer heights of success. If they have to make success happen and improve their employability in the competitive market, they must enhance their knowledge and learn new skills, transcending the geographical boundaries if required. Popularising the trend of educational tourism, various schools and universities in India have started joining hands with foreign institutions. On the other hand, the outflow of Indian students taking courses abroad is also increasing significantly. As per the recent data, the year 2018 saw 81 per cent of the students visiting Australia for higher education enrolled in various post-graduate courses. The reason is hands-on experiences, cultural enrichment, and attractive job prospects that contribute to the personal development of an individual. The students get relevant insights into the diverse cultures and gain meaningful experiences from varied industries, eventually helping them to increase the credibility of their CVs.

Also, travel brands are turning up to technology for producing authentic and better booking experiences. An urgent need for digital marketing experts is realised by such travel brands who can effectively market the brands online and win more customers online. SEO executives, content writers, and social media managers are massively hired to keep pace with the growing trend of travel and technology.

Qualifications and skills required : A programme in tourism management helps groom one’s overall personality and offers adequate knowledge and skills to make one competent at the workplace. Usually, courses in tourism management offer students a flexible study format where working executives can also attend lectures on weekends or as per their convenience. Apart from having interaction with the industry-experienced faculty, students are exposed to practical learning through educational tours, seminars and workshops.

The Ministry of Tourism, approved the post-graduation degree in tourism which further makes the candidates eligible for a suitable job in the industry. With a Master of Tourism Administration degree (MTA) from Indian Institution of Tourism and Travel or any other recognised institute, candidates can apply for the best job positions in the industry. Also, ticketing skills, communication skills, management of foreign currencies, customer service, geography knowledge, and expertise in digital marketing directly correspond to well-paid jobs in travel and tourism.

The writer is Founder, Rising Star Tours and Travels

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