Travel and tourism have all along been important social activities from time immemorial. Since long it has earned the distinction of being one of the largest and fastest growing industries the world over.
India has very special reasons and scope for growth of travel and tourism industry. Tourism is an integral part of Indian tradition and culture. Atithi Deva Bhave (the guest is god) and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) have always been the by words of the Indian social behaviour.
The diversity of India's natural and cultural riches provides the basis for a wide range of tourist products and experiences which embrace business, leisure, culture, adventure, spirituality, eco-tourism and many other pursuits. India's primary allure for visitors has been its other-worldliness, which is underpinned by divergent subnational cultures.
Tourism is a multi-sectoral activity, which has linkages with many other industries as traveller spending flows through the entire economy. It makes significant contribution to the world's average GOP. The same is also true about India's economy. What's more important is its great potential for employment generation. As a career it promises both glamour and lucrative returns.

 

You may ask. It includes Government tourism departments, Immigration and customs services, travel agencies, airlines, tour operators, hotels etc. and many associated service industries such as airline catering or laundry services, Guides, Interpreters, Tourism promotion and sales etc. Travel And Tourism enterprises include major international companies with a work force of thousands, to the small private travel agent with a handful of employees. There exists a huge gap between supply and demand of the trained professionals in the industry.

Some of the specialised forms of tourism are:

(i)    Eco-tourism: Eco-tourism is considered the fastest growing market in the tourism industry. According to the World Tourism Organization, with an annual growth rate of 5% worldwide and representing 6% of the world gross domestic product, 11.4% of all consumer spending - it is not a market to be taken lightly. Eco-tourism is more than a catch phrase for nature loving travel and recreation. It focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet. It is typically defined as travel to destinations where the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Historical, biological and cultural conservation,' preservation, sustainable development etc. are some of the fields closely related to Eco-Tourism. Profession who are involved in formulating and developing eco-tourism policies come from the fields of Geographic Information Systems, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Photography, Marine Biology and Oceanography, National and State Park Management, Environmental Sciences, Women in Development, Historians and Archaeologists, etc.
(ii)    Health tourism: Health tourism or medical tourism can be broadly defined as provision of ‘cost effective’ private medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized treatment. This process is being facilitated by the corporate sector involved in medical care as well as the tourism industry – both private and public. Medical or Health tourism has become a common form of vacationing, and covers a broad spectrum of medical services .It mixes leisure, fun and relaxation together with wellness and health care. Health tourism includes common treatments of heart surgery, knee transplant, cosmetic surgery and dental care. Health and medical tourism is perceived as one of the fastest growing segments in marketing 'Destination India' today. While this area has so far been relatively unexplored, we now find that not only the ministry of tourism government of India, but also the various state tourism boards and even the private sector consisting of travel agents, tour operators hotel companies and other accommodation providers are all eying health and medical tourism as a segment with tremendous potential for future growth.
(iii)    Destination tourism: Destination tourism includes information about the places you want to visit. India has immense potential to be a leading tourist destination. With a history and civilization that harkens from antiquity, with vast geographical and bio-diversity, with a kaleidoscope of colorful cultures, there is no reason why this potential should not fructify and flower.
(iv)    Leisure tourism: Another important element of this industry is the leisure tourism which has historically been focused on cultural heritage but attempts are increasingly being made to diversify both products and market and develop other types of tourism. Changing leisure Pattern: Leisure time has dropped and implies that greater emphasis will be placed on shorter trips, mini-vacations and weekend escapes, as opposed to the longer vacations of the past. People may be inclined to maximize their vacation experiences by visiting Museums. To reduce exposure to ultra-violet radiation and ozone depletion or be in a better environment; visitors are likely to pursue tourism such as that afforded by historic homes and reconstructed sites.
(v)    Cultural tourism: According to Rajesh Aggarwal, Director, National Rail Museum, "the World Tourism Association defines cultural tourism as an "immersion in the natural history, human heritage, the arts and philosophy, and the institutions of another region or country." Adventure tourism, ethno tourism, spiritual and religious tourism are some other forms of tourism. India possesses considerable potential to become one of the world's leading travel and tourism destinations.

Employment Opportunities

The visit of each foreign visitor provides employment to one person and 17 domestic tourists generate one job. This indicates the labour intensive nature of jobs created by the tourism and related activities. The employment multiplier figure in the tourism sector-is 2.36, i.e., a direct employment of one person in tourism creates jobs for 1.36 persons in other sectors of the economy.
Travel & tourism stimulates enormous investments in new infrastructure, most of which helps to improve the living conditions of local residents as well as tourists. Such investments facilitate the development of backward areas. Tourism infrastructure encompasses both the tourism-specific infrastructure like hotels, airports as well as the basic infrastructure like power, roads, telecommunications etc.

Personal attributes

Travel and Tourism Industry demands pleasant and smart personality who love to interact with new faces, enjoy solving problems. and can manage touring affairs very efficiently. Besides, coordination  With a number of people related to this profession, make tourists feel happy, good knowledge of English and communication skills are the desirable traits. Working knowledge of a foreign language is an advantage.
Travel .company personnel must be up-to-date on current rules .and regulations and documentation required, in areas like cargo, ticketing and passports, visas etc. so as to correctly advise their clients, and :0 take care .of the paperwork when necessary. Besides this, all be tourism staff m marketing, counter sales, or guide services, should be knowledgeable about the places their clients visit, in terms of general background, how to get there connections by air, rail and road and the facilities available.

Career Opportunities

There has not only been a manifold increase in employment and business opportunities in the field. Not surprisingly, success stories abound in the industry. Experts are of the opinion that tourism as an industry is expected to double in the coming decade. The job potential in this sector is excellent.
In the Airlines you can become Traffic Assistance, Reservation & Counter Staff, Air Hostesses & Flight Pursers, Sales & Marketing Staff and Customer Services.
In the Cargo/ Courier Agencies you may be absorbed as Counter Staff, Sales & Marketing staff, Clearing & Forwarding Agents and Airport Duty Officers.
In Travel Agencies there are openings for Reservation and Counter Staff, Sales & Marketing Staff, Tour Escorts & Tour Operators Cargo/Courier Agencies.
In the Tourism Department there are jobs as Reservation & Counter Staff, Sales & Marketing Staff, Tour Planners and Tour Guides.
As regards appointments in the government departments, Tourism Department officers are drawn from the civil/administrative services of State and Central governments. Others are recruited from among those who are professionally qualified in travel and tourism administration. Competitive examinations are held to recruit Information Assistants for which the eligibility is graduation with knowledge of Indian history, art and architecture, besides proficiency in English. The Staff Selection Commission conducts the selection process for appointment as Information Assistants. These vacancies are advertised through the Employment News.

Pay & Perks

A profession in the tourism industry was derided in the beginning, being as that of a guide but now it is regarded as a glamorous job with prospects of foreign trips, staying in five-star hotels, handsol11e earnings, flexible timings and growth possibilities. For freshers, remuneration ranges from Rs. 6000 to 12, 000 per month, rising to Rs. 2.5 to 3 lakh after two years and Rs. 5-7 lakh after 4-6 years experience. For those with more than 9 years experience Rs. 10 to 15 lakh per year. According to tourism sources, a regional guide can earn between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 or more in the three to four months that is considered peak season. Though their fees may range from Rs 400 and above for an eight-hour day and are fixed by the International Association of Tour Operators along with travel agents and guides, most of their earnings come from commissions offered by shopkeepers, who also extend discounts to tour groups in exchange for regular customers.

Self-Employment Opportunities

The lure of faraway and exotic places is undeniable. People love to travel-- a leisure activity that has increased at a steady rate since the end of the Second World War. Much of the growth is .attributed to rising education levels that stimulate our curiosity about the world, as well as advances in global communications.
Tourists need a lot of assistance right from their arrival till they reach back their homes. Besides travel agencies and tour operators, there are numerous opportunities of self employment like becoming a guide, opening a hotel/lodge, running your own tourist transport, becoming a photographer or opening publishing agency for publishing literature/material of tourist interest or becoming an antique seller for selling pieces of art, sculpture, woodcraft, brassware, etc. Becoming a travel agent, travel broker, travel consultant, tour counsellor or a travel specialist.

Education

Courses available in this field include Certificate, Diploma, Graduate and, Postgraduation. The post-graduate degree awarded is Master of Tourism Administration (MTA), which is a two year full time programme approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India. The Indian Institution of Tourism and Travel Management and some universities offer MT A degree in Tourism. A Post graduate degree can be helpful in getting into managerial and administrative' positions in the industry. International Air transport Association (IATA), a World Organisation which provides recognised standard in training to travel, tourism and cargo industry, offers certification courses. Several large travel agencies also offer short-term training programmes, and tend to absorb most of the candidates.

Institutes

•    Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, 1, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 (Ph:23382005/23389942 Fax:23382003, Website: www.bvbdelhi.org) offers 5-month Job Oriented Certificate course in Tourism, Tours & Travel Management. Eligibility: 10+2 or equivalent.
•    Fairfield Institute of Management & Technology (FIMT), FIMT Campus, Near Oberai Farm, Kapashera, New Delhi 110037 (Affiliated with govt. recognised NAAC Accredited University) (Ph: 011-25063208,1 09/10/11/12 Mob: 09312352942, 09811568155 Email: office@fimtindia.org Website: www.fimtindia.com)offersB.sc&M.Scin Hotel Management, Catering & Tourism.
•    Kuoni Academy of Travel, Head Office: Kuoni House, 5th Floor, N F Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400001 (Maha.) (Ph: 022-66562000 Fax: 022¬66562009 Email: web@kuoniacademy.co.in).
•    NRAI School of Mass Communication (Authorised Learning Centre of Punjab Technical University), M-161/1A, G.L. House, Gautam Nagar, Behind Indian Oil Bhawan, (Beside Nirulas) New Delhi 110049 (Ph: 011-41642960/59/58 Email: nrai_del@rediffmaiI.com Website: www.nraismc.com)offersB.sc. in Hotel Management Catering, Technology & Tourism and Diploma in Airline Tourism & Hospitality Management.
•    South Delhi Polytechnic for Women, Lajpat Nagar-VI, New Delhi 110024 (Ph: 26294833,'26294836 Website: www.polytechnic-sdpw.com) offers course in Travel & Tourism.
•    IITC, IATA Authorised Training Centre, 6-c, Atmaram House, 1¬Tolstoy Marg, New Delhi 110001 (Ph: 23312427, 23312510, 23313089 Email:   iitcdl@boI.net.inWebsite:iitcworld.com) offers (i) 1-year Graduate & Postgraduate Diploma in Aviation and Tourism Management (ii) Airlines Diploma: International Airlines Ticketing &: Travel Management with GDS (Amadeus) (iii) Global Distribution System (Amadeus) (iv) IATA-UFTAA Foundation Course, Placement Assistance is available.
•    Vidya Training Institute, Head Office: Bangla Sahib Road, Opp. Kali Mandir, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001 (Ph: 23348846, 23348847 Website: www.vidyainstitute.in) Vidya House: B-83, Defence Colony, New Delhi 110024 (Ph: 24334088, Mob. 9818690223) Courses offered: Air Fares & Ticketing, IAT A/UFT AA Foundation Course.