What qualifications do I need to make a career in travel and tourism?

Are you looking for ways to hop and make a career in the tourism industry? Well! It makes sense because who doesn’t want to spend the work part of their life traveling and exploring new places? 

Tourism spans various industries, from lodging and travel to entertainment, travel services, food, and beverage. It is always best to take the time to learn everything you can before starting a career in tourism, as this is the wisest course of action. But you don’t need to worry about it because we have compiled the best information for you in this article. Keep reading to learn everything you need about qualifications and other information regarding the future of travel and tourism.  

The future and scope of the tourism industry

In the upcoming years, it is expected that the travel and tourism sector and the industries that support it will expand rapidly. A career in this field can be exciting, adventurous, and well-paying. By 2025, the travel sector in India aims to generate 46 million new jobs. Though it took a while to catch on in this country, government activities in this area reveal a promising future for individuals who want to pursue careers in it.

Educational Qualification

Many institutes offer diploma, bachelor, and master’s degree courses on travel and tourism. You can join institutes that offer courses after the 12th and get certified as a travel and tourism specialist.

Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism Management (IITTM) is an autonomous institution operated by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. It educates the upcoming travel and tourism professionals in the manner that the public and private travel and tourism industry demands. Besides this, many private and public institutes offer crash courses on travel and tourism.

Characteristics of the travel and tourism sector:

Travel and tourism generate the most foreign exchange worldwide and directly or indirectly support millions of jobs in related service industries. From large international corporations and government tourist departments to independent small-scale travel agencies, this sector covers them all.

As a service provider in this field, one attends to tour packages, pilgrim travel, adventure travel, or informal sightseeing for clients on business, vacation, or both. To provide the most satisfactory service in terms of travel alternatives and arrangements, staff members always need to interact directly with consumers, understand their needs, and make them comfortable.

Tourism courses 

Picking up the right tourism course greatly impacts one’s future and can significantly boost your long-term career prospects. Of course, there is a wide range of tourism careers to choose from, so you should think carefully about the field you would like to work in and find the most relevant course for teaching related skills.

Eligibility for Courses in Travel and Tourism

After finishing any course, you can apply for jobs and placement in the travel sector. However, the following lists the requirements for each course’s eligibility:

Certificate and Graduation Programs:

• To apply for diploma and graduate-level tourism courses, you must have completed 10+2 (any stream) from a recognized board of education.
• Admission to the diploma program is based on performance on the state-level entrance tests or the merit of the class 12 board exam.
• The results of your class 12 examinations may also be used to determine your entrance to universities providing graduate programs in tourism. However, some government colleges may admit students based on their performance on the NCHM JEE exam.

Post-graduation courses:

• You must have earned your graduate degree to apply for the postgraduate courses (preferably in tourism).
• Most of these postgraduate programs are based on entrance tests administered at the state level or privately by the university.
• You must take the SAT or MAT admission examinations if you wish to enroll in MBA programs in tourism.

Career scope in travel and tourism

Tourism is one of the sectors with a lot of potential in developing nations like India. Once you’ve taken a course in it, many doors will be open to you. 

India draws tourists worldwide to the rich heritage and cultural characteristics of its numerous cities thanks to several government measures to encourage tourism. This has increased the number of job openings in this sector. Several industries hire tourism graduates from reputable institutions nationwide and offer attractive careers. The tour and travel sector provides a variety of employment types, including travel planners, tour guides,

Reservations and travel agents. Below are a few well-known industries that hire recent graduates in tourism.

• Airlines
• Transportation sector
• Tour Operators 
• Travel Writer
• Travel Agencies
• Government of India, Tourism Department

What salary to expect? 

Your skills and enthusiasm depend on how far you can advance in this field. However, the travel and tourism pay is generally rather good.

Taking a course in tourism opens up your options for both public and private employment. The government offers a much more comprehensive range of pay and incentives than the private tourism sector. However, pursuing an MBA or PGDM in tourism management from a reputable university or institute will significantly increase your pay package.

After earning a diploma or degree in this sector, you might anticipate a salary of Rs. 20,000 to 25,000 per month. Starting pay packages in the aviation and airline industry can reach 60,000. Although pay increases with experience, the best packages are given to those with an MBA in this profession. A recent MBA graduate can anticipate earning up to 80-85k.

Additionally, you receive extra benefits like complimentary flights or family pricing. In airlines or travel businesses with overseas bases, salaries are higher, and peak seasons may result in increased commissions and bonuses.

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