Last Updated on July 10, 2020 by admin
Travel and Tourism is one of the largest employing sectors. Earlier, travel and tourism field was related to being employed in five star luxury hotels, however the prospects have undergone a huge change and there are so many options to choose from. World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) calculated that tourism generated 8.31 lakh crore that is 6.3 percent of India’s GDP in 2015 supporting 37.3 million jobs. It is estimated that 46 million job opportunities will be created by 2025, in India alone. So today I am trying to answer the question of how sustainable is a career in travel and tourism.
Travel and tourism includes everything from the government tourism departments and major multinational companies to the small scale private travel agents.
Table of Contents
Career in travel and tourism: The options
- Hospitality: Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Cruise Lines, Resorts, Camping, Inns, Rest Houses, B&B, etc.
- State or Central tourism department: Visa officer, security, immigration officer, customs service, etc.
- Attractions: Guide/Interpreter for monuments, amusement parks, theme parks, museums, beaches, waterfalls, nature parks, mountains, coral islands, etc
- Travel: Airlines, railways, cruises etc.
- Food: Executive chef, restaurant manager
- Holiday representative: Tour manager, tourism officer, tourist information centre manager
While these are the main jobs, it is not limited and there are many other avenues like:
- Travel blogger/vlogger
- Cruise staff
- Destination wedding photographer
- Flight attendant
- Travel agent
- Travel Consultant
- Event management
- Field service engineer
Why should you choose a career in Travel and Tourism?
Other than being paid well as per the latest industry standards, there are many other advantages such as free travel or reduced rates for you and your family depending upon the career you choose. You meet a lot of people and there is always a buzz around you. You will have the opportunity to learn and network with brands and people from all over the world. Peak seasons during holidays and festivals bring added bonuses and commission.
This brings us to the most important questions..
What are the courses in travel and tourism?
There are many colleges, universities and private institutes that offer Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees, diplomas, certificates or distance learning courses in various sectors of travel and tourism such as management in tourism, travel or hotels, tour operation or airline management, destination management, airline ticketing, travel administration etc.
What is the eligibility criteria?
You can join an undergraduate course right after completing class 12. Diploma courses can be joined after class 10. Short courses can be joined anytime.
Which institute offers the best course and has good placement record?
State Institute of Hotel Management (SIHM) is Gujarat’s one of the most prominent institutes of Hotel Hospitality and Tourism Management. It is sponsored and managed by Gujarat Tourism and offers various courses which gives insight into the Travel and Tourism Industry. SIHM is affiliated to Gujarat Technological University (GTU) and approved by AICTE.
The students enrolled in SIHM, gain valuable experience from on-field activities, industrial visits, and internships with big brands. The courses are full of experiential training and study tours. Studying at SIHM helps to gain managerial skills, enhance communication, and equips with knowledge of global culture which are utmost important in Travel and Tourism industry.
With experienced faculty members and industry experts as guest faculties, the mind is always open to learn new critical thinking skills and developing abilities in excel in travel and tourism field.
Courses at SIHM
Bachelor of Hotel Management & Catering Technology
It is a four year intensive programme. Its multi-disciplinary programme focuses on critical analysis of management styles & strategic thinking required to succeed in hotel management.
Life of a student at SIHM
You can never get bored at the campus of SIHM, which is near the ancient city of Patan. From festival celebration to student clubs, from heritage walks to sports, SIHM has everything designed keeping students in mind. There are hostels for students with modern facilities.
Also read: Modhera Sun Temple, a UNESCO Heritage site near SIHM
Keeping up with changing and green trends at SIHM
With the awareness among travelers about sustainable travel and ethical tours, students need to be taught about the ‘Eco trend’. SIHM takes special classes to teach students on practicing sustainability themselves as well as for the brand they are working on. They are encouraged to know local environmental issues and are asked to design projects to overcome them. Case studies are presented to motivate students on how to encourage tourists to discourage the use of plastic and how to get involved in local environmental issues.
Verdict of Career in Travel and Tourism?
The need of qualified travel and tourism professionals is increasing rapidly and SIHM is present to deliver it. So the answer is, yes, a career in travel and tourism is not only sustainable but booming.
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11 comments
This is so interesting to hear! I’d been told years ago that travel and tourism jobs would die down because of all the information online, however, to see it is booming is amazing! Very insightful
Very useful post for anyone wishing to pursue a career in travel or hospitality in India Ketki, and sounds like you are pretty excited about SIHM. Totally agree students need to learn about sustainability!
Travel and tourism industry in India is certainly booming, and is a great career choice for locals there. Having been to India just a few weeks ago myself, I have seen it first hand and am not surprised that it currently supports 37 million jobs. It is a thriving industry especially with foreigners paying a lot more for accommodation and attraction entrance fees than the locals.
After a long career in computers, I find myself as part of the travel and tourism industry as a travel blogger. It is so nice if it can sustain a career. For me, it is a hobby while I am retired,
It’s so exciting to see the travel industry change and involve to include so many more opportunities! I work full-time in a completely different field but technology lets me work on the side with my travel blog.
I agree with you. A career in travel and tourism is a rapidly increasing employment sector where there is high demand for qualified applicants due to the growing interest across the globe. If someone is just starting out and not sure what industry or skill set/trade to consider then only look to the travel industry. It appears that SIHM (or its equivalent) is a great program.
I have never thought of going to college to be a travel professional, but reading your post it is the best way to get qualified to be a professional in the travel industry. This is especially true if you work for a company. Get incites into the industry.
Its good to see a focus on learning and professionalism, plus an acknowledgement of just how wide-ranging travel careers can be. It’s one of those areas of work that enables you to combine both a passion and an aptitude for a specific role. It makes a great supplement to the e-learning offered by many travel companies too.
This is such an interesting post. Although many fields and jobs can incorporate travel, I think high school students really should consider a career in travel and tourism if that is their passion. You’ve done a great job introducing the SIHM, which looks like a perfect option for students in India. Thanks for sharing and bringing up this important topic, Ketki!
Being part of the travel and tourism industry has always been a dream of mine! I’m starting slowly with my blog and with traveling more – eventually I’d like to become a home-based travel agent. Good tips and advice in this post, thanks for the recommendations!
A lot of important things for young people considering a career in this industry to consider as they make important decisions like what to study, where to go to college, and what to do afterward.