CAREERS IN TOURISM AND TRAVELTravel is a primordial human activity as movement from one place to another was required to search food, shelter and safe environs. With the evolution of civilizations the extent of purposes behind location movement increased to include knowledge, trade and many others. However organizing travel for tours is a modern phenomenon. Tourism and travel has emerged as an industry that is labour intensive having the potential to propel sustainable development. It has grown big since 1950 with international tourist arrivals crossing the one billion mark in 2012. International arrivals were recorded as 1035 million in 2012 with US$ 1075 billion contribution in receipts and it is estimated by UNWTO that, 1 among 11 jobs has been created by tourism and its allied industries. India is not behind in reaping benefits from tourism. In 2012, it received 6.58 million international tourists that contributed US$ 17.74 billion in revenues and contributed in generating 10.5 % of India’s total employment. Tourism is an important contributor to service economies particularly in nations having good potential. It comprises of big tourism companies holding a huge staff along with small travel agencies with adequate number of employees. Depending on the capabilities of the individuals, the industry provides a great career opportunity to almost all the sections of the society. Some of the areas where students can look forward to work are detailed below:

Travel and Tour operations: Under this segment the work includes itinerary designing, file handling, ticket bookings and tour management. The next generation travel industry is eyeing for capable freelancers and travel writers, as videography has triggered the situation of demand for the capable travel documenters.

Hotels, Resorts, Motels and other means of accommodation: Accommodation is an essential component of tourism. The electronic commerce era has added on to the job markets for the travel professionals in the capacity of Hotel reservation systems and the other facilitations related to the business tourism and corporate travel management.

Guiding services: Having knowledge about the destination, monuments, related stories, historical significance are the basic requisites to be a tourist guide, knowledge about a foreign language is an added advantage.

Transport / Transfer services for tourists: Well organized companies are now entering into this field and they follow pure professionalism in terms of service delivery to their clients. The intermodal transportation has formed the life vein of India.

Tourist campsites, Picnic sites: Many of the companies are providing specialized services in organizing Tourist camps in different locations like mountains, deserts, glaciers and jungles. These companies also focus on the proper safety, hygiene and client satisfaction.

Traditional cuisines - restaurants, cafes, food stalls / outlets, etc.: A good hygienic food adds significance to a tour. Tourists always look for traditional and local cuisines of a destination and this creates an opportunity for the innovators to come up with theme-based or traditional cuisine restaurants. The ethnic restaurants in India have created opportunities for hotel man trade jobs and restaurant managers and keepers.

Cultural Centres: These are the places where local residents can perform their art, dances and cultural ceremonies. The foreign countries’ cultural centres in India are into many activities like screening their movies, promoting local attractions in India teaching the basic level foreign language, which is going to accommodate travel literates into them.

Safaris and Bird watching tours: Several forest departments are encouraging the occupation of Nature Guiding for the nature enthusiasts which draws the opportunities for the experts from botany and zoology to pursue Tourism education as a supportive curriculum for further scope in their livelihood.

Adventure Sports - Hot air ballooning, Skydiving, Scuba diving and other Water sports: Geographical conditions of the country creates ample of opportunities for the growth of Adventure tourism. Adventure tourism in India is picking up very with a great scope of career for the youngsters in destination management companies, resorts and adventure companies.

Curio and Craft factories: Souvenir represents an image of a destination and by learning skill of making local handicrafts, one can easily start his own business or can become a part of pre-existing business.

Rural, Farm and Agritourism: As approximately 70% of Indian population constitutes a part of rural India, so such kind of upcoming tourism types can be more useful in providing employment opportunities and empowerment of rural population. To equip people to work in tourism industry, training and educational facilities are available from skill training to graduate and post graduate levels. While skill training is provided as vocational training by different state and private institutes, higher education is the domain of universities and autonomous institutes. The potential admission seekers in tourism shall have some inherent qualities, like passion of travelling, exploring, etc. The skills required to support these basics are such as communication, product knowledge, servitude and business acumen can be acquired through education. Tourism industry offers immense opportunities to grow through entrepreneurship even in small towns. What is required is the spirit of exploration and expansion.

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Service sector, today, is the largest contributor to gross domestic product in India. As economy strengthens both service sectors (tourism, healthcare, retailing, education, IT, hospitality, etc.) and service components of manufacturing and agriculture sector would increasingly become important. This growth has resulted in a sharp rise in employability and paying capacity of these sectors. More jobs are created and job demand and supply gap has increased, calling for more trained human-power to occupy these jobs. This programme focuses on management of service sectors. The programme of study aims at preparing graduates for taking up employment in a business organisation or self employment and/or carrying forward their family businesses. Learner would be able to specialise simultaneously in one functional elective area and also in one sectoral elective of his / her choice and subject to availability of such courses at the centre. The main objectives of this programme of study are threefold i. Enable young learners to develop a business acumen and sensitise them to nuances of service scenarios ii. Learn principles and practice of management especially for the service sector companies iii. Equip and enable learners to start new business ventures.

Accordingly, the programme has a large component of working in real world situations under the careful guidance of mentors. Structure i. This is an intensive programme of study of two academic sessions. ii. The programme shall be divided into four semesters and there shall be an examination at the end of each semester. iii. Each semester shall comprise of credits equivalent to nine courses, each of three hours per week equivalent teaching obligation and equal amount of self study. iv. Admission is being offered for 93 seats in the programme. v. Dual specialisation would be available to students in Marketing, Human Resource Management or Finance; and Tourism and Hospitality Management, or Financial Services.