Going places

The tourism administration course aims to meet the manpower needs of the booming travel sector, writes Vishal Gulati

THE career options in the tour and travel industry have increased in direct proportion to the growing domestic market, micro-economic stability, liberalisation and the growing presence of multinationals in India.

Until recently, the industry was banking on traditional themes like culture and heritage. Now, the focus has shifted to health and medical tourism, eco-tourism, steam engine tourism, cricket tourism, spiritual tourism and rural tourism.

In order to tap the growing demand of tourism professionals, the Institute of Vocational Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, has started a five-year MTA (Master’s in Tourism Administration) course from the present session. It’s the only university in the country that is conducting this kind of comprehensive course.

For admission to the course, the candidate must be a plus two in any stream with at least 50 per cent marks. The admission is based on an entrance test and group discussion.

The first part of the five-year course comprises undergraduate study (six semesters), on the completion of which a bachelor’s degree in tourism administration will be given. After this, the candidate has the option to go in for a master’s course (four semesters).

The department is already conducting a two-year MTA (master of tourism administration) course for graduates.

The UGC has sanctioned Rs 38 lakh as grant-in-aid to the institute for starting the course. It has approved 25 seats for it.

The increasing influx of tourists, especially foreigners from Israel, Germany, the UK and several other European countries, has made tourism a booming sector. The demand of management executives in hotels and tour and cargo agencies is much more than their availability. This is going to increase in the near future. A qualified postgraduate or graduate can pursue his/her career as a management trainee.

Says S.P. Bansal, programme coordinator, Institute of Vocational Studies: "The booming tourism industry creates a sudden demand of tourism professionals. Of course, the demand is more than the supply. The department has achieved cent per cent placements for its postgraduate passouts in various travel agencies, including SITA, Cox and Kings, Travel Inn, etc.

"India is currently the cynosure of the world tourism giants and a number of foreign agencies are keen to have a greater share of the growing market."

Says M.C. Thakur, a travel agent in Manali, "Today, the tourist does not want to remain cocooned in a synthesised world of five-star comfort to which he is accustomed at home. His actual requirement is eco-tourism — experiencing nature in its pristine form. We are depending heavily upon eco-tourism as Himachal Pradesh is full of nature bounties."

The course comprises information about product management, tourism accommodation, transportation, insurance, adventure tourism, marketing of tourism products, travel agency and tour operation business, hotel management, air ticketing, destination planning, etc.

It also includes learning of the German and French languages.

The initial remuneration of a management trainee is between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 per month. After a series of promotions, they can earn Rs 30,000 per month.

However, international travel agencies like Cox and Kings are paying salaries between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 per month, says Bansal.

Thakur says in Manali alone there are more than 100 travel agencies that are organising nature and adventure camps in the Spiti, Kinnaur and Sarchu areas throughout the year.

"One can start a career either in a travel agency or begin one’s own travel agency as the craze for eco-tourism is catching up among tourists," he says.

"For a fresh trainee, we are offering a package between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000," says Kapil Malhotra of Ekido Holiday Tours, Chandigarh.

This is one of the fastest growing areas of the industry.