Travel and tourism careers: courses, fees and starting salaries, as experts see it

Many people enjoy travelling and want to build a career in the field, but most do not know where to begin. Travel and tourism is one of the world's largest industries, with career openings in India as well as abroad.

Both degree and diploma courses are available for entering the field. Learning a foreign language and doing internships also help in moving ahead. Experts say it is a service industry, and working in it requires good communication skills, the ability to understand customers and a good personality.

According to experts, for studying travel and tourism in India, one option is the Indian Institute of Tourism and Management (IITTM), which comes under the Ministry of Tourism. It has centres in several places, including Gwalior. Courses such as BBA in Travel and Tourism can be done there. MBA and diploma courses are also available. While choosing a course, one should keep in mind one's eligibility and career goal. Students who are pursuing graduation can do a master's or a diploma in travel and tourism.

Fees vary by institution and course. According to experts, the fee for the three-year BBA in Travel and Tourism at IITTM can go up to Rs 3 lakh. The cost of related courses at Delhi University is put at about Rs 58,000. For a diploma, a one-year course is available at many institutions, with fees of Rs 20,000 to Rs 1 lakh. However, experts advise preferring a degree to a diploma.

A degree alone is not enough to move ahead in this field. Students should also work on personality development and English communication. For those who want to work abroad, learning foreign languages such as French, German or Japanese is beneficial. Experts say students should certainly do internships during their studies. This gives practical experience and builds the ability to handle people and understand their needs, and the experience is useful in a career.

Travel and tourism can also be studied outside India. Experts mentioned institutions such as Hotel School The Hague in the Netherlands, Vatel in France, and Le Roche, Glion and Cesar Ritz in Switzerland. According to them, courses related to the field are also available in New Zealand and Australia.

There are many job options. Students can work with large travel agencies, tour operator companies and companies linked to adventure tourism. Openings may also be found in spiritual tourism and in work linked to cruise liners. The industry also has sectors such as inbound and outbound tourism. Inbound tourism covers services for tourists coming to India from abroad, while outbound tourism involves arranging the travel of people going abroad from India. Once experience and contacts are built, starting one's own business is also an option.

According to experts, the starting salary in this field in India can be about Rs 30,000 a month. For work abroad, the starting salary can be roughly Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh a month. However, salaries can vary with the country, the company and experience.

Because this is a service industry, those working in it must understand customers' needs and listen to them carefully. Experts say people who lose their temper quickly or have too much ego in their behaviour should choose this career only after understanding its difficulties. The work calls for a calm temperament, good communication skills and the ability to plan everything in detail.