Career in Travel & Tourism

Travel and tourism consists of many different industries, all combining to create a vibrant and exciting whole. Government tourism departments, Immigration and customs services, travel agencies, airlines, hotels, transportation, recreational parks and restaurants are just a few of the different areas that use the services of travel and tourism specialists.

Working in the Travel and Tourism industry is all about making traveling an enriching and enjoyable experience for every individual by providing quality services. This can be a wonderful and fulfilling career for someone who really enjoys meeting new people and helping them enjoy themselves.

The most obvious course of joining the travel and tourism industry is to become a travel agent. As a travel agent, you work with your customers and clients to help them design the perfect trip for their needs, whether it is business or pleasure. You might help them chose a destination, purchase tickets, make hotel or car rental reservations, and advise them on tours and other recreational activities in an area. Young people with drive and a capacity for hard work can raise to top positions very quickly in this industry or even head their own agencies.

Qualifications

A graduate degree in travel and tourism or a diploma or certification course is required for operational jobs in government organizations. Postgraduate degree can be helpful in getting into managerial and administrative positions in the industry.

Travel company personnel must be up-to-date on current rules and regulations and documentation required, in areas like cargo, ticketing and passports, visas etc. so as to correctly advise their clients, and to take care of the paperwork when necessary. Besides this, all tourism staff in marketing, counter sales, or guide services, should be knowledgeable about the places their clients visit, in terms of general background, how to get there connections by air, rail and road and the facilities available.

Skills

To be a part of this industry, you need to have a pleasant personality, good communication and presentation skills. In the administrative or managerial level, organizing ability, an ability to make decisions, solve problems, work effectively within a team is essential.

Career Options

Being a very wide field, the scope of employment in tourism sector is very bright and the potential is still largely untapped. Since this industry is a relatively new one, there are not a huge number of experienced individuals. Hence, promotion prospects are also very bright and rapid . You can move up the ladder fast and establish your own agency after a few years.

Career opportunities exist both in the public and private sector. In the public sector, there are opportunities in the Directorates and Departments of Tourism of the center and the state as Officers, Information assistants, Tourist guides etc. Other good prospects for qualified tourism professionals are in the private sector with travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, hotels, transport and cargo companies etc.

Remuneration

Jobs in the travel and tourism industry offer good remuneration and perquisites, which include free travel for employees and their families. Since the travel and tourism industry is so far-spread and competitive, pay scales can vary greatly depending on the company, the city etc. Reputation of the company or firm or airline makes a difference as well. Some of the general pay scales for an agency or company dealing in travel/tourism are as follows: Position Pay Counter Clerk Rs. 1,700 - Rs. 2,000 Assistant Rs. 2,000 - Rs. 2,500 Junior Executive Rs. 3,000 - Rs. 3,500 Regional Manager Rs. 3,900 - Rs. 4,500 General Manager Rs. 5,000 - Rs. 6000.

So if you are hard working and dedicated professional, you can rise to top positions soon and can even start your own travel agency. A job in Travel & Tourism industry will provide good salaries and perks too. Hence, for the adventurous and the travel minded, this industry is the place where you should be building your career.