Career in Travel and Tourism

The tourism industry is known for career opportunities and the perks that it comes with. It is one of the fastest-growing industries with opportunities that one can explore and look forward to. It not only has a lot of employment opportunities but also has interesting future prospects that involve travelling, guiding trips etc. and not to forget the well-paid job that comes with it. Students studying Travel and Tourism have opportunities available in both sectors which automatically gives you leads you to a path of a bright future. This blog will guide you through a career in Travel and Tourism and make you familiar with the various job prospects that this industry entails. 

Popular Careers in the Travel and Tourism Industry

If you are a student of Travel and Tourism or if you are planning to study in this field and are looking for the various prospects that this field entails before investing your future in it, then here are some job options for a career in Travel and Tourism.

Travel Agent

You might be familiar with what a travel agent does as you might have encountered a few while travelling, but the role of a travel agent does not end there. A travel agent researches, plans, and organizes trips for individuals and groups. A travel agent usually works for a travel agency that organizes various business and leisure trips and makes sure that the tourists and travellers have a comfortable journey and makes sure that their stay is comfortable. Other things that a travel agent works for is to make sure that the customers get comfortable accommodation, visas, travel, foreign exchange etc. 

Tour Guide

One of the most sought-after jobs to build a career in Travel and Tourism, a tour guide gives a guided tour to a group of tourists or an individual. A tour guide provides assistance and information on historical sites, religious institutes, museums, sanctuaries and national parks or a place of cultural importance. A tour guide needs to have a thorough knowledge of these destinations, their history, geographical conditions and other relevant information. In order to become a tour guide, you need to develop good communication skills, fluency in foreign languages and information about the local area and a familiarity with the same. 

Tourism Manager

A tourist/tourism manager promotes tourism in his or her area by utilising various advertising methods and campaigns. The manager also assists travellers from all cultures and customs.

PR Manager

A public relations manager looks at the various aspects of managing the reputation of a travelling agency or any other firm in the market. A PR manager is responsible for advertising and spreading information about an agency in order to build a good reputation for it in the market. A PR Manager in this industry usually works for a travel agency, hotel chains and airlines. A PR Manager also needs to write press releases, manage events and act as a coordinator between various departments of the firm. A PR Manager usually needs to have good communication and management skills and should be able to handle any potential crisis. This is a lucrative career in Travel and Tourism.

Event Manager

An event manager is responsible for organizing, planning and supervising various logistics of an event. An event manager also acts as a coordinator who meets the various demands of a client. The events may vary from a concert to a conference. 

Airline Ground Staff

Ground personnel is essential in sectors such as commercial activities, airport operations, airline operations, and so on. Ground staff have a wide range of tasks, including checking, storing, and carrying luggage, as well as filling the aircraft with food and beverages.

Transport Officer

A transport officer is generally appointed by a state government or municipal transportation authority to perform tasks such as vehicle fleet maintenance, monitoring vehicle establishment programmes, approving ground transportation budgets, and so on.

Travel Writer

A travel writer is responsible for producing articles about historical sites, holidays, adventures, the hotel business, culture, and so on.

Also Read: Career in Hotel Management [Complete Study Guide]

Popular Courses for a Career in Travel and Tourism

Here are some popular courses for building a strong career in Travel and Tourism. The courses listed down below are for all individuals who wish to enter the market at different entry points.

• IATA Courses
• BA in Travel and Tourism Management
• BA in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Management
• BSc. in Travel and Tourism Management
• BA Tourism Studies
• BA in Travel and Tourism
• BSc. in Hospitality and Travel Management
• BBA in Travel and Tourism Management
• BBA in Hospitality and Travel Management
• BBA in Air Travel Management
• BA/BSc in Aviation
• Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management
• Diploma in Hospitality Management
• Diploma in Tourism Studies
• Diploma in Aviation, Hospitality and Travel Management
• Diploma in Tourist Guide
• Diploma in Tourism and Ticketing
• Diploma in Airfare and Ticketing

These courses are ideal for graduates and postgraduates who wish to advance in their careers:

• MBA in Hospitality Management
• MBA in Airport Management
• Master of Tourism Administration 
• Master of Tourism and Hotel Management
• MBA in Travel & Tourism
• MA/MSc Hospitality Management with Specialization in Travel, Leisure & Tourism
• PGDM in Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Management

Is travelling your passion? Then check out this blog on Travel and Tourism Courses after 12th

Top Universities Abroad

As mentioned above, there are several options worldwide one can explore when it comes to pursuing a career in travel and tourism. Here are a few renowned universities that you can consider: 

Universities	Location
New York University	USA
King’s College London	UK
Boston University	USA
The Chinese University of Hong Kong	Hong Kong
Wageningen University	Netherlands
The University of Queensland	Australia
Erasmus University Rotterdam	Netherlands
University of Groningen	Netherlands
EHL – Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne	Switzerland

Explore the Most Popular Courses in Travel and Tourism Industry in the World!

Top Travel and Tourism Colleges in India

1. Indian Institute of Hospitality and Management – Thane
2. Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management – Gwalior
3. Christ University – Bangalore
4. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
5. TATA Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
6. Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism – Noida
7. National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management – Hyderabad
8. Kerala Institute of Tourism & Travel Studies
9. Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management – Bhubaneswar
10. Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management – Noida
11. Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management – Goa 
12. Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management – Nellore
13. Centre for Tourism Studies, Pondicherry University
14. Indian Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management, Ghaziabad
15. Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management
16. Thomas Cook-Centre of Learning
17. Blue Whale Academy
18. Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Hotel and Tourism Management Studies
19. School of Hotel Management and Tourism
20. Academy of Business Management, Tourism, & Research

Did you know: The COVID-19 pandemic has cost the world economy more than $4 trillion loss, and tourism experts do not anticipate pre-COVID arrival levels to be restored until 2023 or later.

Skills Required for a Career in Travel and Tourism 

Professionals in the travel and tourism sector are focused on delivering great services to customers who are away from home on vacation or on business. Candidates interested in pursuing a career in the tourism sector must have a passion for travel, a desire to learn new things, and the ability to keep up with the newest news as well as global socioeconomic trends. Some of the characteristics and abilities that applicants need to possess in order to create a successful career in the travel and tourism industry are as follows:

• Confidence
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Pleasant and well-groomed personality
• Diligence
• Flexibility
• Commitment
• Enthusiasm
• Good administration and management skills
• Patience
• Good research and planning skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Organisation skills
• Time management skills
• Strong networking skills
• Teamwork
• Hardworking
• Leadership skills

Did you know: The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a prominent UN international tourism body. Its purpose is to promote tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability, and to provide leadership and assistance to the tourist industry in promoting knowledge and tourism policy across the world.

Do You Know About World Tourism Day? 

Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has observed World Tourism Day on September 27 as an international event. This date was chosen since the UNWTO Statutes were created in 1970. The adoption of these Statutes is seen as a pivotal point in world tourism. The goal of this day is to promote awareness about tourism’s role in the international community and to highlight how it impacts social, cultural, political, and economic values across the world. 

Having said that, the COVID-19 epidemic has had a significant social and economic impact on the world’s tourism industry in both developed and developing countries. As a result, the resumption of tourism will help in the rehabilitation and expansion of the global tourist sector, allowing the fundamental advantages to be enjoyed broadly and equally. As a result, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has selected World Tourism Day 2022 as a day to emphasize ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’. This is an opportunity to look beyond tourism numbers and recognises that there is a person behind every number.

Did you know: Tourism employs one out of every ten people on the planet? The epidemic threatened 100-120 million direct tourism jobs around the world.

Salary Trends

Travel and Tourism are some of the fastest-growing industries in the world. The industry encompasses diverse sectors like Airlines, Hotel and Hospitality, International Travel, Food and Catering, Entertainment, Digital Marketing Industry, Logistics and Transportation, Adventure Sports, Event Management, Hotel Management, Sales and Marketing, Public Relations, Freelancing etc. Individuals interested in cultivating a career in travel and tourism can go for these job profiles:

Job Profile	Average Salary/per annum
Hotel Manager	Rs 5- 6 lakhs
Event Manager	Rs 3-4 lakhs
Food and Beverage Director	Rs 12-16 lakhs
Front Office Manager	Rs 3 to 4 lakhs
Human Resource Manager	Rs 7- 8 lakhs
Travel Agent/Consultant	Rs 3 -4 lakhs
Conventional Manager	Rs 5-6 lakhs
Content Marketing Manager	Rs 6-7 lakhs
Tour Guide	Rs 2 – 3 lakhs
PR Manager	Rs 4-5 lakhs
Travel Writer/Blogger	Rs 3-4 lakhs
Travel Photographer	Rs 6 -7 lakhs
Corporate Travel Agent	Rs 5-6 lakhs

Top Recruiting Companies

Here are the best companies for individuals who wish to kick-start a career in Travel and Tourism:

• Cox & Kings Ltd.
• Thomas Cook (India) Ltd
• MakeMyTrip
• Travix Leisure & Travels Pvt. Ltd.
• SOTC Travel Limited
• Yatra
• ClearTrip
• NDTV GoodTimes
• Mahindra Holidays 
• Swan Tours
• Jet Airways
• India Healthcare Tourism (IHCT)
• East India Travel Co
• Goibibo
• National Geographic
• Expedia
• TravelGuru
• Air Asia
• American Express Global Business Travels

FAQs

The opportunities for a career in Travel and Tourism are vast which makes it difficult for students to choose something specific and build a career in it. If you are unsure about the kind of career you want in this industry then feel free to contact our experts at Leverage Edu who will guide you through this process.