How to Become a Tour Manager?

What’s better than visiting new places everyday? A career in Travel and tourism is known to give aspirants the ever wanted comfort, exposure perks and glamour that they always wanted. It is a constantly growing sector with various job requirements. Tour Manager is one among the many job profiles in this sector. They are in charge of ensuring that travel arrangements for groups of vacationers go as smoothly and enjoyable as possible. In this blog, we will provide a complete guide on how to become a Tour Manager!

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Who is a Tour Manager?

Tour managers, sometimes known as tour directors, ensure that travel arrangements go as smoothly as possible and that tourists receive practical assistance throughout their trip. They follow guests during a trip, informing them of facts such as arrival and departure schedules, as well as points of interest. It is necessary to have extensive knowledge of a specific location or region, and you may be asked to act as a tour guide throughout the trip. Communication skills, public speaking and good sense of places are of the most important skills and qualities of an aspiring tour manager. 

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Educational Requirements

Although there is no specific eligibility criteria for becoming a tour manager, aspiring candidates must know what the generic criteria is. To become a tour manager,  an individual must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Candidates must have completed 10+2 from a recognized board with aggregate marks of at least 50%.
• Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in related fields like Aviation Management, Travel & Tourism Management, etc. 
• Candidates having IATA certification/diploma in travel and tourism are given preference.
• Candidates with prior experience in work related to the tourism industry are preferred. 
• Candidates must possess the required skill set for becoming a tour manager.

Tour Management Course Curriculum

For those who wish to pursue a career as tour manager while pursuing a course in the same field of study, we have mentioned the breakdown of the tourism management course below: 

1. Heritage & Environment
2. Tour Planning & Costing
3. Geography in Travel Planning
4. Micro management of travel operations
5. Guiding The Tourist
6. Communication & Customer service skills
7. Passport & Visa Documentation
8. Culture & Cuisine of the world
9. Marketing strategies & Organizational skills
10. Travel Formalities
11. Tour Management
12. Techniques of Tour Planning
13. Tourism Promotion
14. Project Work
15. Internship
16. Workshop
17. Case Study

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Become a Tour Manager: Popular Courses

For becoming a tour manager, students preferably should hold a degree in the following few courses:

Diploma and Certificate Courses 

Some of the popular diploma and certificate courses are shared below.

• Diploma in Tour Management
• Certificate Course in Tour Management
• Certificate Course in Travel & Hospitality
• Certificate Course in Travel & Tourism
• PG Diploma in Travel and Tourism
• Diploma in Cruise Line Operations and Management
• Diploma in Airfares & Ticketing
• Diploma in Computer Reservation System
• Diploma in Travel and Tourism with Amadeus 

UG Courses 

Have a look at the most prominent Undergraduate courses below.

• Bachelor in Hospitality
• Bachelors in Hotel Management
• Bachelor of Tourism Administration
• BA (H) Hotel Management, Travel and Tourism
• BCom Tourism and Travel Management
• BBA in Aviation Management
• BBA in Travel and Tourism Management

PG Courses

The most popular postgraduate courses are listed below.

• Masters in Hotel Management
• MBA in Aviation Operations
• MBA in Travel and Tourism Management
• Masters in Hospitality
• Executive MBA in Tourism, Hospitality and Aviation Programme
• Master of Tourism Administration
• MBA Tourism and Travel
• MBA Tourism and Leisure
• MBA International Business with specialisation in Tourism
• MBA Tourism and Cargo Management
• MA in Travel and Tourism
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Tourism
• PhD in Travel and Tourism

Top Global Universities

For becoming a tour manager, students can apply for the following colleges abroad: 

Name of University	QS World University Ranking 2023
Surrey University, UK	–
Griffith University, Australia	300
Bournemouth University, England	801 – 1000
Hotelschool The Hague, Netherlands	–
Oxford Brookes University, UK	438
Leeds Beckett University, UK	1001-1200
Sun Yat-sen University, China	267
Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand	486
University of Waikato, UK	331
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand	275

Top Colleges in India

Listed below are the top colleges where students can apply to pursue tour management (travel & hospitality) in India.

1. Chandigarh University
2. IHM Delhi
3. Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism, Delhi
4. New Delhi YMCA
5. IGNOU
6. Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
7. Graphic Era University, Mussoorie 
8. University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
9. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
10. Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra

Responsibilities of a Tour Manager

While becoming a tour manager might be a career of your choice, you must also be aware of the duties and responsibilities associated with this role. As a tour manager, an individual is expected fulfil certain responsibilities such as:

1. Welcoming the passengers and keeping them informed about travel arrangements.
2. Accompany groups travelling by bus, car, boat, rail, or plane
3. Examine tickets and other pertinent papers, seat assignments, and any special requirements.
4. Helping passengers with passport and immigration related work
5. Assist vacationers with check-in and settling into their accommodations
6. Provide a variety of facts on itineraries, places, and culture
7. Inform passengers of arrival and departure times at each stop on the schedule, and make sure that all members of the group are back on the coach before departing from each stop.
8. Ensuring al travel arrangements have been smoothly laid 
9. Handle situations, such as assisting a sick vacationer or people who need to call family ones immediately
10. Make contact with places to stay or visit ahead of time to confirm specifics and plans
11. Liaise with hotels, bus companies, restaurants, and other clients to provide information on facilities such as sights, restaurants, and stores at each destination.

Skills Required to Become a Tour Manager

For those who wish to become a tour manager, they must possess the following skills:

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work handle stress
• Time management skills
• Knowledge of foreign languages
• Organisational skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Problem solving skills
• Customer friendliness
• Patience 
• Working under pressure 

Scope and Salary of a Tour Manager 

Tour managers’ starting salary in full-time work generally varies from INR 15,000 to INR 30,000 per month. Tour managers with experience may expect to earn between INR 35,000 and INR 50,000 per month. Salaries at the senior level or with significant experience might exceed INR 50,000 per month. However, remuneration is often determined per day, with rates and expenditures changing between firms. Salaries differ greatly based on the business, the location/country visited, and the sort of trip. Salary may be supplemented by commission and gratuities; the amount will vary according to the clients and the tour. Salary levels are affected by industry circumstances.

Top Recruiting Companies

Let’s now have a look at some of the best travel and tourism companies that are among the top recruiters of tour managers:

• Thomas Cook (India) Ltd
• Cox & Kings Ltd
• Expedia
• MakeMyTrip
• ClearTrip
• Kesai Tours
• Flying Fox
• SOTC India
• Kuoni Travel
• Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation

FAQs

This was all about how to become a tour manager. Hope this blog has helped you with the necessary details for making a successful career in this field. If you require assistance in choosing the right university to study abroad, Leverage Edu experts can guide you through the process. Sign up for a free session right away! Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.