Students going places with travel & tourism courses

Ruhi Bhasin / TNN / Jun 9, 2005, 00:09 IST

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Students going places with travel & tourism courses

NEW DELHI: India is fast becoming an attractive tourist spot. Besides earning foreign exchange, tourism industry generates employment in large numbers. This booming industry is becoming the latest trend amongst the youth as far as career options go.
"I love travelling and used to be hooked on to the travel channels. So, I decided to make my passion my work and it's paying off well," said Mansi Chawla, working with a travel agency.
Travel is expected to grow 50% faster than any other sector of world employment as per the International Air Transport Association (IATA) statistics. The travel and tourism industry is also the world's number one industry, contributing 10% to the world economy. This should be reason enough for students to consider travel and tourism as a viable career option.
Some colleges in Delhi as well as private institutions such as the South Delhi Polytechnic and the International Polytechnic for Women offer such courses. The career path that one can follow are working with airlines, travel agencies, tourism boards, airports, e-travel organisations and even travel BPOs.

Sri Venkateshwara College offers travel and tourism as an add-on course for its undergraduate students as well as a post-graduate certificate course. According A R Reddy, its principal: "Travel and tourism courses have become popular because immediately after finishing the course, students find placements with travel agencies or airlines. Students even have the opportunity of setting up their own agency."
Another DU college, College of Vocational Studies (CVS) offers a course on tourism. It offers a three-year course on tourism and a post-graduate diploma course. According to Nina Rao, faculty member: "A large section of students who opt for this course are not academically inclined, so such courses provide them with a good educational alternative. For others, it is the glamour factor that makes them opt for this course."

Saurabh Sachdeva, graduate in tourism from CVS is happy with his chosen path. "The service sector is emerging as of the most promising sector and tourism is a part of it. The best aspect about the travel sector is the fact that international standards are followed everywhere. I did my summer internship in a travel agency and was getting a decent stipend."
The private institutions that offer travel courses are Kuoni Academy of Travel and Skyline Business School. Both these institutions offer undergraduate course as well as one year post-graduate diploma course and a few short-term course as well.
YMCA also offers travel and tourism diploma course. Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) is another good option. It offers post-
graduate degree and diploma courses which is recognised by the government of India.

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