Career Opportunities Post Completion Of Tourism Management

The Indian tourism sector provides 31.8 million jobs and contributes to 7.3% of the total employment in the country. As per market research, the number of jobs is set to reach 53 million by 2029 with an influx of international tourists (30.5 billion) by 2028. With such an increase in prospects of tourism and footfalls, the number of skilled workers is also set to increase. Hence, in today’s article, we discuss different career opportunities post completion of tourism management.

What Jobs Are Directly Related To A Tourism Management Degree?

Here is a comprehensive list of jobs that are directly related to the degree of tourism management-

• Travel agency manager
• Tourist information centre manager
• Tourism officer
• Tour manager
• Hotel manager
• Holiday representative
• Air cabin crew

Some jobs roles where candidates will find their degree useful-

• Event manager
• Marketing executive
• Passenger transport manager
• Customer service manager
• Sales executive
• Conference centre manager
• Outdoor activities or education manager

Work Experience

Given the size of the tourism industry in India, it is relatively easy to find different part-time work opportunities. Moreover, part-time work opportunities will also be helpful in creating a balance between studies and work.

Based on the area of interest, one needs to get some experience in dealing with large groups of people, sales, travelling, and customer care. To put it simply, acquiring hands-on experience in any kind of public-facing role is crucial at the starting point of a career in tourism. Many courses provide the opportunity of a placement year to students in the industry.

Typical Employers In The Tourism Industry

There are several choices of job roles available within the travel and tourism industry in India for students to choose from-

• Tourist boards
• Tour operators
• Currency exchange
• Retail travel

Options in passenger transport include-

• Rail
• Aviation
• Coach
• Waterways

Some visitor attractions are-

• Theme parks
• Zoos
• Heritage sites
• Museums

Accommodation services include-

• Hotels
• Resorts
• Hostels
• Holiday parks

Candidates being associated with hotels and other core business operations such as conferences and events are employed all year round.

What Are Some Skills Required For A Career In The Tourism Industry?

Whenever a candidate applies for a job in the travel and tourism industry, an employer looks for some key skills in the CV. Gaining knowledge about products, structures, operations, understanding tour operators, tourist boards, hotels, airlines, etc. are considered to be an added advantage in the tourism industry.

A range of transferable skills include-

• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Problem-solving
• IT skills
• Effective communication skills
• Conducting research
• Presentation skills
• Ability to work in tight deadlines

Also Read: CPGET Syllabus for Master of Tourism Management: Eligibility Criteria and Exam Pattern 

Scope Of Further Studies

After the completion of tourism management, gaining some specific in-house training within the industry is mostly encouraged. This helps to grab promotions and accumulation of knowledge in particular topics. Based on the area of employment, there are certain professional qualifications specific to the industry that can be sought after.

Also Read: MA Tourism Management in India: Entrance Exam, Application Form, Selection Process

Courses emphasising management skills such as international tourism, heritage, hospitality and sustainability can be good options for students considering postgraduate study. Ecotourism and rural development are specialist areas that may also turn out to be helpful.

To conclude, the travel and tourism industry in India is expanding and new career opportunities are rising. Hence, this article provides candidates with crucial information on various employment opportunities that will help them to kick start their career.