Going places
With increasing worldwide interest in travel, the industry has grown enormously and is considered the world’s largest industry. As it continues to expand, the requirement of trained workforce is likely to grow in proportion. Usha Albuquerque on career choices in travel and tourism sector

Summer is here again and everyone is preparing for a holiday – whether spending the vacations with grandma, or going off to an exotic beach in Bali or Thailand, or to the cool climate of Mussoorie or Shimla. Almost 5 million Indians go abroad, and more than 3 million tourists visit India every year. And of course there are millions of Indians just traveling around the country, whether for business, holiday, study or pilgrimage. So despite war, terrorism, epidemics and other global catastrophes such as the volcano eruption in Iceland, more and more people are travelling, providing jobs to millions of people in the tourism industry.

Today’s travel agent does not just sell plane or train tickets, he/she sells dreams! As more and more people are buying their tickets through the Internet, travel agents have graduated to marketing of tours – whether the arduous spiritual pilgrimage to Amarnath, a beach tour to Goa, skiing in the Alps, or an Alaskan Cruise – the travel and tourism industry is largely concerned with the marketing and selling of a variety of holidays and destinations to individuals or groups. They specialise in special interest trips, and book passages for air, rail, sea and road travel, arrange hotel reservations or other accommodation and hire cars and coaches for domestic and international travellers. Some specialise in areas like business trips, group tours or conferences. They can also offer special interest packages that range from Himalayan trekking expeditions to golf, wildlife and medical tourism.

Ticketing time

The ticketing professional is possibly the first person a passenger will interact with for securing information about airfare to different destinations. They are entrusted with the responsibility of helping customers chalk out their travel schedule with the help of timetables, airline schedules, reference guides and tariff books.

They are experts in understanding airfare and responsible for quoting basic and complex airfares. The work requires them to provide the information required for a trip, including the availability of seats and seating arrangement, flight/train/ bus schedule etc to the clients. Depending on the client’s travel itinerary and requirements, the ticketing professional will need to work out various routes and fare options, so as to provide the most convenient and economical one. He/she will also check the complete booking once it is made, to ensure it is correct and then issue the tickets and forward it to the traveler.

Training courses

One can opt for a diploma or even a certificate programme in travel ticketing. The time span for these courses generally ranges from two to six months to one year.

Students learn about the method of booking and reserving tickets for scheduled flights, and also information to help guide the customer in planning their itinerary and making other necessary arrangements for the travel.

They can also take up the longer duration degree or diploma course in travel management which provides complete knowledge of the travel and hospitality industry, as well as the required training in ticketing, which is a great advantage for those looking to enlarge career prospects in the industry.

Various institutions around the country offer courses in different aspects of travel and tourism. Several large travel agencies also offer short-term training programmes, and tend to absorb most of the candidates. Most of the air hostess training academies also include training in ticketing. Moreover, one can also gain these qualifications through correspondence courses.

There are courses at graduate and post-graduate level, with several universities introducing the subject as a degree programme.

Delhi University offers Travel and Tourism studies as a vocational subject for graduation. The minimum eligibility criteria for admission to Travel and Tourism courses at the undergraduate level is Plus II, while for postgraduate courses the eligibility is graduation in any discipline. Fluency in at least one foreign language is also an advantage.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), along with the Universal Federation of Travel Agents (UFTAA), offers international travel agents training programmes at authorised training centres.

IGNOU offers a distance learning programme in travel and tourism. There are several polytechnics and travel institutes that also handle courses in tourism providing theoretical and practical on-the-job training as well.

Careerscope

After training, ticketing professionals can work with travel agencies, or airlines or with the hundreds of travel websites that offer a range of travel services. After some years of experience ticketing people move onto work as tour operators, travel agents or even establish their their own agencies once they have gained experience and recognition in this field.

Institute watch Diploma Courses in travel and tourism s Institute for Travel and Future Trends, PTU, Chandigarh. s Kurukshetra University s College of Vocational Studies, University of Delhi s YWCA, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi s Kuoni Academy, New Delhi s Skyline Business School, New Delhi s SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai s Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai s Trade Wings Institute of travel Management, New Delhi & Mumbai s Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh s University of Lucknow s IITM, New Delhi, Gwalior and Bhubaneshwar

The Guiding hand

An articulate tour guide can make every tourist site relevant and fascinating, while placing it in the context of the country’s social and historical heritage. By weaving in local legends, social customs and cultural traditions into the historical facts and figures, a tour guide enlivens history. With an increasing number of tourists visiting India and larger numbers of domestic tourists travelling to the many natural and historical locations across the country, there is a growing demand for efficient tour guides to provide the necessary information and guidance to visitors.

Important role

Tourist guides play an important role in the tourism industry. They accompany tourists to their destinations, provide them with detailed information about the locations, take care of all their needs there and in some cases also organise various activities in these locations.

Tour guides usually work at the site or destination, and must know everything about the history and culture of the place they are showing to the visitor. Professional guides are often employed by tour operators, travel organisations, hotels, corporates or local tourism departments though it is also a source of part-time work, particularly for students of history and related disciplines. Depending on the requirements, tour guides can also escort groups or individual clients, and prepare itineraries.

There are three types of guides recognised by the Ministry of Tourism — regional, state and local. A two-year guide would receive a two-year renewable licence given by the Ministry of Tourism, endorsed for life by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Getting In

Tourist guides are expected to have a thorough knowledge of the social, political and cultural aspects of the country, in addition to in depth knowledge of the destination within a particular region.

Tour guide training courses are conducted by the Tourism Offices of Government of India, which is held in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

Graduates from any stream are eligible.

After the completion of the course, the guide is certified and given a licence.

There are training programmes of 12, nine, two and one-week duration for regional state and local level courses, respectively. On the completion of training there is a test, after which they are issued ID cards — red, yellow or green — depending on the course undertaken. These cards have to be renewed annually. Tourist guide licence is issued both at the state and central level by the Tourism Department after taking a test. Fluency in at least one foreign language can be an added advantage.

The diploma course in destination management offered by IITTM is aimed at tourist guides. It is designed to equip students with a broad understanding of the tourism infrastructure and operations in India, as well as increase general awareness on various aspects of the country’s history and culture. Skill training in a number of practical areas like communication and presentation, computer applications and first aid is also provided. The study of at least one foreign language and hands-on field experience is compulsory.

Do you have it in you?

If you have a passion for travel, an interest in people, places and areas of interest, and of local customs and cuisines tour guide training can give you the base on which to build a fascinating career. Some organising ability, good interpersonal skills, and a friendly and amicable temperament and appearance will also go a long way in this profession.

As this is a highly competitive field, it is an advantage to have access to a wide range of information and data on transportation and destinations, be good at planning and time management, as well as resourceful and adaptable. Proficiency in computer, and a willingness to work hard and on weekends and holidays is also required

Tour operators and tourist guides need to be friendly and sociable and be able to relate to tourists and their needs. If you want to specialise in any particular adventure, or special interest tours you must be familiar with it. There are now training programmes for tour operators in river rafting, rock climbing and other outdoor thrills. Your interest and enthusiasm can infect the whole group and make it fun for all.

Job opportunities

There are job opportunities for tour guides in tourism departments and tourism directorates of the union and state governments. One can also work in the private sector with travel agencies and tour operators, as also airlines, hotels and transport companies. Students can also choose to specialise in interest areas, such as Mughal monuments or colonial architecture, or in locations – sites around Delhi, or Agra and so on, or even double up as tour operator-cum-guide, travelling with tourists groups, organising special activities and itineraries along with information and relevant guidance.

Once you have picked up some work experience and recognition, you can also work as a freelancer and start your own consulting venture in this field.

Tour guides can also work as travel journalists or travel writers.

Pay package

Although the starting salary and remuneration may not be that great, earnings can pick up depending on one’s knowledge, skill, abilities, professionalism and customer satisfaction. Regional tour guides charge from Rs 400 and above for an eight-hour day, and can earn between Rs 30,000-40,000 and even more in the three to four months of the tourist peak season.

The Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi will be India’s first major international sports event after the 1982 Asian Games. It is expected to draw over 80,000 tourists to the city. There is, therefore, a huge demand for trained tour guides.

The Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (ITTM) has already trained 700 guides for the upcoming Delhi Commonwealth Games, to answer the queries of tourists with regard to hotel accomodation, various available facilities, transportation and places of tourist interest. However, there continue to be vacancies for additional tour guides and the Tourism Ministry will be making a further selection shortly.

Beyond the Commonwealth Games there is the increased awareness and interest in India as a destination, heightened by the Incredible India campaign which is drawing large number of tourists to the country each year.

So if you are a student of history, love to travel and visit places, are friendly and sociable, here’s a career that can quite literally take you places!

Course watch
Bachelor’s course in 3D animation

The Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC) will now offer Bachelor of Arts in 3D Animation and Visual Effects degree in collaboration with IGNOU — the world’s largest Open University. A three-year degree programme with the focus on creation of Digital Video (DV) films through intense training in concepts of film-making such as Basics of Film Making, Character Animation and Setup, and Compositing and Editing. It will also cover in-depth training on 3D Animation and Visual Effects with Node Based Compositing and match moving.

Announcing the programme, Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh, Director, School of Journalism and New Media Studies, IGNOU, said, “India is becoming a global animation hub wherein the international studios are outsourcing the work to the country. IGNOU in collaboration with MAAC has introduced a specialised degree programme in 3D animation and Visual effects which will enable students to have the technical skills along with the technology edge which will help them to be job-ready animation pro. Unlike other Open and Distance Learning (ODL) courses of IGNOU, this programme is an intensive, regular 3-year course with a comprehensive curriculum.” He further stated that the unique style of IGNOU allowing exit on successful completion of specified number credits coinciding with the completion of professionally recognizable segment allows flexibility for learners. Besides, IGNOU has also enriched the programme with its own academic inputs.

The newly-launched joint-program me will be made available across the country at select MAAC centres. At the end of the successful completion of the program the students will be awarded with an exclusive degree by IGNOU along with a certificate from MAAC.

For further information please visit http://www.maacindia.com

Career Hotline
UK test details
Pervin Malhotra

Q. I have heard that there is some special test for studying biomedical science in the UK. Is this mandatory? — Deepankar Sen

A. The Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is a subject-specific admissions test developed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) to select applicants for certain medical, veterinary and biomedical science courses. But it’s not required for admission to all colleges.

The BMAT is to be taken only by students who wish to apply to the Imperial College London (Medicine, Biomedical Sc), University of Oxford Medical School (Medicine, Physiological Sciences), Royal Veterinary College (Veterinary Medicine, Combined Degree Programme), University of Cambridge (Medicine (BMAT not mandatory), Graduate Course in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine).

The BMAT measures two specific thinking skills: problem solving, and critical thinking. The two-hour pen and paper test consists of three sections:

Section 1: Aptitude and Skills (60 min. — 35 multiple choice questions)

Section 2: Scientific Knowledge & Applications (30 min. — 27 multiple choice questions)

Section 3: Writing Task (30 min. — 1 essay question from a choice of 3)

For details on how to register, prepare, practice for the test log onto: www.bmat.org.uk

The website also carries an introductory specimen paper with an answer key, which is very useful.

Ideally, you should take the BMAT in November this year, for which the application deadline is usually September-end.

Road to an arty career

Q. I have done my BA (Honours) in History. Although I’m not terribly good at drawing or painting, I am fascinated with art and have developed a good artistic sense. I try to pack in as many art shows and film screenings as I can. I’m also fond of writing. Could you suggest some course that would compliment this aspect of my personality? — Avantika Mehra

A. For one, JNU’s School of Arts and Aesthetics, New Delhi (www.jnu.ac.in), offers a unique MA in Arts and Aesthetics. Selection is on the basis of an entrance exam. You don’t necessarily need an arts background to qualify.

Eligibility is a bachelor’s degree in any field and a basic appreciation of art.

The course will expose you to various aspects of art (music, dance, drama, cinema), culture, civilization, literature, history, religion, politics etc. Although you would be exposed to it, you will not be taught the technical aspects of Art.

M Phil and PhD programmes are also offered in the subject.

Similarly, the Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University of Baroda, Vadodra offers MFA (Art Criticism) which is open to graduates of any discipline.

With new art galleries opening all the time and the print and electronic media featuring reviews and coverage of art shows, employment opportunities should not be a problem. Investing in Art Funds like Osian’s, Yatra, Crayon Capital and Indian Fine Art Fund calls for the services of astute art appraisers and valuers to sift the good from the bad and pick pieces that have the best potential to appreciate. Art Fund Managers require this expertise in good measure to outperform other assets and book profits for the investors. And given the fact that Indian art constitutes only 1 per cent of the global market, as of now, the prospects are great.

A course in Art History or Museology would also be an asset.

CEPT University, Ahmedabad (www.cept.ac.in) offers a Masters in Art & Communication (two-year).

This practice-based course in arts, design and communication will also give you a perspective of social sciences. Studio based explorations which form the central focus of the programme, are facilitated by senior practitioners from the fields of art, design, film making, performing arts and related disciplines. Integrated with studio practice would be theoretical inputs from experts in the social sciences and humanities along with field studies and internship opportunities.

The course has been developed for students with a background in art and design, and for mid-career artists and designers who seek a future as professional artists, advertising and media professionals, museum and art curators, designers, photographers, film makers and animators.

Green-collar execs

Q. We’ve heard of white-collar workers and blue-collar workers, but who are green-collar professionals and what do they do? — Kabir Bedi

A. These are the people who work for companies that are finding ways to substitute limited resources like oil for unlimited resources like air to create power and willing to get their hands dirty for the sake of helping the planet as well as making money.

There are now millions of green professionals that install solar panels, weatherise homes, brew bio-fuels, build hybrid cars and erect giant wind turbines.

These green-collars work for a new breed of alternative energy, or “green” companies that are bringing in major amounts of the green stuff (money).

Every country from Europe to India and China is “cleaning up” their act in the hope of promoting a good self image while doing the right thing by their air, water and land. With “green” companies raking in good profits lately, all these countries are benefiting from the trend.

Doing our part to improve the planet isn’t a new idea, but with hybrid cars and big-name companies bragging about what they’re doing to contribute to the movement, alternative energy has certainly picked up in speed and effort. In fact, it is now going global.

The writer is a noted career expert and director, Career Guidance India (CARING). Please send in your queries with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: The Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers @tribunemail.com 

Ride the Webworld

Sanjay Bhasin

Gone are the days when one had to refer to books or call people in order to plan a holiday. Today with the power of Internet, one can book airline tickets, hotel room, car rentals etc. In short, with the travel portals one can arrange entire trip just by the click of mouse. Sanjay Bhasin, CEO of travelchacha.com, talks about job avenues in this field in an interview. He entered this field in 2000 with a website of four pages of culture holidays Pvt. Ltd (I). In 2006 the company got recognised from government of India and became member of IATO, ASTA, and TAAI and IATA. Travelchacha.com was launched in 2007 for both inbound and outbound tourism. “Today we have website of 20,000 pages with 12,000 visitors per day,” he adds. Excerpts:

What is a travel portal?

Travel websites are online travelogues or travel journals, usually created by individuals and set of companies that generally provide all travel related information to the customers. These companies generate revenue through advertising or by providing services to other businesses. This is the new trend in the market which has a variety of job avenues for youngesters. Travel portals provide a complete solution to travel deals, hotels guides, travel tips, special tour packages and holiday packages, including complete travel arrangements of air/train ticketing bookings, hotels accommodation, state-of-the-art cars, coaches, travel insurance and all other travel related services.

What is the future scope of these portals as job creating avenues?

There are various departments in travel portals like ticketing department, IT department, Forex and travel insurance department. So, we can say that there is huge scope in this field.

Description of jobs according to departments of travel portals are:-

s Ticketing Department — The students with the bachelor’s degree in travel and tourism or PG Diploma in tourism sector have vast jobs in ticketing department. Summer trainings or internship in travel industry will added credentials to your CV.

s Forex and travel insurance department — Candidates with BBA / MBA in marketing and finanace can apply for such jobs.

s IT department — New avenues in IT department are web developer, web optimiser or search engine optimization, Internet marketing. This concept of search engine optimization came up in India with Google. Anyone interested in pursuing a career in website design or in marketing can go for this course. — GV

Search Engine optimization

Search Engine Optimization is the process of getting your site a higher rank in the search engine listing. This optimization is done so as to increase the site traffic and increase the number of visitors to your website. A customized Search Engine Optimization Services can increases the website's exposure across all major search engines.

Institutes offering this course are very limited like

s SEO Training Institute.co.in
s SEO course.in
s SEO delhi.in

The backbone of any travel portal is its technological base. At MakeMyTrip.com we focus majorly on technology as an important business vertical. Since we are an online company we look at recruiting the best talent in the technology field. We hunt for the best programmers, software developers, etc. to strengthen the very core of our business. While technology relates to the ‘portal’ bit, the ‘travel’ part is just as important. We also focus energy on acquiring talents with knowledge and relevant qualifications in travel and tourism. We recruit from various levels of travel and tourism management courses — graduation as well as post graduation levels.

— Keyur Joshi, Chief Operating Officer of makemytrip.com 

Steady growth

Sanjana Kalra

Tourism is no longer only about travelling, at least not from the revenues which it brings to the Indian economy. Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. In 2008, there were over 922 million international tourist arrivals, with a growth of 1.9 per cent as compared to 2007. International tourism receipts grew to $944 billion (euro 642 billion) in 2008, corresponding to an increase in real terms of 1.8 per cent.

Travel and Tourism, one of the world’s largest foreign exchange earners among industries, provides employment directly to millions of people worldwide and indirectly through many associated service industries. Tourism industry has achieved a fast growth rate to emerge as the major driving force of the global economy. On the basis of growth rate, India has been ranked the second, with Montenegro and China on the first and third positions, respectively. Over the next 10 years, India is all set to gain an annual growth rate of 8.8 per cent in the travel sales sector. This immense growth in travel and tourism industry has created plenty of job opportunities for hospitality and travel sales.

Sanjana Kalra, Executive Director of International Polytechnic for Women, New Delhi

Stepping stone
Joby Joseph

You send your resume to a recruiter and you are immediately told that you have been selected and you are offered the salary of your dreams!

or

You are in pre final year of college and a company comes to college for recruitment. You are called for an interview and are selected.

Ideal scenario! But only if life was this easy for everyone.

For most of us, life is not a cakewalk and finding the first job has been a nightmare. Right from seeing “Freshers, please excuse” note in most of the job advertisements in newspapers to fighting your way in a Walk-In interview, finding the first job remains an arduous task for many.

Most freshers are completely confused about future careers and hope that they will figure out something on the way. It is always better to have an idea of what you want to do so that you don’t waste precious time applying for jobs that you really don’t want.

Some get so frustrated that they pick up any job that comes their way and don’t invest time in finding their true calling resulting in a disappointing career.

A job search can be difficult at times, especially when you don’t have the experience or many skills. However, be persistent and do not lose hope. You should also be flexible with locations, timings, etc and should be ready to take up challenges.

Finding your first job means matching your abilities and skills with an organisation’s real needs. It is also a valuable learning experience. You are getting exposed to the various ways of functioning of a company and your next job search — whether it occurs soon or well down the road — will be easier; you will have gained a clearer vision of what is expected and how you want to position yourself within it. Remember to communicate, to follow up, and to be courteous. That way, you'll take away from this first experience some valuable information, increased confidence, and satisfaction.

First job is an important step in launching one’s career. It is an exploration of one’s abilities and potential and the continuation of the learning process.

Here are some tips to help freshers bag a perfect job:

Understand yourself

Take some time out to think about yourself, your aspirations and what you want from your first job. Analyse your strengths and weaknesses. Talk to your friends and family and figure out what job would keep you happy. Keep in mind your circumstances.

Enhance your skills

You should be aware of how to write good emails, how to speak well during interviews and also have the right domain knowledge.

Do your homework

Once you have thought of your aspirations, create a great resume. Many websites like the Freshersworld.com give a Global Resume tool to help you do this. One has to be really truthful and honest in one’s resume and during the interview. Prepare for basic questions like “Tell us something about yourself”, “Why does a software job excite you”, etc. Do a basic research on companies you would like to join.

Be proactive

Rather than companies coming looking for you, you should look for companies. There are different types of companies that include the product and services biggies, several mid-tier research and development firms, countless number of new start-ups, etc. Research on various opportunities available with different companies, write to the HRs or try to get an appointment.

Freshers should note that finding a job is a job in itself, and this is your first test. Once you are armed with a great resume, have answers to most commonly asked questions and ensure that you give your best shot preparing for aptitude tests and interviews, you are sure to find that dream job. Job satisfaction is definitely more important than salary and if you are doing what you love doing, you are sure to progress in your career.

The writer is CEO and Founder of Freshersworld.com,

Happiness @ work
Gems of ancient wisdom
Separation helps

Just as a pause in work could help in getting a fresh perspective, so could the moving away from the arena of work. Better decisions can be made away from hectic activity.

The tumultuous sounding of conchshells, bugles, trumpets, drums and horns on both sides bewildered Arjuna and he requested Krishna to draw the chariot between the two armies to assess his task ahead. Away from the melee, he listened to the 700 verses of the Gita. Confusion removed, he picked up his bow.

To gain a similar advantage, Indrajit went to a secluded spot away from the battlefield to perform a sacrifice in order to gain more powers. But Lakshman, on Vibheeshana’s advice, interrupted the proceedings and killed the mighty son of Ravana.

After being sent to jail 11 times by the British and his differences of opinion threatening the unity of the Congress, Subhas Chandra Bose realised he could be of more use from the outside. He left Calcutta on January 7, 1941, and reached Singapore, organised the Indian National Army (INA) and formed the Azad Hind Government. His INA reached till Kohima in Nagaland. The consolidation of an empire requires things beyond ruthless force, Akbar realised this and moved his capital to Fatehpur Sikri where Sufi saint Salim Chisti lived. A policy of religious tolerance followed with the abolition of jazia, a tax on Hindu pilgrims, military and marital alliances with Hindus, high offices to Hindu officials in court and the promulgation of Din-i-Ilahi, his all-inclusive faith of God. Indeed, in the company of the good, one’s good qualities come to the fore. Not accepting FAO’s advice that dairying was for corporates not farmers, Verghese Kurien shifted base to Anand village in Gujarat. The White Revolution that followed made India the world’s largest milk producer by 1998.

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan
The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com