Travel and tourism is considered a sunrise industry. Tourism administration/management courses provide students with a basic knowledge of the tourism and travel industry.

Communication skills, proficiency in English and other foreign languages, leadership skills, capacity for hard work and dedication, geographical knowledge are among the strengths that will help one race ahead in the tourism education and career field.

Job prospects

MBA (Tourism), MTA / MTM / PGDBA (Tourism) holders are qualified to be employed as marketing executives or in managerial positions in the tourism and travel industry. Majority of the vacancies are in the private sector. There is ample scope for professionally qualified hands for starting their own ventures in tourism and travel with financial support from the Tourism Department/ Government/financial institutions.

Meritorious Master's Degree holders in Tourism Administration can qualify the JRF / Lectureship examination conducted by the UGC, so as to go for research studies with fellowship or secure a lecturers post in universities/ colleges.

MBA Tourism is a rare course in India. The School of Management, Centre for Tourism Studies, under Pondicherry University offers a two-year full-time MBA (Tourism) course with subjects such as tourism marketing, travel operations, hospitality management, resort and event management, apart from the regular management papers. The course also includes project work and institutional training at the end of every year.

Graduates from any recognised university with a minimum of 50 per cent marks are eligible for pursuing the MBA (Tourism) programme. Selection will be based on the entrance test, group discussion and personal interview. In Kerala, Kochi will be a test centre.

Admission notification can be expected during March/April every year. More details could be obtained either from the website www.pondiuni.org or from the Deputy Registrar (Academic II), Pondicherry University, RV Nagar, Pondicherry - 605 014.

National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Telecom Nagar, Gachibowh, Hyderabad - 500 032, Andra Pradesh. Ph: 23000472 / 473, (dgnithm@rediffmail.com) conducts an MBA (Tourism and Hospitality) programme. For more details visit www.nithm.ac.in.

Postgraduate course

The Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Govindpuri, Gwalior - 474 011 (MP), an organisation of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India is a premier centre for education and training in the field of Travel and Tourism. IITTM offers a two-year postgraduate programme in Business Management (PGDBM) with specialisation in tourism along with other functional areas of management at its Gwalior Centre. This programme is equivalent to MBA. Entry qualification is at least a three-year bachelor's degree in any discipline with 50 per cent marks. SC/ST/PH students require only 45 per cent marks. Students appearing for the final examinations are also eligible to apply. Selection is based on IIM - CAT score, group discussion and personal interview. The institute uses CAT score for short-listing applicants.

PG diploma

IITTM also conducts a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism Management (PGDTM) course at its Gwalior and Bhubaneswar centres. Graduates in any disciplines are eligible for admission. Selection is based on all India level written test, group discussion and interview. The objective of this programme is to provide knowledge and skills related to travel and tourism and the air cargo industry. Course modules include tourism concepts and impact, travel agency and tour operations, geography and international tourism, management concepts and organisational behaviour, quantitative analysis and events management, marketing for travel and tourism, computing and information systems in tourism, foreign languages such as French, German, Business English, airfare and ticketing, tour package operations management, air cargo operations and management, etc.

More details can be collected from the institute or from the website www.iittm.org.

The Department of Management studies under the University of Kashmir, Srinagar offers MBA with specialisation in hotel and tourism management for graduates. For details visit www.kashmiruniversity.net/ management.html

In Kerala

No university or college in Kerala offers MBA (Tourism). But the Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), functioning under the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, offers a two-year (four semesters) Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA) - Travel and Tourism, structured like an MBA course.

It is an AICTE approved programme that teaches management skills in the field of travel, tourism and hospitality. Graduates in any subject with 50 per cent marks in the aggregate and possessing good communication skills and adequate fluency in English are eligible for admission. Selection is based on written test, group discussion and interview. The tuition fee is Rs.8,000 per semester.

For more details visit www.kittstour.org or contact Director, KITTS, Residency, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 014. Ph: 0471 - 2329539, 2329468. Admission notification will be published in March/April. A six-month certificate course in airfare ticketing and travel agency management is also conducted by KITTS for graduates having good communication skills.

Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan Kendra, under the Rajendra Prasad Institute of Communication and Management, Mumbai, offers PG Diploma in Travel and tourism Management. For more details visit www.bhavans.info/rpimc Ph: 022 - 26204221, 26239658.

MTA, MTM courses

Master of Tourism Administration (MTA), Master of Tourism Management (MTM), MA Tourism Management courses are available at the postgraduate level. Graduates in any discipline with 50 per cent marks are eligible for admission. Selection is based on an entrance test, group discussion and interview.

Under the University of Kerala, the Department of Future studies, Senate House Campus, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 034; and Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 015, conduct MTA programmes.

Under Mahatma Gandhi University, HM Arts and Science College, Randarkara, Muvattupuzha; Presentation College of Applied Sciences, Manacherikunnu, Ernakulam; Seth Ram Bahadur Singh Gujarathi College, Kochi - 682 002; Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta - 689 645; St. Johns College of Technology and Management, Prakkanam, Pathanamthitta; Al - Azhar College of Arts and Science, Perumpillichira P.O, Thodupuzha and Mar Baselious College, Adimali, Idukki, offer MTA programmes.

Other places

Some other Universities / Departments offering MTA, MTM and similar PG courses are:

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221 005 (UP) - MA Tourism Management

Andhra University, Visakapatanam - 530 003 - MTM

Centre for Tourism and Travel Management Studies, Jiwaji University, Gwalior - 474 001 - MTA

Madurai Kamaraj University College, Madurai - 625 002 - MTM

Association-run courses

The International Air Transport Associations (IATA) and Universal Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA) / Federation of International Associations Transitaires Assimilies (FIATA) offer airline management, air cargo travel-related diploma/certificate courses through its various authorised training centres. For more details visit www.iata.org. Graduates who obtain IATA/FIATA/UFTAA's relevant certificate with adequate work experience could aim for a good job in the airline industry.

COLLEGES FOR TOURISM STUDIES IN INDIA