Academic Push For Skills- Heavy Profession

As India’s travel and tourism sector grows exponentially, there is a corresponding rise in the demand for qualified travel and tourism professionals as well. Here’s a look at the spread of travel and tourism studies in the country…

- Pritha Roy Choudhury

Do you know that every time you plan a trip to one of the tourist spots in the country, you add to the demand for a skilled tourism professional? According to India Brand Equity Foundation, the travel and tourism sector in India accounted for 9.3 percent of the total employment opportunities generated in the country in 2016, providing employment to around 40.3 million people during the same year.

The number is expected to rise by two percent per annum to 46.42 million jobs by 2026. According to Ministry of Tourism’s latest data, the sector created 14.62 million job opportunities in the country in the last four years.

India has seen a steep increase in the number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) in the past few years. Official data says the FTA in India crossed the 10 million mark for the first time in 2017. If one includes NRIs, the international tourist arrival stood at 15.54 million last year.

To cater to the increasing demand for professionals, a number of institutions have begun to offer a wide array of courses for budding professionals in this sector.

Education in travel and tourism

At least 350 higher education institutions offer undergraduate and master’s programmes in Travel and Tourism in India. The number of universities offering courses related to travel and tourism would be close to 40. For example, Noida’s Amity University offers diploma courses, Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes. Academics say the demand is more for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in tourism education.