The travel and tourism management is nothing but a detailed study of the skills and knowledge that are needed to manage one of the most exciting and greatest industries of the world. The direct influence of travel and tourism to GDP shows the ‘internal’ expenditure on travel and tourism in addition to the government’s spending individually on travel and tourism services directly related to participants and visitors, both cultural and recreational. The straight contribution of tourism and travel to GDP is counted to be compatible with the output, as revealed in National Accounting, of tourism related sectors such as airports, hotels, airlines, travel agents, recreation and leisure services that is directly concerned with tourists.
In most of the countries around the world the travel and tourism is a vital economic activity. Besides its direct impact on the economy, this industry has remarkable induced and indirect impacts. The tourism statistics accounting methodology (TSA), approved by UN Statistics division, calculates only the direct contribution of this industry. But the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) believes that there is greater contribution of this industry to the economy. Thus it tries to gauge its induced and indirect impacts also through its annual research.
According to the WTTC, this industry generated 98,031,500 jobs directly in 2011 and it is supposed to increase by 2.3% in 2012 to 100,292,000. The statistics involve employment at hotels, airlines, travel agency, and some other transportation services for passengers. The various jobs at restaurants and other leisure industries are also included here. By 2022, this industry will be responsible for providing 120,470,000 jobs directly. It refers to an increase of 1.9% annually over the next ten years. The travel and tourism is divided into many components – leisure and business travel, foreign visitor and domestic visitor; the direct, induced and indirect travel.
Keeping in view of all the facts stated above, the travel and tourism courses are attracting a lot of young enthusiasts. A degree in this field offers knowledge of the vast economic and social issues linked to these areas. The multi-faceted features of the course require strong managerial and communication skills. A graduate in this field should be able to demonstrate a deep understanding of the laws essential for efficient tourism management, the capability to analyze the pros and cons of tourism, awareness of activities in the private sectors together with knowledge of the public and non-profit organizations, a combination of academic and vocational skills and knowledge, an understanding of international tourism and many more.
There are various career options when it is a matter of working in the field of hospitality. Training will make a student ready to work in the hospitality sector as travel and tourism manager, travel agents, travel coordinators, travel clerks, and many other careers in this field. An accredited diploma in tourism management will provide students the chance to obtain the quality education which is very relevant to get a responsible and lucrative position. The Applied professional Training institute in Kolkata has introduced some well designed travel and tourism courses.