Rajiv Duggal, MD, Kuoni India discusses the job prospects that exist for aspirants in the Indian tourism industry.

Rajiv Duggal

How is the tourism industry sector faring currently in India?

The growth in travel and leisure sectors has been phenomenal over the last two decades. The tourism industry is one of the most flourishing industries in India. It is contributing a good amount of foreign exchange, which has made it the most profitable industry. Several factors such as the increase in disposable income, innovative packages, destination promotion with support from the aviation and hospitality industry, etc contribute to the growth of the industry. 

Which are the current employment/hiring trends in this industry?

Going by the various indicators, it's most likely that this sector could generate the second largest number of jobs in the country in the coming days. This growth will be fuelled by Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibition (M.I.C.E) and supported ably by leisure and business travel; obviously hiring will follow the growth trends. Traditionally, hiring in travel has always been within the industry or in the form of migration from the the hospitality sector. It is now poised for change as attractiveness of this sector grows.

What kinds of career opportunities are available in the industry?

A professional in the tourism industry can opt for career opportunities with online travel management firms, tour operators and business travel management amongst others.

What are the skills and qualifications required to get into this sector?

It is important to have important customer relationship skills, communication skills and personal qualities such as honesty, reliability and confidence. It is equally important for candidates to have skills such as product and destination knowledge, IT capability, etc. Understanding the need and benefits of good teamwork in a workplace is essential for a successful career in the tourism industry.

— Viren Naidu

The writer can be contacted at viren.naidu@timesgroup.com