SELECTING A RIGHT TOURISM COURSE & INSTITUTE
“15 Mind-blowing Reality checks that you must know, BUT nobody tells you about”
(08 Mins Reading)

Imagine a situation in which two Candidates have applied for a Dream Job in Tourism Industry at XYZ Tours. HR is scanning their CV’s, here are their profiles.

WHO WILL HR SHORTLIST??
Candidate A stands a clear cut chance due to doubly more work experience. However, CANDIDATE B gets short-listed.

OMG …. Why & How Come?

Candidate B’s Qualification is much stronger than Candidate A that gave him an Upper Hand.

DISCLAIMER
“This is just an assumed illustration, if Candidate B falls minutely short on any other parameters then he / she will clearly be rejected”

As, Tourism Industry becomes more organized, streamlined & digitized. Apart from having right skills & knowledge possessing RECOGNISED QUALIFICATIONS will also matter strongly and will be a major determinant for selection or rejection.

If you are someone who always….
- Loves to travel & explore
- Have firsthand knowledge of places
- Are good at suggesting new places to your friends & family
- Always take initiative when on trip to organize things and plan visits

Then Career in Tourism Industry is a thing for you…

Now, comes the tough task of selecting a Right Course & Right College.

Don’t you worry!

THIS BLOG POST IS YOUR RESCUE & ANSWER.

Ensure to read till the end for complete knowledge and to emerge wiser

We’ve carefully POWER PACKED this post with some really Crucial Information…. Information that will help you select:
- Right College for pursuing Tourism Course
- Right Tourism Course

READ BECAUSE…

“Google Search” will not always reveal you the right Institutes. But only those Institutes will appear on Page 1 that’ve paid enough money to stay on top of Google search and have got their SEO – Search Engine Optimization act right. There’s always a GRAND DIFFERENCE between ACTUAL & VIRTUAL which mandates you to execute some due –diligence. 

And, here we bring you your ready-made READY RECKONER that will help you to run DUE DILIGENCE.

Keep a copy of it whenever you visit any institute or carry a copy of it whenever you go for an enquiry. 

1. QUICK FIXES CAN BE QUACK
Which means… Never opt for any short-term course of less than 6 months that promises you a job immediately before or during course completion.
Opt for the course which has a comprehensive syllabus covering operational as well as allied aspects of industry. Empowering the learner with 360 Degree knowledge.

(Operational aspects refer to on desk skills that are required by tourism professionals to execute daily tasks while on the job)

2. RECOGNITIONS & AFFILIATIONS

If you have cleared your HSC & are serious about studying Tourism then opt for the Full Time course which is either a recognized Bachelor’s Degree in affiliation with UGC recognized State based University / Diploma from a State based Polytechnic OR Vocational Education Board. Also ensure that you must pursue your Bachelor’s Degree from a College that is NAAC Accredited.

3. B-Desi IS A NEW COOL
Nowadays many foreign bodies through their India based channel partners offer courses in Tourism & allied sectors. These are wrongly pitched as equivalent to Graduation. They can be equivalent to Graduation only in their country of origin. In India, it’ll be just another certification, limiting the prospects & weightage of the pursuers at some point in their careers. STEER CLEAR from such programs whose weightage is perishable.

PS-
No expat body is permitted by UGC (University Grants Commission) to run / offer Bachelor’s or Master Degree programme in India.

4. NO PRIVATE PLAYERS ❌
Many renowned companies in Tourism have lately found it lucrative to invest in education vertical and are hence offering self- designed unrecognized Courses in Tourism with their own Certification. The only positive aspect about these courses is that they are designed & delivered by experts, industry veterans and people who are currently working in Tourism Industry.

However, they lack University recognitions, academic touch and weightage, thus limiting their acceptance in Tourism Industry and its allied verticals. These players view it as a Cash Cow - a supplemental income to their Core Travel Business & nothing more.

STAY ALERT
Potential enquiries are enticed in a manner; which creates an illusion of authenticity:
- Colorful Photographs of monuments & beautiful faces that smile at you from their Spot UV laminated brochures & Standees
- Infrastructure like grand Training Rooms, Work stations, comfortable desks and many such illusionary visual dimensions
- Make shift Grand Décor at the well laid reception
- Job Guarantee (Majority of times in their own parent Company)
- Lengthy unending counselling pitches

“Don’t fall prey to all of these” Remember, Private Certifications hold ZERO VALUE as they are not recognized by any UGC / AICTE University / State Vocational Board.

5. INSTITUTE INFRASTRUCTURE 
Any College imparting education in Tourism Studies must offer following infrastructural amenities;
- Computer Labs
- GDS Training
- Uniforms
- Geography Lab
- Well stocked on campus Library
- Industrial & Field Visits (Annual)
- Front Office Lab
- ICT Enabled Classrooms
- Trade Fair Visits
- Industry Interface
- Events
Don’t forget to have a look for these and enquire about the same.

6. STUDY MATERIAL / NOTES
Institute must offer the study material / notes in a Soft / Hard Copy format. Enquire about it right at the time of Counselling. Check whether the reading material is latest, engaging and easy to read. Check if they offer Atlas, subject textbooks, MCQ book etc. These days the Notes offered can be in a Soft / Hard Copy format.

7. FACULTY
Good College always has Full Time faculties who have relevant qualifications, certifications, and experience in Industry as well as Academics. They are the ones who have published research papers, attended conferences, are guides, good orators and can easily offer solutions to sharpen the skills of students. Insist on interacting with the faculty members when you visit College for the first time.

8. STANDARDS
“Motivation may get you going but it’s the discipline that keeps you going and growing”
Baseline of Good College is that it always follows a certain standards, be it in terms of regular grooming, behavior, academics, events etc. Check what all regulatory frameworks does your to be college adhere to.

9. TEACHING METHODS / PEDAGOGY
Students are receivers of the knowledge that’s being interpreted and taught. Good institute will always follow a structured ICT enabled pedagogy. Check on the lecture delivery pattern / insist on attending a demo lecture if possible.

10. EXTRA CURRICULAR PLATTER
Your dream college must have University sanctioned active Cultural Committee headed by a Faculty HOD that regularly organizes myriad extra & co-curricular activities. These activities create a platform for the students to showcase & improvise their talents on inter & intra collegiate levels. These activities enable students to learn new skills, be more competitive and make some crucial contacts along the way.

11. FIELD BASED LEARNING & INTERNSHIPS
Ultimate aim of any learning is to make it profitably work in a real life setting. Good Tourism courses always have mandatory Internship as a part curriculum. Internships also must be supplemented by mini on field projects spread evenly throughout the Course.

“Internship offers a brief Glimpse into your own aptitude & presents a post mortem of your decision to be a part of any Industry”

12. WORKSHOPS
Alongside academics and extra-curricular activities good Tourism College will organize workshops in the form of Guest Sessions, destination trainings, talk shows, skill & personality enhancement sessions for their students. Students not only participate but also actively organize them, thus helping them to practically learn management skills.

13. TRAINING & PLACEMENT
Any Tourism Management College has a dedicated T&P Department which works full time to bring in the best internships & on campus placements with good package for its students.

14. BEYOND PLACEMENT
Good College always has a registered & active Alumni (Ex-Students) Association & regularly organizes value and skill oriented activities for its ex-students, information about new job and internship opportunities is regularly shared & annual meets are organized. Alumni networking is always beneficial especially in people oriented sector like Tourism.

15. SOCH HATKE
Good College & Course is the one that actively trains you to SOCH HATKE i.e. look around & beyond the narrow confines of Travel Agencies & Tour Operating companies as career arenas...

It does this by not only motivating but also training its students for Careers in allied areas and sectors of Tourism Industry like:
- Hospitality Industry (Front Office)
- Event Management Companies
- Airlines (Cabin Crew & Ground Staff)
- Cruise Ships
- Theme Parks & Entertainment Areas
- Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, Business Development departments of Hotels, Airlines, Food & Beverage Companies, Restaurants & more…

A Graduate from such colleges is trained to expand his horizons and work successfully in all the above mentioned allied fields of Tourism. So that their career always progresses & never stagnates…

Located conveniently in the heart of Thane City.
Sahyog College, Thane – NAAC Accredited, UGC – AICTE Recognized & ISO Certified College offers 100 % Legitimate & University Affiliated 3 Year’s Full Time Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Studies which is further enriched with above mentioned features. Besides, course offered is affordable & within everyone’s reach.

VISIT US NOW TO ENQUIRE & ENROLL!!!

 - Prof. Shree Patki
Dept. of Hospitality Studies