Course Details
No specific course has been prescribed for becoming a tour operator. With sufficient practical experience in this field, along with adequate capital, one can develop into a successful and proficient tour operator. However, pursuing a Degree/Diploma/Certificate course in Travel and Tourism can give one a professional outlook and provide an edge over other candidates. While most of these courses have set the minimum qualification to 10+2 pass, others require a Bachelor’s degree to apply for admission. Besides, there are Tourism and Travel management courses which are more advantageous for tour operators. Potential tour operators need to have certain desirable skills, such as good interpersonal skills, good oral and written skills, competent organizational and sales skills, excellent communication skills both over the telephone and face-to-face, a competent grasp of geography, and ability to cope under pressure with enthusiasm, flexibility, confidence, more than obtaining degrees or diplomas in this field.
Career Prospects
The best option available to a tour operator is setting up his/her own tour and travel agency. However, before establishing his/her own venture, he/she should have ample practical experience of conducting tour operations. Besides, one should have adequate capital to start a tour company. However, one can also work with tour/travel companies as a tour operator. Tour operators can seek suitable employment opportunities in government tourism departments also.
Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
Any course related to the travel and tourism sector can give you an insight into tour operations. Such courses are available in various colleges across India. Some important institutions are: the Government of India Tourist Offices; Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) at New Delhi, Kolkata and Gwalior; Kurukshetra University, Haryana; Delhi University, Delhi; Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu; MS University, Baroda; National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Hyderabad; Tezpur University, Assam; Institute of Tourism and Future Management, Chandigarh; Guwahati University, Guwahati; Utkal University, Puri, Orissa; University of Calcutta, Kolkata; Maharshi Dayanand University, Haryana; Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla; Agra University, Agra; Awadh University, Madhya Pradesh; and Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi.
Remuneration
Career of a tour operator is highly remunerative. A trainee tour operator working with a travel/tour company can easily earn Rs. 8,000 - 15,000 per month. On gaining 5-7 years of experience, one can set up his own tour operation company. Income in self-employment venture depends upon the nature and size of the business.
