I am a BA English literature final year student and I am interested in pursuing higher studies in tourism administration. Kindly give me the details of the colleges and institutions that provide higher education facilities in this field.

NITHEESH SANAL

Tourism administration is one of the better higher study options for English literature graduates. Good communication skills, proficiency in English and other foreign languages, leadership skills, capacity to work hard and dedication are the prerequisites for a good career in travel and tourism sector.

After your degree course, you can pursue postgraduate courses in tourism or tourism administration/ management. MBA in tourism or tourism administration or Master of Tourism Administration or Master of Tourism Management and such other management courses equip students with basic and higher-level professional knowledge of the tourism and travel industry.

MBA tourism

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in tourism is comparatively a rare course in India. The School of Management under the Centre for Tourism Studies of Pondicherry University offers a two-year fulltime MBA course in tourism with subjects such as tourism marketing, travel operation, hospitality management, resort and event management apart from the regular management papers.

Graduates in any discipline with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible to apply.

The selection will be based on an entrance test, group discussion, and a personal interview. Kochi will be one of the test centres. The admission notification will be published in March/ April every year. More

details can be obtained from the web site www.pondiuni.org.

The National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Telecom Nagar, Hyderabad – 500032 conducts an MBA course in tourism and hospitality for meritorious graduates in any discipline. Web site: www.nithm.ac.in.

The Department of Management studies of the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, offers an MBA with specialisation in hotel and tourism management. Web site: www.kashmiruniversity.net.

Dr. D. Y. Patil University, Pimpri, Pune – 411018, offers an MBA with specialisation in tourism and hospitality management. The admission is based on MAT (Management Aptitude Test) score, group discussion and a personal interview. Web site: www.dypatiluniversity.org.

In Kerala

The Institute of Management in Kerala under the University of Kerala, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, offers two-year fulltime MBA tourism course based on the credit and semester system. Intake capacity is 40 seats. Semester tuition fee is Rs.25,000.

The selection is based on university level MBA entrance test held at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Adoor and Kannur followed by a group discussion and personal interview.

Graduates in any discipline recognised by the university with at least 50 per cent marks in part III in BA / B.Sc. / B.Com. and final year degree students are eligible to appear for the MBA entrance test conducted by the university. SC/ ST students shall be given relaxation as per university rules. Web site: www.imk.ac.in; www.keralauniversity.ac.in.

The Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS) functioning under the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, offers a two-year MBA course in tourism.

Graduates in any discipline with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible for admission. The selection is based on MAT score/ entrance test, group discussion and interview. Address: KITTS, Residency Compound, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram - 695014. Web site: www.kittstour.org.

The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) also conducts MBA travel and tourism programme on self-financing basis.

Admission is based on management aptitude test, group discussion and interview. Graduates in any subjects with 50 per cent marks in aggregate or eligible to apply. For more details visit www.cusat.ac.in.

IITTM

The Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), an organisation under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is a premier centre for education, training and research in the field of tourism, travel and allied sectors. IITTM offers a postgraduate diploma in management (tourism and travel) at Gwalior and Bhubaneswar centres and postgraduate diploma course in management (tourism and leisure) in New Delhi centre. These programmes are approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and equivalent to MBA degree of the universities.

The minimum eligibility for admission is a three-year Bachelor's degree in any discipline with at least 50 per cent marks (45 per cent for SC/ ST students and differently abled students).

The selection is through the IITTM aptitude test, group discussion, and a personal interview. Students with a valid score in IIM-CAT, XLRI admission test ( XAT), Management Aptitude Test (MAT) or AIMS Test for Management Admission (ATMA) are exempted from the aptitude test conducted by the IITTM.

The duration of the postgraduate diploma course is two year. The institute has a track record of 100 per cent placement. Web site: www.iittm.org. Address: Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel

Management (IITTM), Govindapuri, Gwalior - 474011.

MTA, MTM courses

At the postgraduate level, the other courses available are Master of Tourism Administration (MTA), Master of Tourism Management (MTM) and MA tourism management. Graduates in any discipline with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible for admission.

Under the University of Kerala, the Department of Future Studies, Senate House Campus, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mar Ivanious College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram, conduct MTA programmes.

Under Mahatma Gandhi University, the HM Arts and Science College, Randarkara, Moovattupuzha; Presentation College of Applied Sciences, Manancherikunnu, Ernakulam; Sethram Bahadur Singh Gujarat College, Kochi; Catholicate College, Pathanamathitta; St. John's College, Prakkanam Pathanamthitta; St. Thomas College, Ranni, Pathanamthitta; St. Peter's College, Kolencherry, Ernakulam; Azhar College of Arts and Science, Perumpallichira. P.O, Thodupuzha; Indira Gandhi College of Arts and Science, Nellilakuzhi. P.O, Kothamangalam; PG Radhakrishnan Memorial SN College Kumarakom, Kottayam; Mar Baselius College, Adimali, Idukki offer MTA programmes.

Under Calicut University, Pazhassiraja College, Pulpally – 673579 conducts an MTA course.

Some other universities or Institutes offering MTA, MTM and similar postgraduate courses are the following:

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221005 offers MA degree course tourism management.

Madurai Kamaraj University College, Madurai – 625002, offers MA degree course in tourism management.

Centre for Tourism and Travel Management Studies, Jiwaji University, Gwalior – 474001 offers MTA course.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kendra, Mumbai, offers postgraduate diploma in travel tourism and tourism management.

Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, offers MTM course.

The list is only indicative. Details of more institutions / universities can be collected from the university handbook published by the Association of Indian universities, New Delhi, which will be available for reference in all University Employment Information and Guidance Bureaux functioning under Universities in Kerala.

Job opportunities

Meritorious masters degree holders in tourism administration can qualify the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) / lectureship examination conducted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) so as to go for research studies with fellowship leading to Ph.D. or work as a lecturer in universities and colleges.

MBA tourism, MTA, MTM holders are qualified to be employed as marketing executives or in managerial positions in the tourism and travel industry. Majority of the vacancies are in the private sector companies.

There is ample scope for professionally qualified hands for starting their own ventures in tourism and travel filed with financial support from the tourism department / government / financial institutions.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA); Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association (UFTAA); Federation of International Associations Transistorizes Assimilies (FIATA) offers airline management, air cargo, travel-related diploma/ certificate courses through its various authorised training centres (www.iata.org).

Graduates in any discipline who obtain IATA/ FIATA / UFTAA'S relevant certificate with adequate work experience could also aim for a job in the airline / travel industry.

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