To a layman, the terms Travel and Tourism may appear to be synonymous, but in reality it is not so. Travel means going from one place to another, whereas tourism is travelling with some determined motive. Tourism is a core activity that involves other activities like travelling (transport), accommodation (hotels), and local sightseeing tours etc.

The travel and tourism industry is fascinating with its aura of international glamour, excitement, and romance. Because it is global in scope, it must respond to many different social, political, economic, and legal environments. Travel is also a business, and as a business it demands from its personnel, certain skills and a sophisticated knowledge of the world. Like any business the travel and tourism industry must match its offering to prospective buyers.

The travel and tourism is one of the world’s largest, offering employment opportunities that range from minimum-wage jobs to highly paid professional positions. The industry is so complex and interlocking that initially it is difficult to understand how the pieces fit together. All segments of the industry, however, share one important common denominator-service. In the present context of foreign exchange crisis and growing unemployment, this industry appears to be an ideal solution for building up a healthy balance of payment and providing livelihood to millions of unemployed. Growth in tourism would also bestow additional advantages by way of promoting international understanding and national integration.

Tourism in India has been a paradox. On one hand, it has received encouragement, promotion and publicity arising from the growing awareness of its contribution to the economy by way of foreign exchange earnings, employment etc., and simultaneously receiving a contemptuous treatment as an elitist industry catering to the affluent class, polluting ecology and environment, and eroding our cultural values. India which could boast of every conceivable tourist attraction, has been able to set up hotels of high international standards, develop trained manpower, also taken steps to improve infrastructural facilities like airports, air and road transport, power, water, communication, etc. Steps have also been taken to liberalise immigration procedures. Open sky policy and permission for Air charters are the other measures taken for travel and tourism promotion. It is heartening, that of late, there has been increasing recognition of the importance of tourism and of the need to make a quantum jump to exploit the full potential of this strategic industry.

From every angle, travel and tourism with its multi-dimensional contribution is a sunrise industry, holding the key to faster economic development of the country. Travel and tourism has come to stay as a strategic economic factor and is no longer regarded as a luxury activity.

Hospitality Industry

In recent years the hotel industry has responded to a saturated market by creating a wide variety of specialized types of accommodations. Some chains offer products virtually at every price level. A hotel must meet the requirements of its guests for shelter, security, food and recreation. It must also meet travellers expectations of comfort, convenience, excitement and glamour. Modern hotels offer fancy services with additional facilities. Hotels all over the world are graded and classified and classification is done generally according to the norms of location, room area and other facilities provided by hotels. There are hotels ranging from 1 to 5 star deluxe, some ungraded but registered hotels, lodges, motels, resorts, rest houses, guest houses, tourist hotels and time share resorts.

Cargo and Courier Industry

Liberalisation of Indian trade has been a blessing to the cargo industry. With the MNC’s in the country, the courier industry is on threshold of a boom. The awareness of the cargo and courier industry has increased manifold and there is a lot of scope for growth and improvement. People have become very time conscious, and with fierce competition, it is a known fact that timely delivery and prompt efficient service is the key to success.

The trend towards greater international commerce is powerful and irreversible. In fact, by the early 21st century, it is likely that commercial borders will effectively supplant national borders. Global sourcing will predominate as advanced telecommunications and transportation technologies allow a wide geographic dispersion of component manufacturing sites and places of final assembly, predicted on raw material availability, labour costs and skill and markets.

Products will be increasingly designed and customized to be sold throughout the world with global markets rapidly evolving, as new products are introduced and existing products improved at an accelerating pace. Cost and quality will be necessary, but no longer sufficient determinants of a manufacturer’s success.

A healthy and dynamic air cargo industry is essential in an ever expanding global economy and the revitalized industry affairs committee of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has made an extensive analysis of the industry and suggested actions that will help its various components achieve this status. Press reports identify shippers, freight forwarders, airports, combination of all-cargo airlines and integrators as key players. The report identifies the major factors affecting industry growth and development in two main categories - factors controlled at national and international levels, and those controlled by the industry operators and players. At the national and international levels are issues such as security / anti-terrorist policies, traffic rights and customs procedures. Those linked to the industry’s operators are customer satisfaction tariff structures booking and tracking and inter-professional communication.

The report also outlines action that the industry can take to improve cargo traffic rights, open sky and bi-lateral agreements, finding the balance between environment policies, communication to improve customer satisfaction and performance standards.

So, today the Travel & Tourism, Hospitality and Cargo & Courier Industries have enormous potential for creating career opportunities globally.