Tour Operator is a professional who combines tour and travel components to create a holiday. They organize tours to various tourist destinations and manage the travel and stay of the tourists. Tour Operators need people for selling the concept and then to accompany the groups to the destinations. They arrange modes of transportation, accommodation and lunch and dinner for their clients.
Tour operating career is very exciting and rewarding for those who have a keen interest in tourism and related fields. It has immense scope these days because people now prefer to take service of operators who can provide them full holiday service. Tour Operators lessen that stress by organizing and arranging all the particulars that typically go along with vacation tour.
Tour Operator Eligibility
The minimum educational qualification for becoming a Tour Operator is the 12th class with subjects like Travel and Tourism/ or a course related to hospitality.
Tour Operator Required Skills
- Tour Operators should have a pleasing personality and excellent communication skills both over the telephone and in person.
- They also have knowledge of a foreign language like French, Spanish or German other than English, it will be an added advantage in this field.
- They possess necessary skills like excellent organisational skills, customer service skills, confidence, patience and flexibility will help them in excelling in this field.
- Tour Operators should be good computer literate and be able to work closely with colleagues as a team in order to achieve business objectives.
- They should also be able to deal with emergencies such as helping a holidaymaker who is ill or those needing to contact family members urgently.
How to become a Tour Operator?
One has to follow below given steps to become a Tour Operator-
Step 1
Though no specific educational requirements are prescribed to become a Tour Operator, yet with practical experience, proper marketing and adequate capital, one can become a successful tour operator. There are some Degree/Diploma/Certificate courses in Travel and Tourism. Some of the courses for becoming Tour Operator are given below.
Diploma/Degree Courses:
- Diploma in Tourism Management (DTM)
- B.A. Travel and Tourism Management
- Bachelor in Tourism Administration
Eligibility
For Diploma and Degree courses one should be 10th or 12th class pass.
Step 2
After having passed their graduation, they can go for Master Degrees in Travel and Tourism. After it, they can have management responsibilities on higher levels. Some the Master's Degree courses are given below.
Masters’ Degree Courses:
- MBA Travel and Tourism
- Master of Tourism Management
- M.Sc. Tourism
Educational qualification-
For post graduation courses they must have passed graduation degrees in travel and tourism subjects. Some the reputed institutes also conduct entrance tests for admission in their tour operating courses.
Institutes offering Courses for Tour Operator
- Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), New Delhi
- Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra
- Annamalai University, Cuddalore
- Tezpur University, Tezpur
Tour Operator Job Description
Tour Operators are involved in the planning, development, promotion, administration and implementation of travel options. They offer all kinds of touring services, right from taking tourists to different places to making different travel components accessible to them, including tour guide, accommodation, vehicle rental etc. and responsible for booking transportation, lodging, activities, sightseeing trips and the like.
Tour Operator Career Prospects
The good option available to Tour Operators is setting up their own tour and travel agency. However, before establishing their own venture, they should have ample practical experience in conducting tour operations. They 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.
Tour Operators can also concentrate on providing trips in certain specialised areas such as leisure, adventure, pilgrim, trekking or trips to historical sites. Others may specialise in business tourism which includes organising conferences and other events.
Tour Operator Salary
The salary of a Tour Operator varies depending on several factors like the size of the tour operation, as well as the location, experience and the range of responsibilities and duties. A trainee Tour Operator working with a travel/tour company can easily earn Rs. 15,000 to 25,000 per month. On gaining 5-7 years of experience, one can set up his own tour operation company. Income in a self-employment venture depends upon the nature and size of the business.
