A guide takes a tourist around Udayagiri elephant cave in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, July 13: As the hospitality sector growing in leaps and bounds, travel and tourism is becoming one of the most sought-after courses. Although a relatively new course in the state, tourism management is increasingly gaining popularity among the students. Here’s a guide to some of the institutes offering this course in Bhubaneswar.

Concept

Tourism management is about selling the tourism potential of a state to the world outside by providing the right kind of infrastructure and guidance to tourists.

You can gain expertise in managing tourist hubs, planning eco-tourism, motivating travellers and understanding the facts impacting tourist behaviour, protection and management of heritage and historic sites, and the promotion and marketing of tourism products. It is ideal for those with creativity, conceptual thinking, commercial insight and a flair for travelling. Apart from learning management skills, you can develop a professional and hospitable attitude.

Institutes

Utkal University, Bhubaneswar: Masters in tourism and heritage management (30 seats).

Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel management (IITTM), Bhubaneswar: Masters in travel and tourism management (90 seats).

Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar: Masters in tourism and hospitality services (32 seats).

Regional College of Management (RCM), Bhubaneswar: Postgraduate degree in tourism (30 seats) and MBA in tourism (30 seats).

Eligibility

Any graduate can apply.

Fee

Utkal University: Rs 34,000 for two years.

IITTM: Rs 94,400 for the first year and Rs 63,000 for second year.

Utkal University of Culture: Rs 50,000 for two years.

RCM: Rs 80,000 for two years for postgraduate degree in tourism and Rs 1,96,000 for two years for MBA in tourism.

Scope

Efforts in conservation and restoration of monuments have opened a range of opportunities. Students passing out from these institutes can also try their luck in various cultural surveys conducted by government and private organisations.

Apart from that, they can start their own tourism agency or work as a guide and translator.

According to Biranchi Mishra, former joint director of Orissa tourism department, this sector has been growing despite problems like recession and inflation. “The need to have professionals in a booming sector like tourism will create a lot of opportunities for students who take up this course,” he said.

He also advised students to apply for jobs in the private sector as the number of government jobs in this sector is getting squeezed by the day.

Seniors say

Most final year students on the verge of completing the course feel freshers should take up the course only if they have a flair for travel and the basic knowledge about tourist attractions and their historical significance.

“It is a challenging course. There is no dearth of opportunity in this sector but you have to prove your mettle to secure a job,” said Partha Sarathi Rout, a final-year student of tourism and heritage management at Utkal University.

Rishiraj Singh Chauhan, a student at IITTM, said most of his seniors had been placed in reputed companies.

“Slowly but surely this industry is gaining momentum and the chances for getting employed is pretty high,” he said.