Tourism Studies Courses: Admission 2024, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Top Colleges, Job Profiles and Salary

Tourism studies programmes are aimed to prepare students for employment in the tourism and hospitality industries, including tourist management, travel agency operations, destination marketing, event organising, and more. These programmes also highlight the significance of sustainable and responsible tourist practices, as well as the economic and cultural implications of tourism on various places.

The travel and tourism industry is currently growing at an unprecedented rate in India. The industry is one of the significant contributors to India’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is expected to do well in the coming years as well. A course in tourism studies includes the study and research of physical, economic, social and cultural aspects of tourism, tourist markets, and destinations. Further, know what the field of tourism studies entails in terms of the eligibility criteria, required skillset, course curriculum, job prospects and more.

The scope of building a successful career in the tourism sector is bright with employment opportunities existing in both public and private sectors. The public sector has opportunities in the Directorates and departments of tourism of the centre and state governments. On the other hand, the private sector has opportunities in travel agencies, airlines, hotels, cargo companies, etc. Interested candidates can also choose to work independently as tourist guides or by open travel agency. The graduates of this course can earn an average salary ranging between INR 7 to 10 LPA.

Latest Updates About Tourism Studies Course 

A tourism studies course or programme includes a wide range of tourism-related topics and aspects. Interested students can see the important and latest information about Tourism Studies course in the links below: 

• NCHMCT JEE 2024 registration begins in Februray 2024
• LPU NEST 2023 BHMCT Online Registration Underway; last date till 15-Jan-2024
• IIHM eCHAT Preparation Tips for Admission to IIHMs
• List of IHMs in India: Rankings, Admissions and Courses
• Know about Culinary Management

Tourism Studies Highlights

Tourism Courses often provide an overview of the hospitality industry, its history, and its various sectors. Students may learn about hotel management, food and beverage management, and event planning in courses related to Tourism. Candidates can look at the table below to learn about the key highlights of the Tourism Studies course.

Particulars	Details
Course Level	UG, PG, Diploma and Certification
Duration	6 Months to 4 Years
Entrance Exams	NCHM JEE, UGAT, CUET, UPSEE, IPU CET
Fees (in INR)	INR 4 lakh to INR 8 lakh
Average Salary	Up to 5.5 lakh
Top Recruiters	Cox & Kings Ltd., Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, MakeMyTrip, Travix Leisure & Travels Pvt. Ltd., SOTC Travel Limited, Yatra, etc.
Job Profile	Tourist Guide, Cabin Crew, Visa Executive/Immigration Consultant, Travel Executive, Travel Agent, Ticket Agent, Tour Manager
Top Colleges	LPU Jalandhar, Bangalore University, DAVV Indore, Kristu Jayanti College Bangalore, etc.

All About Tourism Studies

Tourism studies is an academic discipline that investigates the tourism sector, including its dynamics, impacts, and management. It is usually available as a degree programme at various academic institutions such as universities and colleges. A tourism studies course or programme includes a wide range of tourism-related topics and aspects. 

Tourism studies programmes are aimed to prepare students for employment in the tourism and hospitality industries, including as tourist management, travel agency operations, destination marketing, event organising, and more. These programmes also highlight the significance of sustainable and responsible tourist practises, as well as the economic and cultural implications of tourism on various places.

Why pursue Tourism Studies?

Here are a few reasons to study Tourism courses:

• Understanding the tourist industry's structure and components, such as transportation, lodging, attractions, and travel agencies.
• Learning how to efficiently plan, develop, and manage tourism attractions, taking into account elements such as sustainability, marketing, and infrastructure.
• Investigating tourism-specific marketing methods and practises such as destination marketing, digital marketing, and branding.
• Examining the significance of culture and heritage in attracting tourists and conserving cultural places and traditions.
• Researching the ideas of sustainable tourism and how to reduce tourism's negative environmental and social repercussions.
• The administration of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality enterprises, including themes such as guest services and event planning.
• Investigating government policies, regulations, and planning in the tourism industry.

Tourism Eligibility Criteria 

Candidates can opt for a certificate, diploma, and degree programme in tourism studies at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. Candidates can choose to pursue a tourism studies programme as a full-time or part-time (online/ correspondence) course. Given below are tourism studies eligibility criteria for both UG and PG courses:

UG Courses: Candidates should clear Class 12^th in any stream from a recognized board with the minimum stipulated percentage (usually 50% - 60%) as demanded by a university/ college at the time of admissions.

PG Courses: Candidates should possess a graduation degree in any stream from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% - 60% aggregate marks.

It may be noted that the eligibility criteria mentioned above might vary depending on the college/ university to which a candidate is applying.

Tourism Popular Entrance Exams 2023

Admission to tourism studies courses is provided based on an entrance exam conducted at the national, state, university or college level. The entrance test is sometimes also followed by a group discussion or personal interview round.

It may be noted that some institutions also provide direct admission to candidates based on merit determined through candidates’ scores in the qualifying exam (Class 12^th and graduation).

Name of Entrance Exam	Registration Details	Exam Details
NCHM JEE	Feb '24 - May '24	In May 2024
UGAT	Apr' 24	In May 2024
CUET	Second week of February 2024	15-May-2024 to 31-May 31-2024
JMI Entrance Exam	Closed	Concluded
IPU CET	Closed	Concluded

Tourism Studies Syllabus

Subjects taught in a tourism studies programme depend on the course a candidate is pursuing, for instance, BA Tourism Studies, Bachelor of Tourism Administration, Bachelor of Tourism Management, Master of Tourism Administration, Master of Tourism Management, PG Diploma in Tourism Studies, etc.

Given below is a general overview of the course curriculum of two of the popular tourism studies courses – Bachelor of Tourism Administration and Master of Tourism Administration.

Bachelor of Tourism Administration Course Curriculum
Basics of Tourism	Basics of Management
Communication Skills	Geography of Tourism an Indian Perspective
Indian Tourism Destinations	Educational Trip of any Indian Destination
Introduction to Statistics	Principles of Marketing
Tourism Product of Himachal	Components of Tourism
Educational Trip Report	Basics of Computer Education
Tourism Promotion	HRD in Tourism
Travel Agency Operation	Hotel Operations
Report of LDP	Electronic Data Processing
Elementary Financial Management & Accounting	Concepts of Tourism Packaging
Tourism Impacts	Global Tourism
Itinerary Preparation & Costing - CM & SPB	Ticketing & Transportation – SR & SK
Tourism Economics – PKG	Trade-Related Issues & Frontier Formalities – CM
Organization Behaviour – SK	Government & Tourism – SR & CM
Master of Tourism Administration Course Curriculum
Tourism Industry	Indian History & Culture
Tourism Principles, Policies & Practices	Geography of Tourism
Business Environment & Legal Systems	Managing Behavioral Processes in the Organisation
Accounting for Tourism	Indian Art, Architecture and Monuments
Sustainable Tourism	Tourism & Information Technology
Destination Marketing	Methodology of Research
Human Resources Management	Tourism Finance
Indian Heritage	Foreign Language
Travel Agency & Tour Operations	International Tourism & Ticketing
Public Relations	Transport Management
Contemporary Issues in Tourism	Destination Planning & Development
Hotel & Restaurant Administration	Event Management
International Airlines Management	-

To check the course curriculum of other courses in tourism studies, click – Tourism: Courses One Can Study.

Top Colleges for Tourism Studies

Pursuing Hospitality and Travel course opens up numerous job opportunities for individuals. The Hospitality and Travel industry gives wide exposure to students. Candidates must make sure they enrol in the best of the institutions to gain exposure. The top government and private colleges that offerTourism related courses in India are as follows:

Top Government Colleges for Tourism Studies

The top government colleges that offer Tourism Studies in India are as follows:

College Name	Total Fees (in INR)
IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open University	INR 13,000
University of Lucknow	INR 24,000
Government City College	INR 5,000
College of Vocational Studies, University of Delhi	INR 38,000
Government College Sector-9, Gurgaon	INR 16,000
IGNOU Regional Centre, Ahmedabad	INR 13,000
Nalanda Open University - NOU	INR 7,000
Government Postgraduate College, Ambala Cantt.	INR 6,000
Barasat Government College	INR 5,000

Top Private Colleges for Tourism Studies

The top private colleges that offer Tourism Studies in India are as follows:

College Name	Total Fees (in INR)
Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal Academy of Higher Education	INR 7 lakh
Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management	INR 4 lakh
LPU - Lovely Professional University	INR 5 lakh to 6 lakh
IIHM Delhi	INR 6 lakh
Institute of Advanced Management, Kolkata	INR 5 lakh
ITM, Navi Mumbai	INR 7 lakh to 8 lakh
Garden City University	INR 2 lakh
IIHM Ahmedabad	INR 5 lakh
IIHM Bangalore	INR 5 lakh

Tourism Studies Career Scope: Job Profiles, Salary and Top Recruiters

The industry of tourism is one such industry that even though is relatively new than others but is growing immensely well. There are many job opportunities available for candidates in tourism and its related sectors such as transportation, hospitality, etc. Know how one can get a job in leisure and tourism.

Tourism Studies Job Profiles and Salary

Have a look at some of the popular job profiles in tourism studies below.

Job Profiles	Job Description	Annual Salary (in INR)
Tourist Guide	A tourist guide is a professional responsible for guiding visitors about different tourist attractions. A guide leads a group of tourists to different places and helps them get familiar with the culture and heritage of a particular area.	INR 2.9 LPA
Cabin Crew	A cabin crew or air cabin crew member is responsible for providing top-notch customer service to the passengers travelling while also ensuring their safety and comfort throughout the flight.	INR 5.5 LPA
Visa Executive/ Immigration Consultant	An immigration consultant’s job is to ensure hassle-free immigration procedures for people planning to relocate abroad. A consultant ensures that clients avoid any legal issues that may occur and assists them to get visas and other related immigration documents.	INR 4 LPA
Travel Executive	The job includes independent handling of the travel help desk, visa handling, insurance handling, international/domestic ticketing handling, hotel booking, making arrangements for seminars and training, etc.	INR 2.9 LPA
Travel Agent	A travel agent helps clients plan their travels. The agent assists clients in choosing their destinations, making reservations, using a booking system to secure holidays, keeping them up-to-date with any changes in their travel, etc.	INR 2.4 LPA
Ticket Agent	A ticket agent’s major responsibilities include handling ticket reservations, cancellations, alterations, etc. The agent greets airline customers, helps them check baggage, and also assigns seats on the aircraft.	INR 3.9 LPA
Tour Manager	A tour manager is responsible for planning, organising, and conducting long-distance expeditions and tours for individuals or a group of people. The manager makes sure that the travel of the client runs smoothly at every destination without any issues.	INR 4 LPA

Top Recruiters in Tourism Studies

The following businesses are the best for people looking to launch a career in travel and tourism.

Top Recruiters in Tourism Industry
Cox & Kings Ltd.	MakeMyTrip	Yatra
Thomas Cook (India) Ltd	SOTC Travel Limited	Clear Trip
Travix Leisure & Travels Pvt. Ltd.	Jet Airways	Mahindra Holidays

Scholarships in Hospitality Industry

A scholarship is a financial reward or grant provided to a student to assist their education, often in the form of non-repayable monies. Scholarships are frequently offered based on a variety of factors, such as academic accomplishment, merit, financial need, leadership skills, community involvement, or unique talents or interests. Scholarships can be awarded by educational institutions, government agencies, private organisations, foundations, and companies, among others.

Students interested in pursuing Tourism Studies under Hospitality sector can have a look at the links below to get an idea of the scholarships:

IIHM Kolkata Scholarship Details

IIHM Bangalore Scholarship Details

Indian School of Hospitality Scholarship Details

Kohinoor College of Hotel and Tourism Management Studies Scholarship Details

Following are the most popular Tourism Studies Colleges in India. Learn more about these Tourism Studies colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.

Following are the most popular Tourism Studies courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in Tourism Studies.

Following are the most popular Tourism Studies UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

Following are the most popular Tourism Studies PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

Following are the top exams for Tourism Studies. Students interested in pursuing a career on Tourism Studies, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.