No limits for the adventurous

Pankaj Mullick interviews Ravindra Dabbiru, co-founder, Zice Holidays, an experiential holiday and adventure sports company.

What should you consider before taking up tour planning as a career?

Working in the travel and tourism industry is all about making travelling an enriching and enjoyable experience by providing quality services. If you have a pleasant personality, excellent language and communication skills and knowledge about travel through personal experience, this probably is a great career option for you.

What personal attributes would you look for in a person before hiring him/her for your company?

Candidates must have good people skills and strong verbal and written communication abilities. Attention to detail is essential when compiling an itinerary and travel accommodation.

They also need to be courteous and professional when dealing with clients and travel representatives. They should also understand domestic and foreign currency, cultures and languages.

How would women fare in this career? Are there some special attributes that would make a woman more suitable?

Women possess a great potential to grow and succeed in this special career.

This domain demands individuals to be extremely hospitable, patient, analytical, with the ability to consume details and work eventually for thorough output. As the job demands a lot of travel, this would eventually take its toll on their physical, mental and emotional status. Women need to show a great deal of flexibility to handle some of the daily stresses and sudden travel plans. Women in this career should have a strong work ethic, an appetite to embrace adventure, confidence in their knowledge, and an outgoing personality.

What can one hope to earn as a tour operator?

The career of a tour operator is highly remunerative. A trainee tour operator working with a travel/tour company can easily earn Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per month. Generally, travel agents earn a handsome amount. A fresher in a travel agency can get a monthly salary of Rs 14,000 to Rs18,000 and expect more after some years in the business – maybe even set up one’s own operations.

Author: HT Horizons
Date: 25th Feb., 2010

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