Plan your career itinerary@Travel & Tourism

Travel and tourism is a vibrant industry across the world. Developing tourism hotspots not only helps a country highlight itself on the global map but also boosts the local economy by creating employment and distributing wealth.

India has always fascinated international travelers with its rich culture and heritage. As the country expands its base for travel and tourism, it will generate many more jobs. The growing market place for travel related services is giving rise to a parallel need for skilled staff. Good travel consultants need to combine product knowledge with client knowledge. They need to be techno-savvy, continuously upgrading their skill levels to keep up with market trends.

2011 is set to be the year for Outbound Travel in Asia. China could double its Out Bound travellers. And for India the increase is predicted to be five fold. By 2020, India will have sent 50 million citizens abroad. All this only means that the travel and tourism industry is growing phenomenally. You can make the most of this opportunity, if you are skilled and ready for it!

In the context of high growth and increasing customer expectations, talent management will be one of the most important challenges for the travel industry. This relates to both the shortage of actual numbers and the desired capability levels from both a technical and managerial perspective. Various initiatives have been taken by the Ministry of Tourism in India, and also the private sector.

The Thomas Cook Centre of Learning is such an initiative which caters to an important niche, providing educational programs, with the objective of proactively facilitating talent management in the travel industry. The Centre of Learning provides the industry with well trained and skilled professionals, ready to be absorbed into the work force, thereby adding value to an organization through well rounded knowledge and training, and also an infusion of fresh insights and creative ideas. For educational programmes visit http://col.thomascook.in

The 2 year International Tourism Business Course offers dual specializations, and includes case based learning and exposure to the international business environment. The training institute also provides a wide array of IATA under-graduate and post-graduate courses.

Students can also benefit from a wide range of workshops, corporate and destination training programmes organised by the Centre of Learning. The institute recently collaborated with IRCTC Western zone for its soft skills training needs. The Centre has also partnered with various Tourism Boards including Swiss, Czech, Canada and Egypt to conduct training sessions for travel agents across the country.

By developing human capital, Thomas Cook aims to reach out to the next generation of leaders in the evolving tourism industry in India. Here are testimonials from some of those who have taken the courses:

Esha Hoskote, Management Trainee, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. - Centre of Learning
"In the last 9 months I have learnt everything that a person should about the Travel and Tourism industry. All the topics and certifications are industry relevant and have helped me get placed as a management trainee in the MICE department with Thomas Cook India Ltd. I aspire to grow here and do well in the travel & Tourism industry. All thanks to the Centre of Learning."

Makrand Karve, Management Trainee, Thomas Cook(India) Ltd. - Centre of Learning

"Centre of Learning has been a stepping stone in my career after my graduation in BBA. As a teenager, I was confused although I always wanted to be into tourism industry. Centre of Learning blended all the possible & potential aspects to create professionals in the field, knowledge, and updates industrial exposure online and offline modules & presentations guest lectures and use of ultra modern techniques used in Centre of Learning helped me in transforming myself into a confident and professional personality, presentable enough to get selected in Thomas Cook itself .I consider myself lucky enough to be a part of Centre of Learning and look forward to face upcoming challenges and turn them into opportunities as the industry has to offer me."