How to Become a Tour Operator: Career Guide, Courses, Scope, Jobs, Salary

What Does a Tour Operator Do?

A Tour Operator is a person or an organisation that thinks up ideas for holidays, researches the ideas, designs the holiday itinerary and content for the clients. They contract the services needed for the holiday, accommodation, transport, guides, tour leaders or resort reps etc and then market the resultant package. 

Some of the other roles and duties of Tour Operator are given below.

• They welcome groups of holidaymakers at their starting point and check tickets and other relevant documents, seat allocations and any special requirements.
• They also combine and organize accommodations, meals, sightseeing and transportation components, in order to create a package tour for the clients.
• They collect, evaluate and respond (as appropriate) to customer feedback and use market research information to guide decisions.
• They visit resorts to ascertain accommodation quality and suitability and liaise with coach operators, airlines, hoteliers and resort reps.

Steps to Follow to Become a Tour Operator

There are some simple yet important steps to be a Tour Operator.

• Decision Making: Aspirants must understand that they can choose this career only after fulfilling the required educational degree. Here, in this case, a Management background is perfect to become a Tour Operator.
• Subject Choices: There is no such specific subject combination offered by schools that would help them to pursue their career yet after 10+2 aspirants must choose BBA Course in Tourism Management.
• Entrance Exam Preparation: There are several entrance exams for Tourism Management: SAT, CET, MAH CET which are conducted once a year specifically for this post. Aspirants must not be intimidated by the syllabus, rather they should make a strategy to cover the syllabus and revise it twice.
• Selecting Correct Colleges: There are several online portals like Collegedunia which recommend the best colleges according to the location, ranking, fees, placement, etc. Candidates must take the benefit of such sources and they should visit the website to learn more about the course, faculty, and placement opportunities.
• After Qualifying The Exam: After qualifying candidates are sent for the medical examination than to the training center. The training is almost a year to build the candidate as an efficient Tour Operator.

Types of Tour Operator

Tourism Operator or Tour Operator is a very specific niche of the profession and there are broadly five types essentially required for every tourist business or company.

Front Office Manager

To supervise the work of Receptionists, Reservation and Information Clerk and to ensure that the requirements of the guests are catered on time. The average annual salary is INR 5.50 Lac. The manager is also expected to be aware of the surroundings including the public parking areas, access points, nearby places as these things are value-added services to your potential guest. Ensuring that guests receive the best service from the hotel. Front Office Manager needs to train subordinates to handle the process of check-in and check-out guests quickly and ensure they are provided with enough training from the institution or through internships.

Travel Manager

To plan, design, and execute an itinerary of the demanding travel destinations. The average annual salary is INR 6.30 Lac. They promote and market the business, sometimes to new or niche markets and manage budgets and maintain statistical and financial records. They also sell travel products and tour packages.

Travel Managers take part in familiarisation visits to new destinations, to gather information on issues and amenities of interest to consumers. They liaise with travel partners, including airlines and hotels, to manage bookings and schedules, often a year in advance and deal with customer inquiries and aim to meet their expectations.

Finance Manager

To supervise the working of the expenses with timely costing and estimation. The average annual salary is 5.80 Lac. They manage and supervise the functional & administrative duties & responsibilities of the Accounts department and ensure compliance with accounting policies & procedures. 

Office Chief

To prepare the newbies in different divisions from office work, F&B just as housekeeping. The normal yearly compensation is 6.20 Lacs. In order to prevail as a travel industry supervisor, you should have solid initiative and relational abilities, because the job will regularly include you directing different individuals from staff, giving guidelines, and organizing different offices. You will likewise have to have incredible time usage abilities and functioning information on the business. 

Deals and Advertising Chief

Liable for the deals and administration of the product offering of the company. The normal yearly compensation is INR 5.96 Lacs. Should be superb at understanding the channel deals business and its intricacies.Excellent Composed and Spoken Correspondence, Relational and Group working skills. Collect information on contenders' exercises and dispatch new visits and occasion products. Understanding Clients Needs and offering applicable administrations of moving needs.

How to Become Tour Operator in India?

Mental preparation and study preparation to take the responsibility of being an efficient Tour Operator is a gradual process.

School Level Preparation

• There is no such subject combination that is mandatory at the school level. 
• Although History, Civics, Economics, Mathematics can be a suitable combination.
• Candidates should try to achieve a minimum 80% aggregate to enroll in a good Management College.

How to Become a Tour Operator after Class 12th?

UG Preparation

• The candidate must choose and think wisely before choosing the stream.
• The minimum aggregate should be around 60% in BBA or BSc.
• After 3 years of intensive study, candidates have to complete almost one year of internship.

PG Preparation

• For Post Graduation (MBA/MSc) i.e. candidate should be 55% and not less than that.
• Candidates having a Diploma or other degrees cannot enroll themselves.

Courses to Become a Tour Operator

To become a tour operator, one must have a UG, PG, or Diploma degree in the relevant field. Some of the courses are mentioned below.

Diploma in Travel and Tourism

Diploma in Tourism & Travel courses is a 1 to 2 year course that gives you in-depth knowledge to thrive in the tourism industry by teaching business concepts specific to the field. Short

Diploma in Travel and Tourism: Admission Process

• To seek admission in a Diploma Course, a candidate shall have passed the qualifying examination of 10+2 pattern from any stream.
• To get admission, a candidate shall fill-up the online form from the website i.e. within the given time period of the desired college.

Diploma in Travel and Tourism: Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for candidates applying for such courses may differ from college to college.

• Admissions to the DTT course are on the basis of merit in the class 12 board exam.
• Candidates should clear Intermediate from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% to 60% aggregate marks.

Diploma in Hotel Management

Diploma in Hotel Management is a 3-year diploma level Hotel Management course focusing on the management of hotel administration, accounts,, housekeeping, front office or front office, food and beverage management, catering, etc. 

Diploma in Hotel Management: Admission Process

• Admission to the course is based on the student’s performance in an entrance exam or merit obtained in the last qualifying exam.
• Candidates can apply for admission to this course, through both online and offline mode.
• They can visit either the official website of the Institute or the Application Forms Admission Office of the Institute.

Diploma in Hotel Management: Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must have qualified 10+2 level of education in any stream, from a recognized educational Board.
• They must have a minimum aggregate score of 50% (5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC candidates) at the 10+2 level.

BA Travel and Tourism Management

BA Travel and Tourism Management is a 3-year UG course designed for students who wish to study travel and tourism management. This course is designed for those candidates who wish to make a bright future in the tourism sector.

BA Travel and Tourism Management: Admission Process

• Admission to the course is generally merit-based and candidates need to score minimum qualifying marks for getting admission to desired college.
• Institutes prepare a merit list on the basis of the marks obtained by candidates in higher secondary examination after which candidates are provided admission.

BA Travel and Tourism Management: Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must meet the minimum criteria of having a stream in XII with Mathematics or Accountancy as a subject.
• Candidates must pass the qualifying examination which is the final board exam (CBSE XII/ISC/respective State Board XII exam).
• Relaxation is given for the reserved quota and sports quota.

MBA Tourism Administration

MBA Tourism Administration is a 2 year PG course dealing with the business aspect of the Tourism Industry. This course involves the management activities such as studying tour destinations, planning the tour, making travel arrangements and providing accommodation. 

MBA Tourism Administration: Admission Process

• MBA Tourism Administration admissions are granted only on the basis of entrance examination and no merit-based admissions are possible. 
• To apply for an MBA Tourism Administration course, one needs to pass any central level examination like CAT, XAT, GMAT, etc. 
• After passing the cut-off marks, candidates need to pass the PI round conducted by each college itself for getting admission in MBA Tourism Administration. 

MBA Tourism Administration: Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates should have a 10+2 examination certificate with marks of at least 60% from a recognized board.
• The graduation of the candidate should be in the subjects of Hospitality, Mathematics, Science, Physics, Engineering, Commerce, Tourism, Computer Science etc.
• Candidates should have aggregate marks of 55% in the bachelor's degree.

How to Become a Tour Operator Abroad?

Tour Operator as a career is showing a spike in growth like no other career as the industry demands efficient tour operators and managers. Thus the best places to complete basic education abroad are the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia.

How to become a Tour Operator in the UK?

• Subject combination requirement with SAT qualifying marks.
• Each year 18% of Indians migrate to the UK just for pursuing this specific course.
• IELTS score above 6.5 is mandatory for admission to colleges in the UK.
• The average fee is around 22,000 GBP.
• Apart from that, students need to clear the UK Aptitude Test.
• More than 20+ reputed institutions teaching Tourism and Travel Management.
• The UK is a place of novelty and culture, thus it attracts a lot of tourists which creates enormous job opportunities for Tour Operators.

Top Colleges in the UK

How to become a Tour Operator in the USA?

• A valid Score is a primary requirement for admission to the Travel Management Colleges in the USA.
• After completing the Bachelor's Degree, candidates must apply for the training program of 3 years.
• 10+ premium institutions are situated in the USA alone for pursuing Travel Management and related courses.
• Courses available are Travel Management, Tourism Management, Business Administration, International Business, Hotel Management, etc.
• There is always availability of jobs in Travel Business as every other day the market is growing.

Top Colleges in the USA

How to become a Tour Operator in Canada?

• More than 25 % of native Indians with SAT qualifying marks are moving to Canada to become Tour Operators.
• The presence of Indians in Canada also makes it an ideal place to study.
• Hotel, Hospitality, and Tourism are three of the popular courses in Canada.
• IELTS score above 6.5 and TOEFL Score in between 86 to 100 is eligible to pursue Aviation Studies in Canada.
• The annual tuition fees abroad can be between 8 to 10 Lacs annually in Indian rupees.

Top Colleges in Canada

How to become a Tour Operator in Australia?

• IELTS score above 6.5 and TOEFL Score between 82 to 100 are eligible.
• 12 colleges in Central Australia itself are present where candidates can pursue courses related to Travel and Tourism.
• The annual tuition fees abroad can be in between 6 Lacs to 20 lacs annually in Indian rupees.
• The scholarship system is available for Indian students with a 70% aggregate in 10+2.
• Due to the immense advertisement of the luscious biodiversity of Queensland Australia, the job opportunity is gradually increasing as there is always a demand for skilled operators.

Top Colleges in Australia

Benefits of Career as a Tour Operator

Tour Operators enforce Administration Rules and supervise daily operations. With the stress, there are a lot of benefits as a Tour Operator.

• Salary: A passage level acquires almost 5-6 LPA while mid and senior procures more than 10 Lac for every annum. Administrators are likewise given recompenses and rewards from the Travel Industry if that keeps on being a piece of an Administration Body.
• Job Security: It is indeed one of the unique positions to be an Operator for the Tourism Industry or Private Companies. The demand for qualified BBA graduates is rising thus it has immense job security.
•  Positive Impact of the career: Candidates learn as they get moved to divisions. Aiding the overall population regularly and overseeing them is itself a remunerating experience. Making the day of the voyager a critical encounter is itself a Task of the Tour Operator.
• Unique Experience: In Tour Operation, applicants need to perform multiple tasks and oversee different parts of the day-by-day tasks which makes it not quite the same as different positions.

Skills Required for Becoming a Tour Operator

Below are a few skills required to become a Tour Operator, 

Salary of a Tour Operator

The Tour Operator has a salary according to their hierarchy and experience. It is also dependent on the department and the country they are posted in.

Average Annual Salary

Gender Wise Salary

Experience Wise