Tourism Education in India: A Supply-Demand Gap
Published: 2021
Author(s) Name: Rajinder Kumar, Sonia Khan |
Author(s) Affiliation: Inst. of Vocational (Tourism) Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
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Abstract
In the present time, tourism education has become a highly demanded discipline as a professionally-oriented course. The aim of this work is to determine the status of tourism education in India and to find out the lacuna between tourism educations, and the essential skills/ knowledge required by tourism industry from tourism graduates. This study attempts to investigate the perception of both ‘tourism academicians’ and ‘industry professionals’ about the nature of tourism education in India and assess if they feel same or differently about the quality of tourism education being imparted in the country. The study is based on a questionnaire survey conducted on 129 academic respondents and 129 travel trade professionals. The results suggest that as per academic respondents, the tourism institutions are providing ‘moderate’ tourism education. However, the industry professionals are of an opposite view and believe that amongst tourism graduates being produced, there is a ‘considerable lack in knowledge and skills’ required by the industry. The study suggests that tourism education in India can be strengthened through integration between the tourism course curriculum and required orientation in skill enhancement as desired by the industry. Since tourism is one of the keystone in generating revenue and employment, the industry requires a good number of graduates with significant academic merit and requisite trade skills to solve tourism management problems and run the industry. The areas identified for improvement in tourism education include, introduction of specialization courses in tourism and hospitality, improving digital skills, communication skills and strengthening of linkages of academia-industry collaboration among others. The study also suggests that the creation of an Indian Tourism Service (ITS) Cadre, on the lines of Administrative Services, catalyst to enhance the quality of tourism education being provided by institutions.
Keywords: Tourism Education, Essential Skills, Supply-Demand Gap
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