Resilient tourism for vibrant career

Ranjan K Baruah *

One of the areas where many of us may be engaged professionally is the tourism sector. We should know that tourism supports millions of direct and indirect jobs all over the world, in particular for women and young people.

For some small island states and developing countries, tourism accounts for over 20 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). The economic contribution of tourism (tourism direct GDP) was estimated at $1.9 trillion in 2021, higher than the $1.6 trillion recorded for 2020, but still well below the pre-pandemic value of $3.5 trillion.

For many developing countries, including the least developed countries, Small Island developing states, countries in Africa and middle-income countries, tourism is a major source of income, foreign currency earnings, tax revenue and employment.

Because tourism connects people with nature, sustainable tourism has the unique ability to spur environmental responsibility and conservation. In India, there are many places which are contributing through tourism. Region like north east is one of the examples how tourism can also help in livelihoods and job opportunities if planned strategically.

Sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism, is a cross-cutting activity that can contribute to the three dimensions of sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering economic growth, alleviating poverty, creating full and productive employment and decent work for all.

17th February is proclaimed as Global Tourism Resilience Day by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution A/RES/77/269 and it aims to emphasize the need to foster resilient tourism development to deal with shocks, taking into account the vulnerability of the tourism sector to emergencies.

The use of sustainable and resilient tourism as a tool to foster sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development and financial inclusion, enables the formalization of the informal sector, the promotion of domestic resource mobilization and environmental protection and the eradication of poverty and hunger, including the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources and the promotion of investment and entrepreneurship in sustainable tourism.

There are different career avenues when it comes to tourism. Apart from jobs in the government department there are many other jobs in the private sector. More and more people are becoming tourism entrepreneurs as it needs less investment in comparison with any other entrepreneurial activities. There are courses offered by different colleges and universities related to tourism.

Popular courses included Bachelor of Tourism Studies or Bachelor of Tourism Management or Masters in Tourism Studies or Masters of Tourism Administration, etc. There are other diploma and post graduate diploma programmes related to tourism.

Mere academic qualification is not enough if one wants to excel in the field of tourism. There are people from other academic backgrounds or not much educated but doing excellent work in the fields of tourism which is possible through their knowledge and skills. All those who are seriously planning or dreaming to do something related to tourism must love travel and initially they can travel to places to get practical ideas.

One of the best career opportunities in the field of tourism is none other than becoming tour entrepreneurs. Tour entrepreneurs mean not only guiding but handling other services too. We need to be skilled and our personality must be positive if we want to be a successful tour entrepreneur.

There are many training offered by the government related to tour guiding which can be availed by our young people and start their enterprises related to tourism . Resilient tourism means more business opportunities and lets take advantages out of it and contributes positively to our communities and towards sustainability.