Date of course commencement: - 1st July and 1st January
Date of course completion: - 30th June and 30th December
Fee Structure:- 1500 rupees for 6 months course
Course Modules:- Tourist circuits of India and Uttarakhand, Travel Agency & Tour
Operation, Tourism and Hospitality, Marketing, Workplace Skills in Travel Industry
Practical Training and Field Tour Report Presentation
Internship- On competition of theory papers each student will be placed in the industry for 60 days training on reasonable stipend
Placement- On and off campus interview shall be arranged for the placement of students before internship
Examination- June 25th to 30 to December 25 to 30
Eligibility- 10+2 in any steam and students studying in the final year of Graduation are encouraged to apply. Candidates having proficiency in English communication shall be preferred
Timing of classes- 3 PM to 6 PM
Available Intake - 25
Who will offer you Job after completion of certificate course?
All tour operators conducting package tours in the Himalayas and other tourist places in the country and abroad , Resort companies , Camping sites, , Souvenirs’ Emporiums, Yoga and Meditation Centres and other travel trade ancillary services
Who are eligible ?
1 Trainees should be 18 years old at the time of admission
2 Must have passed 12th class from any recognised board
3 Should be able to speak Hindi or English Clearly.
4 Must be physically fit and not suffering from any chronic disease.
Documents required at the time of registration
1 Prescribed admission form duly filled in by the applicant with passport size photo
2 Marksheet or certificate of 12 th class pass Examination
The course structure is divided into the following modules:-
Module 1: Tourist Places of Uttarakhand and India
Objectives: The module gives the overall information about the tourist places of Uttarakhand state and India and to make them competent to brief the tourists about the places of tourist interest
Contents:
Tourist places of Uttarakhand:
· Panch Badries, Panch Kedars, Punch Prayags, Major temples and shrines in Garhwal and Kumaon including sakthipeeths,
· Valleys of Flowers, Trek routes, Mountain peaks, Hill stations, Rivers, lakes, Glaciers, National parks, Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves, Biosphere Reserves, Yoga , Health care and mediation centers, Winter and Water sports including river rafting and snow skiing and ecotourism circuits,
· Major Hotel and Restaurant chains, Supplementary accommodation including Home stay facilities, mode of transportation, air, rail and land transportation, Approved tour operators and travel agents, Taxi operators, and shopping emporiums.
Tourist places of India:
· Characteristics, typologies and scope of tourist places in India with in depth study of Wildlife Parks, Sanctuaries, Tiger reserves, Hill stations, Sea beaches, Mountains, Lakes, Biosphere Reserve, and Wetlands,
· Man Made Tourist attractions with study of Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Kushinagar, Sarnath, Sanchi, Ajanta, The Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri., Khajuraho, Jaipur, Mahabalipuram, Tanjore, Hampi, Ellora, Elephanta and Konark.
· National Museums, Major fairs and festivals in India with case studies of Kumbh Mela, PuskarFair, Surajkund Craft Mela and Puri Rath Yatra.
Suggested Readings
Kaur, Jagdish (1985) Himalayan Pilgrimages and New Tourism, English Book Depo, Dehradun
Fonia, K.S.( 2002), Garhwal Himalaya,
Publications of Nest and wings on Tourist places of Uttarakhand
Mookerjee, R.K. The Culture and Art of India, George Alleene Unwin
Ltd., London.
Archaeological Survey of India publication on Archaeological places of
India
. Lonely Planet Tourist Guide Books
Module 2: Travel Agency & Tour Operation
Objective: In this module students will understand the conceptual meaning and differentiation between Travel agency and tour operation. Further, they can get Knowledge on formalities and documentation needed to set up tour and travel unit.
Contents:
· Business Concept of Travel Agency and tour Operator, Linkages and arrangements with hotels, airlines and transport agencies and other services organizations. Procedure for approval of Travel Agents, Tour Operators approved by by Department of Tourism, Government of India.
· IATA rules and regulations, Study of various fiscal and no fiscal incentives available to travel agencies and tour operator’s business. Understanding the functions of a travel agent, travel information and counseling to the tourists, reservation, ticketing, documentation, handling business/corporate clients including Conference and Conventions, sources of income: commission, and service charges.
· Market research and tour package formulation, assembling, processing and disseminating information on destinations, preparation of itineraries. Handling of tour file, sources of income for tour operation. Current and Popular Travel Trade Abbreviations and other terms for supporting sources.
· Travel Agency Manuals, ABC, TIM, and other relevant manuals. Travel organizations: Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), International Air Transport Association (IATA).Case Study of Kuoni. SOTC, Thomas Cook, Orbit; Le Passage, Make My Trip, ITDC,
Suggested Readings:
1. Holloway, K.C., The Business of Tourism (1983), Mac Donald and
Evans, Plymouth.
2. Syratt Gwenda, Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth
Heinemann, London, 1995
3. Susan Webster, Travel Operating Procedures (Second Edition),- Van
Nostrand Reinhold New York.
5. Chand Mohinder, Travel Agency Management, Anmol Publication
Delhi.
6. Gupta S.K., International Airfare & Ticketing, UDH, Publisher.
Module 3: Tourism and Hospitality Marketing
objectives: Course aims at understanding service marketing and marketing approaches for various components of tourism and hospitality.
Course Contents
· Understanding the relationship between Services Phenomenon, Characteristics of Services, and Study of Consumer, hospitality and travel industry, interrelationships between customer value, satisfaction and quality, marketing management philosophies, services, and characteristics of hospitality and tourism marketing, and the marketing environment.
· Marketing information system, developing information through internal records, marketing intelligence, marketing research and process, analyzing and distribution of information. The external influence, consumer behavior, competitive strategy. Designing and delivering service quality, pricing and cost structure, choosing the channel.
· Communication strategies by hiring an advertising agency, integrated direct marketing system, effective sales promotion, public relation as promotional tool, designing the packaging, the changing role of personal selling.
Suggested Readings:
1. Ravishankar ( 2012) Service Marketing, New Delhi
2. Stephen Shaw: Airline Marketing & Management
3. Philip Kotler, John Bowen & James Makens: Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism.
4. Alastair M. Morrison: Hospitality and Travel Markets.
Module 4: Workplace Skills in Travel Industry
Objectives: The module is prescribed to aware the students about the soft skills needed to work with a travel or tour company and offers them desired knowledge required on day-to-day basis in order to satisfy a customer
Contents:
Introduction to Customer Service: Introduction to the Sector and subsectors, Introduction to the trade, Importance and role of a Customer Service Executive
· Plan and prepare for Services :Check assigned duties as per duty roster, Check the travel and bookings details of the customer along with relevant Documentation as per travel and bookings details, assess requirement of resources viz. type of vehicle, number of vehicles and Inform travel agency/driver on the time schedule and meeting place
· Customer’s needs and wants: check for any special requests or requirements on arrival, preferred communication with the customer, check with travel agency/driver and ensure that vehicle is arriving as per schedule. check with hotel/place of accommodation and reconfirm bookings
· Documents required for handing over to customer: travel details. local accommodation bookings, local itineraries. details of tourist guides. Details of local options for shopping and other interesting activities. travel and other documents like train/coach tickets etc., carry placard with correct name of customer and contact details, ensure the mobile phone battery is charged .check arrival/departure schedule. Dress as per organizational requirements and standards, ensure to reach well in time to meet customer
· Develop and maintain positive relationship: Acknowledge customers and greet promptly ,Create a good first impression ,Use good verbal communications, Establish customers' needs and wants, Confirm the time of picking up and/dropping, Advise the customer of the travel itinerary and accommodation, Ask the customer of any specific requirement , Communicate clearly and concisely, and at a pace appropriate to the individual, Use appropriate language and gestures to suit the needs of customers, Address and greet customers respectfully by name , Deliver helpful and consistent customer service, Build positive relationships with customers and supplier, Complete checklists for preparation for performing duties
References: Travel handbooks
Module 5: Practical Training and Report Presentation
Objective: Each student shall be attached with a professional organization for 2 months in November and December and another 2 months in May and June to understand the mechanization of the profession. The students are expected to prepare day to day report of their activities and give presentation on completion of the trainings what they performed in the organization concerned besides mentioning the details of tourist places and other activities that they undertook during a week field visit to the places of tourist interest . Based upon the presentation and successful completion of both the trainings marks will be awarded to the students. If a student fails to complete either of the practical on certain unavoidable circumstances, in such situation such student is required to complete the practical training and field tour with the students whenever such training and tour shall be organized by the university
A 6 Months Certificate Course in Tourist Guiding