“Career Opportunities in Travel,
Tourism & Hospitality”
Travel and tourism is not a new concept in current
world. Thousands of years ago people became familiar with travel and tourism
trade but were not only formal structured in this trade. After few years of the
ending of world war, two travel and tourism industry got new dimension for
inventing commercial aircraft. Commercial flight operation makes the world a
small village. Within very short time aviation sector has created a new history
for spreading global tourism market. Finally we have gotten today’s travel and
tourism industry through the huge development of airlines and aviation
industry.
What could be the future scenery of Bangladesh travel and tourism industry and
is there any scope to build career as tourism and hospitality professional, how
young generation can engage with travel and tourism trade, is there any job
security for professionals? All the above hidden questions make the young
people worried, As a result the young students of tourism and hospitality do
not feel interest to choose career in Tourism and Hospitality sectors. There
are a lot of reasons to think about all the mentioned matters because
Bangladesh tourism industry is not matured enough. It’s like a new born baby
which is just growing up. There is huge opportunity in Bangladesh tourism however
it’s not creating enough job sectors for fresh the graduates.Government tries
to flourish this sector as well as creating job opportunity for tourism
students by initiating some tourism related projects. Such as- Sabrang
exclusive tourist zone, Jajia char project, Bangabondhu Island project, Sonadia
Island Project and so on.
Most of the Tourism and Hospitality Management students are concerned about
their career in Tourism and Hospitality industry. Exactly they have no clear
idea about career path in tourism sector. Firstly, I want to say “What is
tourism and travel”? Tourism is sum of all activities that arising out from
travel and stay of tourists and Travel is any types of journey. Transportation,
accommodation, food and beverage, attraction and entertainment are four pillars
of tourism. Above mentions companies make travel and tourism industry. This
industry will provide thousands of jobs opportunities to young tourism
students.
Aviation and airlines will offer you most prestigious
job in this sector such as- airport service, ground operation, GSA service,
customer service, sales and marketing ,ticketing executive, cabin crew and air
hostage. More than 27 airlines are directly operating their commercial flights
from Bangladesh. Ticketing and tour packaging travel agency and tour operator
will offer you job opportunity and handsome salary in this sector. Many of the
students can make their career in education and training sector as lecturer,
teacher, Instructor, and trainer. Hotel and lodging properties are providing a
large number of jobs in different sections like front office, sales and
marketing, housekeeping, food and beverage, security and travel desk. There are
more than 10 five star international chain hotels are operating their business
in Bangladesh. Event management firms are increasing day by day in Bangladesh.
Besides, Resort management and job opportunities in Resorts are being created
now-a-days as there are more than 56 resorts in Bangladesh. Government takes
special concentration in tourism and hospitality related jobs in both public
and private sectors where tourism and hospitality management students will get
special consideration.
For developing professionalism in this sector government are continuing
training and development related project for students such as ILO TVET project,
BTEB-NTVQF tourism training project, ISC tourism training and BPC & BTB
tour guiding and so on. In the next five years more than 2 lacks job
opportunities will be created from Bangladesh travel and tourism sectors. The
World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reported in 2015 that the travel and
tourism industry in Bangladesh directly generated 0.903 million jobs in 2014 or
1.6 percent of the country’s total employment, which ranked Bangladesh 157 out
of 178 countries worldwide. Direct and indirect employment in the industry
totaled 1.98 million jobs, or 3.6 percent of the country’s total employment.
The WTTC predicted that by 2025, travel and tourism will directly generate 1
million jobs and support an overall total of 2.5 million jobs, or 4.1 percent
of the country’s total employment. Travel and tourism is not only offering you
job in home but also in abroad.
Md. Shaifullar Rabbi
Lecturer
Department of Tourism & Hospitality
Management
Daffodil Institute of IT