All the six big Indian travel agents associations including Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) now plan to hand over a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, seeking their intervention in the issue.

Travel Agents Federation of India chairperson Vasuki Sundaram told ETthat nearly one lakh agents will be on the road if the `problem' is not resolved expeditiously.

"More than two dozen big travel agencies and many non-registered agents will have to wind up their business. This means job losses of around a lakh of people," said Ashwini Kakkar, executive vice-chairman, Mercury Travels.

More than 3 lakh travel and ticketing agents may lose their jobs with airlines stopping payment of commission to them from November 1.

The decision has seriously impacted the business of more than 29,000 non-IATA agents across the country, who only sell airline tickets. They account for more than 90 per cent of the trade and employ over 3 lakh people. Smaller agents employ around 10 people on an average.

A few months ago, cash-strapped airlines decided to do away with a 5 per cent commission they used to pay to travel agents as a cost-saving measure, aligning themselves with the global trade practice.

Instead of paying the agents directly, the airlines have asked them to charge a transaction fee of Rs 1,500-2,000 on domestic sectors and Rs 3,500-7,000 on international routes from customers.

"In India, we do not see clients paying directly to the travel agents that kind of amount unless it is incorporated in the airfare. That is not acceptable to the airlines. This move will directly impact the livelihood of about three lakh people who are in this business. On the one hand, the government is assuring us that there will be no job loss and on the other, we are facing this threat," said Vasuki Sundaram, chairman, Travel Agents Federation of India, TAFI).

"Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) have increased considerably in the recent years from about 3.46 million in 2004 to 5.08 million in 2007. During January and July 2008, the FTA was around 3.14 million as compared to 2.38 million during the corresponding period of previous year," Prabhakar Dubey, director in the ministry, said at a conference here.

Along with FTAs, the number of domestic tourists have also risen from 366 million in 2004 to 526 million last year.

"Tourism has become an important segment of the economy. Around 950 million jobs are expected to be created by 2010 in the sector," Dubey said.

The ministry, he said, has launched rural tourism schemes through community participation and about 130 rural project sites have been identified in 27 States to promote traditional rural arts, crafts and culture to attract visitors and provide them with authentic and traditional experience.

Of these, 36 sites are ready to receive visitors, he added.

Meghalaya Tourism Minister Conrad Sangma said that the rich tourism potential of the northeastern States were in need of proper marketing and publicity to attract the tourists.

Stressing on development of infrastructure like air connectivity and roads, he said that tourism has to focus on the rural areas by involving the grassroots people and reflecting the diverse culture of the region.

Sangma also rued the negative image of the region projected outside it even though insurgency was limited to only certain pockets.

Over the next 10 years, another name might well be added to this list, which is 12,500-acre huge `Lavasa lake city', being developed by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) near Pune within the Western Ghat ranges. Promoted as free India's first planned hill station, Lavasa lake city, will be ready as a complete town with a population of 1.5 lakh.

"Lavasa is not a township or a huge real-estate project such as the Sahara group's Amby Valley. It is a complete town that is self sufficient and meets residential and living needs of poor, middle-class and elite people. The hill station itself will create more than 50,000 jobs over the next 10 years. Hence, citizens residing here can enjoy the walk to work lifestyle," said Lavasa Corporation President Rajgopal Nogja.

Addressing a two-day round table conference of "World Travel and Tourism Council" (WTTC) here, Union Tourism Secretary Sree Bhadra Banerjee said the total earning in the tourism sector should touch 20 billion dollar by 2010.

He said the Tourism Ministry was trying to promote rural tourism as the sector could be the largest generator of jobs in the country.

"Domestic tourism forms the backbone of tourism industry and development of rural tourism is very important for positioning the rural tourism of the country as a unique experience," he said.

Banerjee said the the Centre has decided to create 15 million jobs by 2010 in the tourism sector.

The conference, attended by government officials, industry players, various service providers and eminent economists, harped on collective efforts from all concerned authorities to further exploit the huge potential in the sector.

They also emphasised the need to improve the infrastructure facilities such as rail, road and air connectivity between different states to attract more domestic tourists.

The stake holders were of the view that rural India has huge potential for tourism which could play an important role for all round development.

The career options in the tour and travel industry have increased in direct proportion to the growing domestic market, micro-economic stability, liberalisation and the growing presence of multinationals in India.

Until recently, the industry was banking on traditional themes like culture and heritage. Now, the focus has shifted to health and medical tourism, eco-tourism, steam engine tourism, cricket tourism, spiritual tourism and rural tourism.

In order to tap the growing demand of tourism professionals, the Institute of Vocational Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, has started a five-year MTA (Master's in Tourism Administration) course from the present session. It's the only university in the country that is conducting this kind of comprehensive course.

Eligibility
For admission to the course, the candidate must be a plus two in any stream with at least 50 per cent marks. The admission is based on an entrance test and group discussion.

The first part of the five-year course comprises undergraduate study (six semesters), on the completion of which a bachelor's degree in tourism administration will be given. After this, the candidate has the option to go in for a master's course (four semesters).

The department is already conducting a two-year MTA (master of tourism administration) course for graduates.

The UGC has sanctioned Rs 38 lakh as grant-in-aid to the institute for starting the course. It has approved 25 seats for it.

Future scenario
The increasing influx of tourists, especially foreigners from Israel, Germany, the UK and several other European countries, has made tourism a booming sector. The demand of management executives in hotels and tour and cargo agencies is much more than their availability. This is going to increase in the near future. A qualified postgraduate or graduate can pursue his/her career as a management trainee.

• Course curriculum
  
• Money matters

Will be required to lead the Agency with vision and focus on improving the turnover and profits. Experience of tours will be an added advantage.

Salary will be commensurate with experience & knowledge. Interested candidates may please apply within 7 days to:-