The Travel and Tourism sector has been expanding at a rapid pace with immense potential for jobs. Being a sunrise industry, there is a lot of scope for new job roles that need skilled workforce. TRS Skills Academy has come up with industry-driven courses in this sector in partnership with The Travel Institute USA. Let’s know more about their initiatives in this Skill Story with Sundar Vasudevan, Founder and CEO, TRS Skills Academy, as he shares the context and the scope of skills and employment.
Q: Tell us about how your institution came into existence and your partnership with The Travel Institute USA.
A: TRS Skills Academy is the Licensed School of The Travel Institute, USA, in India and the Middle East and an associate company of TRS Consulting, Dubai, and we provide international Professional Certifications in Travel & Tourism, to youth who are aspiring to pursue a career in the Travel & Tourism domain. TRS Consulting is approved by the Knowledge Human Resources Authority Development (KHDA) in Dubai and has been established since 2003.
TRS Skills Academy was established in 2011 and then appointed as the National Training Provider for The Travel Agents Association of India, the oldest Travel Agents Association in India, represented exclusively on a pan India basis, by IATA approved Travel Agents, Airlines, Hotels and Allied Services providers in the Travel and Tourism Industry. We are now established in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to make these Professional Certifications available to individuals who wish to embark in a career path in the Travel and Tourism Industry.
The Travel Institute, USA is a non – profit organisation established in 1964, providing Professional Certifications encompassing all career stages, from the entry level to the Executive level with Leadership responsibilities. This strategic partnership is a commitment to provide high standards of excellence in the Vocational space and in the Travel and Tourism domain.
Travel and Tourism is a sunrise industry in India, growing on a 10 % growth Year on Year. The Government is committed to provide Skills and Employability to our largest young demographics, and TRS Skills Academy has signed a MOU with the Government of Gujarat, to support the national mission to develop Employable Skills in the Travel and Tourism Industry in the State of Gujarat.
Q: Which training programs are the most sought after and most popular considering the domain of travel and tourism in India?
A: The Certified Travel Associate (1 year duration), is the entry level qualification which is the most fundamental program as it is an industry developed curriculum, designed by subject matter experts from the industry. They cover 15 critical areas of study, covering Professional Skills Modules including Business Ethics, Business Writing Skills, Customer Service, Customer Focussed Selling, The Art of Listening & Communicating, Team work Time Management, and Understanding Customer needs.
Practical Skills Modules include, how to prevent Credit Card Fraud, Planning Itineraries, Selling All-Inclusive Resorts, Selling Escorted Vacations, Selling Special Interest Travel, Touring the World and Travel Insurance. The courses includes apprenticeship for 6 months , followed by an assessment.
Q: You offer several 1-day training programs. How effective are these? Can these be taken along with other programs?
A: The one day Training modules were an outcome based on the demands of the Travel Industry, as working Travel professionals working in various capacity in a Travel company from Sales, to Customer Service, require specific experiential learnings solutions to enhance their professional competencies and excel in their performances and individual and organisational growth. All Certified Travel Associate students will be provided select modules as a Value add and part of the CTA Course curriculum on a complimentary basis.
Q: Are all students provided internships as part of the training?
A: All Students who successfully complete the Certified Travel Associate (CTA) qualification will be given a mandatory 6 months Paid Apprenticeship program, provided by the Travel Agents Association of India, Gujarat Chapter and The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India, Gujarat Chapter. This will ensure real world experiences for the students and get them ready for placement as a “ready employable candidate”.
Q: Do students get placed internationally too after the completion of the training programs? What are the placement rates overall?
A: The placements for students graduating in Dubai is undertaken by TRS Consulting and has been over 90% plus. For students enrolling through TRS Skills Academy in Ahmedabad, we provide a 100% Local placement service assistance.
Q: What is your message to all the students aspiring to make a career in the travel and tourism industry?
A: My message to the youth is that “The Travel and Tourism Industry is a rapidly growing industry in India, and getting the adequate professional skills for employability to meet the new world challenges is critical for success.
The Government has now national Aviation policy and new Airports, Infrastructure, Airlines, Hotels, Travel and Tour Companies and Allied Services providers are all growing their spread and reach to meet these growing demands.”
Talent is and will always be an issue and hence getting certified by an Industry developed Certification which represents the industry developed curriculum, accreditation and the most critical 6 months Apprenticeship & Mentorship will get them ready to get them employable. New skills are required to meet new challenges! Getting certified is getting recognised and getting employable!
