BA (Bachelor of Arts) Tourism Studies is a 3-year undergraduate course in the field of travel and tourism.
- The program deals with the various aspects of tourism and tourism-related topics like the economics of tourism, hospitality, ticketing, transportation, destination planning, tourism products, and marketing.
- It also connects with subjects such as adventure tourism, medical tourism, heritage tourism, sustainable tourism, and so on.
- The program familiarizes you with the various aspects of the travel and tourism industry.
- After doing this course you will build awareness about the tourism sector and organize various tourism-related services.
- The entire BA Tourism syllabus is spread across six semesters, which comprises both theoretical as well as practical aspects of training.
- To apply for this undergraduate course, the candidate should have passed 10+2 or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
- Admissions to the program are through entrance exams for some of the colleges and for others it is based on the merit of 10+2 marks.
The average fees for this undergraduate program in tourism range from INR 2,388 to INR 176,000.
- Some of the popular job profiles in this field are Tourism Manager, Travel Manager, Front Office Executive, Front Office Manager, Travel Consultant, Ticketing Assistant, Travel Agent, Tourist Guide, Tour Operator and so on.
- The average starting salaries range from INR 180,000 to INR 250,000.
After completion of the course, the students will have the opportunity to join the tour and travel industry in the above roles as mentioned above. The tourism industry being a fast-growing field, there are opportunities in the private as well as the government sector. Students may even go for higher studies in the field like postgraduate diploma and degree courses in tourism and hotel management.
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BA Tourism Studies: Course Highlights
Given below, find the BA Tourism Course Highlights.
| Course Level | Post-Graduation |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree from any recognized university |
| Admission Procedure | Entrance Exam Based |
| Examination Type | Semester Based |
| Top Recruiting Areas | Colleges & Universities, IT configuration Management, IT Financial Management areas, IT Service Management areas, IT Governance Areas etc. |
| Job Profile | Account Manager, Business Analyst, Business Development Manager, Sales Representative, Information Systems Manager, Chief Information Officer etc. |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Amazon, Matrix Cellular, Hi-Impact Consultants, HIL Limited, Secure Now, Honda Cars, Pearson Education, Decathlon, Home Credit India, Uflex Limited, ICICI Securities, Zycus Infotech, Naukri.com, Cross Tab IT Consulting etc. |
| Average Course Fees | INR 5,000-INR 5,00,000 |
| Average Starting Annual Salary | INR 3,00,000-INR 12,00,000 (per annum) |
BA Tourism Studies: What it is All About?
BA Tourism Studies, as the name suggests is an undergraduate program in travel and tourism. Over the years, due to the spiralling growth in the tourism and hospitality industry, the program has seen increasing popularity. Enumerated below, find the details of this program.
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BA Tourism is a 3-year undergraduate program, the above course will train you on many aspects of the tourism and hospitality sector.
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It provides knowledge on various aspects of the travel industry such as tourism policies, economics in tourism, travel planning, travel management, hotel management, tourism geography, working on resorts, cruise ships and the airline industry as well as tourism writing.
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Other than the above aspects, the course trains you on behavioural skills, communication skills, customer service skills and a lot more. Your ability to communicate with others sees a marked improvement after undergoing this course.
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As foreign tourist arrivals play a significant part in the tourism industry, most courses on tourism studies lay importance on learning one of the many foreign languages.
Check out: Jobs after BA Tourism
Why Study BA Tourism?
BA Tourism program is seeing rising popularity with today’s generation of students. Find here, some of the reasons, why this program is getting increasingly popular and why anyone should study this program.
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Tourism and the hospitality field is one of the fastest-growing sectors. In fact, as per one study, 10 percent of the global jobs are in this field. As a result, numerous job opportunities are getting created in this sector.
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Since many of the jobs in the tourism sector involve travel, this is one good field for those who have a love for travelling and visiting distant places.
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There is enough scope for entrepreneurship in this field. After gaining experience in the field, one may run their own travel agency, guide services, transport agency or even run a hotel.
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The program is also useful for those who want to develop an awareness of the tourism sector.
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BA Tourism course curriculum is quite an interesting one that includes both theoretical as well as practical aspects of training.
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The average incomes and packages are quite attractive and there are numerous opportunities to rise up in this career.
BA Tourism and Bachelor of Hotel Management are two courses that are related to the travel and the hospitality sector.
Find here a few of the comparative differences between the two courses.
What is the Admission Process of BA Tourism Studies?
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BA Tourism program admission is based on merit as well as through entrance exams. for merit-based admissions, the candidates’ 10+2 scores are reckoned. Most colleges have a certain cut-off, above which the students should have scored in their 10+2.
Entrance Exam Based Admission
- Some of the top colleges and the central universities prefer to admit their candidates based on their performance in an entrance test.
- For such colleges, the application for the test has to be made online by visiting the official website of the entrance exam.
- The candidate will have to first register with the site by giving the necessary contact details. They will also have to choose the program that they are applying for.
- Once the login credentials are available, the candidates can log in and submit the necessary details. The application fee is to be paid online.
- Others who might not be familiar with the online process, can download the application form and the prospectus from the website and then fill-up the form manually. The application fee is to be paid in the form of a demand draft in such cases.
- On successful submission of the form, the candidates will receive a notification through SMS or email.
- At times a personal interview and group discussion is also held to decide on the selections.
Also read:
What are the Eligibility Criteria for BA Tourism Studies?
- The minimum criteria for applying to a BA Tourism program is a pass in 10+2 or an equivalent qualification from a recognized educational institution.
- The candidates can be from any stream, be it arts, commerce or science.
- Some colleges insist on 50% or more marks in 10+2.
- Though not essential for all programs, the candidate should have competency in the English language or must have studied English in 10+2.
- Since the tourism sector is more of a service industry, it helps if you have great customer service and communication skills.
Which are the popular BA Tourism Entrance Exams?
Though some of the admissions in this field are done based on marks obtained in 10+2 by the candidates, some of the top colleges do conduct entrance tests for admission to their programs. Some of these popular entrance tests are given as follows:
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CUCET: Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) is conducted for admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate programs in 14 Central Universities and 4 State Universities. The test is held in three phases and the candidates are to select any one, whichever is active at the time of application. The test is to be applied online but the exam is held in pen and paper mode.
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NCHMCT JEE: NCHMCT stands for National Council for Hotel Management and it conducts a national level Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for admission to various hotel management and tourism-related courses by colleges under it. The scores of the entrance exam are used by various institutions for admission to their undergraduate programs. The test is conducted online and is of 3 hours duration and the test is held at various centres across India.
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IIHM CHAT: Common Hospitality Admission Test (CHAT) is an online test conducted by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) for admission to its various centres across India.
| Exam Name | Application Period | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| CUET | February 2023 – 4th week of March 2023 |
May 21 – 31, 2023 Reserved date: June 1 –7, 2023 |
| NPAT | December 01, 2022 – May 21, 2023 | January 04, 2023 – May 31, 2023 |
| TISS BAT | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| IPU CET | March 2023 – April 2023 | April 2023 |
| JNUEE | To be Announced | To be Announced |
How to Prepare for BA Tourism Entrance Exams?
The entrance tests that are held for the purpose of selection to undergraduate programs on tourism studies mostly check the aptitude of the students for the courses. Following guidelines will help to prepare for the program.
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Most of these tests are objective or the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) type. The test duration is 3 hours. There will be around 100 questions on subjects ranging from English, Numerical Ability, Logical Reasoning, General Aptitude and General Knowledge.
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By covering various past papers of these entrance tests; one can get good practice in solving objective questions.
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The candidates may appear for the mock tests that are made available at the websites of the entrance tests.
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Various books are also available for practising general aptitude type of questions.
How to get admission to a good BA Tourism College?
Admission to BA Tourism is based on merit for most colleges. Every college has a certain cut-off for admission to the program based on the marks obtained by the candidates in their 10+2 exam. As such some of the guidelines for applying to a good college for this program are enumerated below.
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BA Tourism aspirants must make a list of colleges, where they may like to study, long before the application process. Based on the college they can prepare their strategy for getting selected to the program.
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They should also keep a check on the colleges where the selection is based on 10+2 marks and at some colleges through entrance exam scores.
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For applying to colleges where selection is on merit, the candidates should ensure that score as much as possible in their 10+2. A higher percentage will ensure that you get preference over other candidates, who may have scored less than you.
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For those colleges where the admissions are through the results of an entrance test, the candidates need to do well in the entrance test. In some colleges, they conduct an additional round of interview and group discussion as well.
Which are the BA Tourism Top Colleges?
Some of the top colleges and universities offering BA Tourism are as follows:
| College Name | City | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Lovely Professional University (LPU) | Jalandhar | INR 1,76,000 |
| Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | INR 70,000 |
| RIG Institute of Hotel Management | Greater Noida | INR 160,000 |
| Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) | Shimla | INR 10,000 |
| NIMS University | Jaipur | INR 60,000 |
| Surana College | Bangalore | INR 25,000 |
| Indian Academy Degree College | Bangalore | INR 61,700 |
| SAMS Group of Institutions | Varanasi | INR 80,000 |
| Roorkee College | Roorkee | INR 39,600 |
| Scott Hotel Management Institute | Kolkata | INR 50,000 |
| Presidency College of Hotel management | Bangalore | INR 3,00,000 |
| Govt. Degree College | Shimla | INR 2,388 |
| RIG Institute of Hotel Management | Dwarka | INR 150,000 |
BA Tourism Studies: College Comparison
Tabulated below, find comparison among three top BA Tourism colleges in India.
| Parameter | Chandigarh University | Lovely Professional University (LPU) | RIG Institute of Hotel Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Chandigarh University is one of the best private universities in the state of Punjab, offering a number of courses in various disciplines. Admission to its programs is through CUCET. | Lovely Professional University (LPU) located in Jalandhar, Punjab, ranks among the largest private universities in India offering a variety of courses in different disciplines. | RIG Institute of Hotel management with campuses across the National Capital Region (NCR) offers a number of courses in the field of tourism and hotel management. |
| Admission Process | Entrance Exam | Merit-based | Entrance Exam |
| Average Fees | INR 70,000 | INR 1,76,000 | INR 1,60,000 |
| Average Placement Packages | INR 2,00,000 | INR 4,00,000 | INR 3,00,000 |
| Top Companies for Placement | Yatra.com, Cox & Kings, Thomas Cook India, Goibibo.com, Club Mahindra Holidays, Travel Guru | MakeMyTrip, Expedia Group, Direct Travel, Indian Hotels Company Ltd., SOTC Travel, Kesari Tours | Cleartrip, Indigo, EaseMyTrip, RedBus, Kuoni Travel, International Travel House |
Also read: BA Tourism Jobs and Placements
BA Tourism Distance Learning
There are many distance-learning opportunities in this field. Some of the popular colleges offering this program through distance learning mode are listed below.
The eligibility criteria and other details are similar to those that of the regular courses. However, the distance mode offers a lot of flexibility to those who are not in a position to join a regular program. For most of the distance learning programs, there is no age bar.
| College Name | Admission Process | Duration | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGNOU | First come first served basis | 3 – 6 Years | INR 3,400 |
| Amity University Online Distance Learning (ODL) | First come first served basis | 3 Years | INR 40,000 |
What is the Syllabus of BA Tourism Studies?
The syllabus for the course may differ from college to college. However, the subjects mentioned below will be part of most undergraduate programs in tourism. Apart from learning English, learning a foreign language is also part of most syllabuses.
| First Semester | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Tourism | Environmental Studies |
| Tourism Foundation and History | Travel and Tourism planning |
| Tourism Organisation | Tourism Planning |
| Economics of Tourism | Transport Systems |
| Tourism Geography | Basics of Cargo Management |
| Tourism Psychology and Behaviour | Automation in Tourism |
| Behavioural Science - I | Behavioural Science - II |
| Third Semester | Fourth Semester |
| Travel Agency and Tour Operator Organization | Tourism Management |
| Adventure Tourism | Destination Planning and Development |
| Special Interest Tourism | Medical Tourism |
| Airline Ticketing | Interpersonal Skills in Tourism |
| India as a Tourism Destination | Accommodation Management |
| Communication Skills | World Tourism |
| Fifth Semester | Sixth Semester |
| Sustainable Tourism | Heritage Tourism |
| Tour Operations | Tourism Policies |
| Managing Tourist Behavior | Ethical and Legal aspects in Tourism |
| Development of Tourism Infrastructure | Managing Visitor Impacts |
Check out: Top Job offers after BA
BA Tourism Studies: Important Books
Listed below, these are some of the important books and their authors in the field of BA Tourism Studies.
| Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Key Concepts in Tourist Studies | Nicola E. Macleod |
| Tourism Studies and the Social Sciences | Andrew Holden |
| Tourism Operations and Management | Sunetra Roday |
| The Sage Handbook of Tourism Studies | Tazim Jamal |
| Understanding Tourism: A Critical Introduction | Kevin Hannam |
What are the Job Profiles and Career Prospects in BA Tourism Studies?
BA Tourism has a lot of employment potential as the field of travel and tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors. There are a number of related fields where one can find a job after doing this course. Most of these jobs have a bright prospect and can lead to a very rewarding career with time.
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There are opportunities to work with a number of national and international organizations in the field of travel and tourism. There are many overseas opportunities as well primarily among the Gulf countries as well as Western Europe.
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The hospitality sector that includes hotels, motels, resorts, government guest houses, holiday homes, shipping industry, cargo industry, cruise ships and the airline industry as well provides immense scope for work.
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Among the various job profiles in this field are Front Office Executive, Travel Executive, Immigration Consultant, Travel Consultant, Counter Clerk, Tour Operator, Ticketing Assistant, Tour Guide, and Travel Agent.
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BA Tourism also provides many opportunities for entrepreneurship in the field. One may set up their own travel agency, tour business, ticketing agency, guide services or open an online start-up in the field of tourism.
Some of the popular job profiles in the field of Tourism Studies are tabulated below.
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism Marketing Manager | The role of a Tourism Marketing Manager is to coordinate and direct various programs on tourism development. They are responsible for strategies to help grow tourism-related activities. | INR 4,00,000 |
| Travel Manager | A Travel Manager mainly monitors and administers the policies and guidelines of a travel agency or business. | INR 3,00,000 |
| Travel Agent | A Travel Agent helps tourists and travellers with advice on travel destinations, itineraries and budget. They have very customer savvy skills and have a great deal of knowledge of tourist destinations. | INR 2,00,000 |
| Immigration Consultant | They help travellers with documentation related to travel or relocation from one country to another. Help with various procedures related to immigration. | INR 3,00,000 |
| Tour Guide | Tour Guides are familiar with the history, culture and custom of a particular place or tourist spot. They have to be continuously aware of new attractions that may be of interest to tourists. | INR 2,00,000 |
What is the Future Scope of BA Tourism Studies?
BA Tourism has a lot of future scopes. Find here some of the most popular ones:
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Apart from going for a job in this sector after doing this course, one may also opt for a postgraduate program in this field.
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Some of the popular postgraduate degree and diploma courses in travel and tourism are Master of Tourism and Travel Management (MTTM), Master of Science (Hospitality Administration) (MHA), PG Diploma in Hotel Operation (PGDHO).
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A career in tourism also offers a rewarding teaching career as there are a number of colleges that offer different levels of tourism-related programs.
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BA Tourism Management graduates may also take up a career as a tourism writer or blogger in the field that too has immense potential.
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PhD in Hospitality and Tourism is also an option for the graduates who want to pursue a doctorate degree in this discipline
BA Tourism FAQs
Some of the most frequently asked questions pertaining to the MBA Tourism are as follows:
Ques: What is the BA Tourism course duration?
Ques: What are the eligibility criteria for undertaking BA Tourism Studies?
The minimum criterion is a pass in 10+2 or an equivalent qualification and from any stream.
Ques: I have done 10+2 in the science stream. Am I eligible for this course?
Ques: Do I need to appear for any entrance tests for joining the course on BA Tourism Studies?
Ques:Are there any distance learning programs for BA Tourism Studies?
Ques: Are there any online programs in BA Tourism Studies?
Ques: What are the average course fees for a course in BA Tourism Studies?
Ques: After undertaking this course, what is the future career scope?
Ques: Are there any postgraduate programs in the tourism field after BA Tourism Studies?
Ques: How is BA Tourism helpful in becoming an entrepreneur?
Ques: Is BA Tourism a difficult course?
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