Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries and few careers today can offer as much variety, excitement and excellent prospects as a career in the Tourism Industry. 

The President of WTTC has also mentioned during a session of the World Economic Forum held in December 1998 that the potential of the Travel and Tourism Industry in India if translated into actual exports will grow from the prevailing 23000 Crore Rupees to over 160,000 Crore Rupees by the year 2010. This would amount to over 12% of India's total exports in the coming decade. In 1999-2000, India is ranked at 46 amongst the top 100 destinations of the world and the potential in the Tourism Industry is indeed promising. 

In a news report, official estimates suggest that domestic passenger traffic at the five major International Airports and the Domestic Airports has grown by 12.7 percent during April-June 2000-2001 and International traffic has also registered a growth of 9.4 percent for the same period. An Airport Authority of India official attributed the growth to the general recovery in the economy. This revival in air travel is after almost 4 years of slowdown and reflects the growth in tourist traffic.

Even Tour Operators seem to be doing a lot better and are optimistic of further growth in the coming years. The growth in Tourism will encourage further employment in the Tourism Sector and keeping this in mind, IHCTM has devised a unique six months Diploma Course in Tourism and Destination Management.

The Diploma Course in TOURISM & DESTINATION MANAGEMENT is the first of its kind and on successful completion, the students are eligible to sit directly for the Diploma in International Tourism examination from CITY & GUILDS INTERNATIONAL, U.K. on payment of the examination fees. The Diploma awarded by CITY & GUILDS confirms knowledge and skills which are highly valued and accepted in over 100 countries.

International Tourism Geography : Identifying key features using maps, Identifying the location of continents and countries involved in International Tourism, Identifying the major tourist destinations, capitals of countries and attractions of the world, Explaining how topographical features and climate influence tourism, Identifying the major tourism flows in the International Tourism market, Identifying major tourism transportation routes, Identifying world time zones within and between continents and factors involved in time conversion, Calculating journey times using different means of transport, Identifying tourist gateways, hinterlands and attractions, Identifying languages spoken, describing methods of currency conversions, Identifying geographical factors affecting tourism success, resort attraction, infrastructure and tourist flows, Describing with reference to one country, the positive and negative effects of geographical factors on tourism.

Customer Service : Identifying the main types of customers of tourism organizations, Identifying service standards, Identifying the four levels of customer satisfaction, Identifying customers with specific needs, Describing the importance of positive impressions, customer service communications and recording of customer details, Identifying key components of customer service, Identifying methods for recording customer complaints and identifying the details to be included in a letter to customers, Recommendations for development of service, Comparing customer service in two selected tourism organizations.

Presentation of Tourism Products and Services : Identifying the ways information can be presented to tourism customers, Identifying tourism organizations in relation to different forms of information presentation for different tourism products and services, Elements of merchandising, Elements of visual presentation, Elements of verbal presentation.

Marketing : Identifying the key principles of the marketing function, Describing the Elements of the Marketing Mix, Stating how market research is conducted, Identifying what is meant by promotion, Identifying promotional methods and media, Identifying tourism organizations and comparing marketing activities, Identifying methods of market research, Identifying the components of a marketing plan, Identifying promotional methods, Describing methods of evaluating marketing activities.

People Development : Describing organizational structures and factors influencing organizational structures, Describing job specifications and descriptions, Investigating recruitment and selection processes, Identifying and describing features of personal career history, Identifying workplace standards of practice, operations and legislation. Identifying the teamwork involved in a tourist event including roles, responsibilities and factors influencing the effectiveness of teams.

Business Systems : Identifying financial performance monitoring, Identifying factors affecting financial performance and Identifying terms used, Identifying different types of financial accounts, Describing simple budgets, Identifying strengths and weaknesses of administration systems and electronic and information processing systems, Identifying technological developments.

Developing a Visitor Attraction as well as a Local Tourism Destination : Identifying and placing visitor attractions into categories, Identifying the role of visitor attractions, Identifying reasons why an area has a range of visitor attractions, Identifying stages in developing visitor attractions, Identifying stages in the sales process, Identifying sales and promotion activities, Identifying elements that create a local tourist destination, Reasons behind local tourism development, Organizations that influence tourism development, The impacts of tourism development and the image requirements, The stages in planning and development, The reasons why there is a need for continued development, Sources of funding, Analyzing factors involved in the marketing of a local village or town visitor attraction.