Savvy careers in tourism and hospitality management

"Come before the tourists visit" was perhaps one of the most famous slogans of the Bangladeshi tourist industry during the 1980s and 1990s. The idea behind this catchy positioning statement was to encourage domestic travellers to travel across Bangladesh and seek inspiration from the beauty of this delta before the country fell on the tourist maps.

However, there is a huge demand for certified professionals in the hospitality industry. For example, the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel only offers jobs to accredited graduates with a degree in hospitality management and even after that, they must go through a rigorous six month training program where they must excel and prove that they can provide proper service. The ability to manage employees and customer relationships in a dynamic setting requires a highly skilled individual. But unlike maths or science, it is not something that can be viewed immediately and this is why it has not been valued properly.

Decades later in the year 2014, the lack of resources allocated to the hospitality industry has come to imply that Bangladesh cannot become the next Malaysia or Thailand so easily. Welcoming tourists with open hands will still need a lot of efforts on the part of the authorities, and while the private sector in this industry develops, the government must be proactive in branding Bangladesh positively worldwide.

Nevertheless, since 2011, Lonely Planet has called Bangladesh one of their 'best value destinations' that are hardly explored by tourists and backpackers. This growth has been fuelled mainly by domestic tourism, purchased by a huge middle income population ready to spend money. Interestingly, with tour companies like Bengal Tours focusing on international growth and cheap air travel receiving a boost due to the growth of domestic airline companies like Regent Air, Novo Air and US-Bangla Airlines, foreign tourists have also started to flock in. 

This is why careers and opportunities in this sector are opening up rapidly. With the spread of the message of 'Beautiful Bangladesh', Bangladeshis who are driving the domestic industry are also considering careers in this exciting sector.

This huge demand for capable people is clearly evident if you talk to any of the restaurant entrepreneurs in the country. Aaquib Shams, co-owner of Six Seasons Hotel, says, “As employers we constantly struggle to recruit and keep hold of top talent. Though we offer excellent incentives, including four bonuses throughout the year, and above average salaries, the sheer lack of supply in the industry means we are always fighting to keep our best talent. In fact, there is such a void in the industry that we regularly hire from abroad, which doubles our expenses, if not more – funds we would much rather spend on hiring and developing local talent.”

Tommy Miah, British celebrity chef, once mentioned that, “Most people in our country do not believe that jobs in hospitality management or tourism could lead to successful careers… It's a booming industry and we all simply need to see if we want to fit into an industry where the limits of success are practically endless.”

This is exactly why there are opportunities for undergraduates who can position themselves well to take advantages of the discrepancies between supply and demand. Although there are relatively “safer” career options in today's context, given the amount of graduates every year and the number of job vacancies, there is an enormous number of unemployed but qualified individuals who are searching for better career prospects. Hence, for those willing to take a “calculated risk”, the potential prospects in this industry are exorbitant.

Many young graduates, who do not get into the more conventional degree programs such as BBA, often find the way into their respective industry as an alternative to obtaining employment in any unconventional pathway. As of today, very few actually choose a career in the tourism industry out of their passion rather than out of their choice. This is happening mainly because of the limited knowledge people have regarding jobs in this field, the pay scale involved, and also the social stigma associated with the industry. For example, many traditional parents and relatives do not hold hospitality in high esteem and make it explicitly clear that this is not something young, educated people should pursue.

After successful graduation from the training program, the employees are offered a comparatively high allowance than most other organizations would, including housing, transportation facilities, lunch, dinner, and finally a greater bonus than most other established organizations. While this is mainly due to the workload that is thrust upon the employees, the focus is also on perfection and customer satisfaction. The prospects for a career in this field are high in terms of promotions, which are offered to diligent workers almost every two years while salary increment is carried out every year, thus leading to more efficient and motivated employees.

Besides the numerous advantages described above, one of the main attractions behind this career would be its demand abroad. Many places such as Malaysia and Singapore provide generous salaries and services to employees in this sector, as it is quite difficult to find accredited and genuinely qualified individuals.

While it is definitive that not everyone can become as successful as Tommy Miah, the fact remains that the enormous gap between supply and demand in this industry creates a lucrative opportunity for people who are qualified and passionate about this sector. While this might not exactly be the perfect pathway, but the necessity for a good job and excellent prospects makes it a career worth considering for young people.

Ishaqur Rahman is an Associate, Content & Analytics for GradInsights, the career intelligence service of GradConnect. Nakibul Hoq is the Lead Manager, Content & Analytics, GradInsights. Please visit www.grad-insights.com for more articles