(Syllabus) Himachal Pradesh PSC: State Eligibility Test (Tourism Administration & Management)

Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission

SET: Tourism Administration & Management (Code-26)

Paper-II and Paper-III (Part-A & B)

Unit-I

• Tourist/Visitor/Traveller/Excursionist-definition and differentiation. Tourism recreation and leisure inter-relationship(s). Tourism components, Elements and infrastructure. Types and typologies of Tourism.
• Emerging concepts : Eco/rural/agri./farm/green/wilderness/country side/special interest tourism.
• Tourism Trends : Growth and development over the years and factors
• Responsible therein. Changing market –destination patterns, Traffic flows/receipt trends. Travel motivator and deterrents. Pull and Push forces in tourism.

Linkages and channels of distribution in tourism

• Tourism organization/Institutions : Origin, Organisation and functions of WTO,
• PATA, IATA, ICAO, FHRAI, TAAI, IATO and UFTAA.

Unit-II

Concept of resource, Attraction and product in tourism. Tourism products :

• typology and unique features.
• Natural Tourism resources in India : Existing use patterns vis-à-vis potential with relation to varied landforms (mountains, deserts, beaches, coastal areas and lslands), Water bodies and biotic wealth (flora-fauna).
• Popular tourist destination for land based (soft/hard trekking, ice skiing, mountaineering, desert safaris, car rallies, etc.), water based (rafting, kayaking, canoeing, surfing, water skiing, scuba/snuba diving) and air based (para-sailing, para-gliding, ballooning, hand-gliding and microlighting, etc.), tourist activities.Wildlife-Tourism and conservation related issues---
• Occurrence and distribution of popular wildlife species in India. Tourism in National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves (case of Dachigham Corbett/ Dudhwa/Kaziranga/Kanha/Gir/Ranthambor / Mudumalai/ Sunderbans/Shivpuri/ Manas / Nanda Devi/ Valley of flowers reserves).
• Tourism and nature conservation-Conflicts, Symbiosis and Synergy.
• Cultural Tourism Resources in India: Indian Culture and society. Indian History-Ancient, Medieval and Modern.
• Traditions, Customs and constumes; Life style and settlement patterns. Food habits and cuisine. Music, Musical instruments and Dance forms; Drawing and painting; Craftsmanship.
• Religion/religious observances and important pilgrim destinations.
• Architectural Heritage-Forts/palaces/other architectural marvels-Location and unique features.

Unit-III

• Accommodation: Concept, Types and Typologies, Linkages and Significance with relation to tourism.
• Emerging dimensions of accommodation industry-Heritage hotels, Motels and resort properties. Time share establishments.
• Hotel and hoteliering: Origin, Growth and diversification. Classification, registration and gradation of hotels. Organisational structure, Functions and responsibilities of the various departments of a standard hotel/other catering outlets, viz., bars, restaurants, fast food centres. In flight catering.
• Leading multinational hotel chains operating in India. Public sector in hoteliering business-Role, Contribution and Performance.
• HRD perspective with special reference to India-Requirements, Training facilities, Constraints and Scope.
• Fiscal and non-fiscal incentive available to hotel industry in India. Ethical,
• Legal and regulatory aspects.

Unit-IV

• Transportation: Dynamically Changing needs and means.
• Landmarks in the development of transport sector and the consequent socioeconomic, Cultural and environmental implications. Tourism transport system.
• Airlines Transportation: The Airlines Industry-Origin and Growth.
• Organisation of Air Transport Industry in International context. Scheduled and nonscheduled Airlines services; Air taxis. Multinational air Transport Regulations- Nature, Significance and Limitations. Role of IATA, ICAO and other agencies.Bermuda Convention.
• Air Transport Industry in India—DGCA and other key players; Regulatory Framework; Air Corporation Act, Indian carriers----Operations, management and performance. Marketing strategies of Air India.
• Significance of Road Transport in Tourism: Growth and Development of road transport system in India; State of existing infrastructure; Public and Private Sector involvement; Role of Regional Transport Authority. Approved Travel Agencies, Tour/Transport Operators, Car hire/Rental companies.
• State and inter-state bus and coach network, Insurance provision road taxes and fitness certificate.
• Rail Transport Network-Major Railway Systems of World-British Rail, Euro Rail and Amtrak.
• Types of special package offered by Indian Railways to tourists--Indrail pass, Palace on wheels and Royal Orient.
• Reservation procedures. GSAs abroad.
• Water Transport System in India—Historical past, Cruise ships, Ferries,
• Hovercraft, River and canal boats, Fly cruise. Future prospects.

Unit-V

• Travel Agency and Tour Operations Business : Origin, Growth and development;
• Definition, Differentiation and functions—Travel information counseling, Itinerary Preparation, Reservation, Tour costing/pricing. Marketing of tour packages. Income sources.
• Airlines Ticketing: Operational perspectives of ticketing—ABC codes, Flight schedules, Flying time and MPM/TPM calculation, TIM (Travel Information Mannual) consultation. Routine and itinerary preparation, Types of fare, Fare calculation and rounding-up. Currency conversion and payment modes, Issuance of ticket.
• Cargo Handling: Baggage allowance, Free access baggage, Weight and piece concept, Accountability of lost baggage, Dangerous goods; Cargo rates and valuation charges, Automation and airport procedures.
• Requirements for setting-up travel agency and tour operations business,
• Approval from organization and institutions concerned. Incentives available in Indian context. Constraints and limitations.

Unit-VI

• Marketing: Core concepts in marketing; Needs, Wants, Demands, Products, markets. Marketing management philosophies----Production, Product. Selling,
• Marketing and societal perspectives. Economic importance of marketing.
• Tourism marketing: Service characteristics of tourism. Unique features of tourist demand and tourism product, Tourism marketing mix.
• Analysis and selection of market : Measuring and forecasting tourism demand ;
• Forecasting methods, Managing capacity and demand. Market segmentation and positioning.
• Developing marketing environment, Consumer buying behaviour. Competitive differentiation and competitive marketing strategies, New product development,
• product life cycle, Customer satisfaction and related strategies in internal and external marketing; Interactive and relationship marketing.
• Planning marketing programmes: Product and product strategies; Product line, Product mix, Branding and packaging. Pricing; considerations, Approaches and strategies. Distribution channels and strategies.
• Marketing of Tourism Services : Marketing of Airlines, Hotel, Resort, Travel
• Agencies and other tourism related services—Challenges and strategies.
• Marketing Skills for Tourism : Creativity—Communication –Self-motivation—
• Team Building—Personality Development.

Unit-VII

• Tourism Planning: Origin, Concept and approaches. Levels and types of tourism planning—Sectoral, Spatial, Integrated, Complex, Centralized and Decentralized. Product life cycle theories and their applicability in tourism planning, Urban and rural tourism planning.
• Tourism planning and policy perspectives; planning at national, state and regional levels. India’s tourism policies.
• Tourism planning process: Objective setting, Background analysis, Detailed research and analysis, Synthesis, Goal setting and Plan formulation,
• Evaluation of tourism project—Project feasibility study; Plan implementation,
• Development and monitoring. Tourism master plan.
• Tourism impacts and need for sustainable tourism planning : Socio-cultural,
• Economic and physical, Tourism carrying capacity and environmental impact analysis (EIA).
• Business ethics and laws—their relevance and applicability in Travel and Tourism industry.
• Law and legislation relating to tourist entry, Stay, Departure, Passport, Visa and Health.
• Tourist safety and security, Preservation and conservation of heritage environment, Archaeological sites and wildlife.

Unit-VIII

• The nature of field techniques; Field techniques and tourism and hotel business; Importance; and Limitations.
• Research: Meaning; Types; Trends; and challenges with special reference to tourism and hotel business. Guiding principles in selection of research problem.
• Research Methodology: Meaning; Procedural Guidelines; and Research design.
• Field Procedure for Data Collection and Analysis Techniques : Nature, Sources of data, Techniques of date collection.
• Frequency Distribution: Meanings; Problems and considerations in construction numerical frequency distributions.
• Measures of Central tendency and variation.
• Correlation and regressions analysis.

Probability and Probability Distributions:

• Probability : Meaning; Definition; and sample points and sample space,
• Events; Conditional probability; Bayes theorem and probability on large sample space.
• Probability Distributions: The binomial model; The poisson model; and Normal distribution.

Sampling and Statistical Testing :

• Sampling and Sample Designs: Sampling and reasons for sampling; Theoretical basis of sampling; Basic concepts of sampling and types of sampling (Random and Non-random sampling). Central Limit theorem.
• Statistical Testing: Formulation and general procedure of testing of hypothesis, One-tail test and Two-tail test.

Parametric and Non-Parametric Testing :

• Testing the Hypothesis : Comparison of two population means; Comparison of two population proportions; and Comparison of two population means and standard deviations. F-test, Student’s distribution and Chi-square test.

Unit-IX

• Management: Concept, Nature, Process and functions, Management levels, Management skills and roles. The external environment, Social responsibilities and ethics.
• Planning: Nature, Purpose, Types and process. Management by objectives strategies and policies. Decision-making, Process, Tools and techniques.
• Decision-making models.
• Organising: Concept of organising and organization. Line and staff, Authority and responsibility, span of control, Delegation, Decentralization. Conflict and coordination, Organisational structure and design, Management of change.
• Innovation and organization development.
• Directing: Communication—Process, Types, Barriers and principles of effective communication. Motivation—Theories and practices, Leadership—Concept, theories and styles.
• Controlling: Process, Methods and techniques. Managing international business.
• Information Systems: Automation of Manual System, Data Processing stages. Evolution from EDP to MIS.
• MIS: Introduction, Definition, Status, Framework of understanding and designing MIS.
• Computer Networking: Application of CRS (Computerized Reservation Systems) in travel trade and hospitality sector.

Unit-X

Financial Management and Planning :

• Finance : Meaning; Goals; Functions; Importance; and typologies of
• Finance—Role of financial management, Organisation goals;
• Environment; Forecasting and financial planning, Break-even analysis.

Management of Current Assets :

• Working Capital Management: Meaning and characteristics of working capital; Financing current assets. Cash management, Receivables management and inventory management.
• Management of Fixed Assets: Importance of Capital Budgeting. Analytical Techniques—Non-discounted, Discounted Techniques.

Financial Structures and Management of Earnings:

• Meaning, Difference between financial and capital structures. Determinants of Financial Structure.
  Financial leverage and effects of Financial Leverage on Net Income and Shareholders’ wealth. Financial leverage and financial planning. Break-even analysis for financial leverage. Dividend Policy, Significance of dividend policy and different types of dividend policies.
• TFCI : Tourism Finance Corporation of India (TFCI)---Aims, Objectives,
• Organisation and Functions.
• Accounting: Preparation of Business Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash flow statement and Fund flow statement. Hotel Accounting.

Go TO HPSC Examination Syllabus Page