A substantial growth creates a massive human resource challenge: recruiting and retaining millions of people at exactly the same time as other sectors of the economy.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in association with the WTTC India Initiative, brought together leaders in the field of human resources on 4 September 2008 to discuss employment issues facing India over the coming years.

The Travel & Tourism industry is expected to generate over 238 million jobs worldwide in 2008 (WTTC estimates), making it one of the world's key industries for employment and career growth. Today, the Travel & Tourism industry is seeking a high number of skilled, quality individuals to fill both managerial and front-line, customer-facing positions.

This is especially true in India whose Travel & Tourism sector is set for substantial growth over the coming decade. Reflecting its position as one of the world's fastest growing economies, India's Travel & Tourism industry is expected to grow at an average of 7.6% per annum for the next ten years.

With such a demand for skilled workers, the government and private sector must find innovative ways of attracting a new generation of people to the industry.

Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President of WTTC, and Mrs Radha Bhatia, Chairman of WTTC's India Initiative, presided over the gathering of public and private sector leaders in the fields of hospitality and travel, technology and research, government, education and business consulting.

Participants in the Symposium discussions included the Director General Tourism - Government of India, and representatives of Ernst and Young, Emirates Airline, Oberoi Hotels, Mandarin Oriental, Unisys, Six Senses Resorts & Spas, Jet Airways, Taj Hotels, UEI Global and the Indian School of Business.

"There needs to be a transformational change in the way that government and businesses promote employment in the Travel & Tourism industry," said Jean-Claude Baumgarten. "The campaign to market employment opportunities has to be as passionate and imaginative as the Incredible !ndia campaign has been in marketing the country on an international scale.

"The seniority and professionalism of the HR function inside organisations have to be substantially improved, and there needs to be a coherent and long-term campaign to improve the quality of education in the hospitality industry."

Without real leadership from government and businesses, Baumgarten declared that "growth in the industry would be compromised, with damaging consequences for job creation and the economic development of the country."

John Guthrie, who organised both the Shanghai and Delhi events for WTTC, also emphasised the importance of employees having sufficient levels of fluency in the English language. For administrative, supervisory and managerial roles it is just as essential as for front-line positions, he added.

With regard to growing numbers of international visitors, basic comprehension of foreign languages, or at least English, gives employees more confidence and more opportunity to progress their careers, developing important life skills and, over time, helping to ensure that managerial roles will be filled by Indian nationals rather than expatriates.

Recommendations from the Symposium were presented to a select group of business leaders, members of the Indian Government, MPs and senior civil servants at the WTTC's India Initiative Retreat in Khajuraho from 5-7 September.

Following these discussions, more detailed recommendations will be made to the Government of India later this month.