From the Principal's desk:

February 2008

Columbus Training Centre has now completed 10 years of its work This period witnessed numerous changes in the travel & tourism industry. Many more changes are in the offing. Launched in 2005, IATA’s “Simplifying the Business initiative” or StB, delivers in short and medium terms ,streamlined and cost effective solutions in five areas of the aviation industry:

e-ticketing
bar-coded boarding passes (BCBP)
e-freights
common use self-service kiosks CUSS)
radio frequency identification tags (RFID)

Our students have to be prepared for these StB initiatives. The journey of knowledge never ends. Progressive liberalisation provided our country with an excellent opportunity to move fast into social and economic development. Human resource and infrastructure development, however, could not keep pace with the fast moving economy. The gap has been very wide also in the travel industry.

The arrival of low cost carriers has made travel affordable to many more. The increase in number of passengers has made it possible for the full service carriers to introduce different levels of fares , reaching out to new segments of travellers. According to a survey conducted by the Airports Council International (ACI), the Indian civil aviation industry has doubled in the past four years and by 2010 it will double again.

Travellers now have more options. They can also make their bookings online and get their electronic tickets printed in the comfort of their home or office! But most of them prefer to take the information online and get the work done by a travel agency, a tour operator or an airline office, where they feel the human touch. Personal service, as distinct from material service, gives us the opportunity to excel.

It is our mission to groom and guide the young generation , to impart the necessary knowledge and skill to them, to inculcate in them the attitude to serve and to make them competent to be empowered in this fast changing environment. With empowerment comes responsibility. Having the skill and confidence needed to meet the needs of the customers, they can then solve their problems , give them a feeling of homeliness and simply delight them.