WHY STUDY TRAVEL AND TOURISM?
Travel and Tourism is one of the world's largest and exciting sectors, employing over 231 million people in a variety of roles. Job opportunities exist in many different areas of tourism including travel agents, tour operators, airlines as well as tourist boards, visitor attractions and strategic authorities dealing with travel to the UK.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
To start any BTEC Level 3 course you need to meet the general college entry requirements. In addition you must have at least grade D in GCSE in English.
THE COURSE
This two year course is designed to prepare you for employment in the travel and tourism industry or for entry to an appropriate university course. You will learn by completing projects and assignments that are based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands. As well as learning about this employment area, you will develop important skills for a career in travel and tourism.
This course is equivalent to 2 A levels and so can be taken with other Advanced level courses.
COURSE ACTIVITIES
Whilst on this course you will experience a wide range of activities and assessments which will include for example, case studies, discussons, presentations and role plays. Assignments and coursework as well as more practical assessments form a large part of this course. You will work independently and in groups and will need to conduct significant independent research, often through organised visits to a range of organisations. For example:
• Woburn Safari Park, Ashridge Park, Dunstable Downs, London (London Eye, river cruise), Luton Airport and Tourist Information Centre.
We carried out a mystery shopper investigation, looking at their customer services and trying to suggest improvements. We also looked at the business operation of the destinations and what attracts visitors.
• Thorpe Park
We investigated their customer service, business operation, marketing etc..
• Destinations Show
We visited this exhibition to collect information about different destinations.
• Overseas Residential – New York/Disneyland Paris
Students delivered welcome meetings and guided tours for the holiday representative unit.
CAREER AND PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES
This two year course is designed to prepare you for employment in the travel and tourism industry or for entry to an appropriate university course. As well as learning about this employment area, you will develop important skills for a career in travel and tourism. Some examples of travel and tourism related degrees and Foundation degrees are:. Tourism Management, Tourism with Business or Aviation Management.
The BTEC L3 Diploma syllabus is divided into 12 units.
| Unit title and content |
Unit 1 Investigating Travel & Tourism
This unit investigates the development of the industry, its structure and the organisations within it, their roles and responsibilities and the products and services they provide. |
Unit 2 The Business of Travel and Tourism
This unit examines the different types of organisations in the industry. It also includes the financial characteristics and how organisations gain a competitive advantage. |
Unit 3 The UK as a destination
This will investigate the different types of tourist destinations within the UK and the specific appeal they have to different types of visitor. |
Unit 4 Customer Service in Travel and Tourism
Students will investigate the issues and implications of delivering quality customer service and develop effective customer service skills through practical activities. |
Unit 5 Marketing Travel & Tourism Products
This unit will investigate the various principles of marketing that are employed within the industry and provide the opportunity to practically implement these within a given scenario. |
Unit 7 European Destination
This will investigate the various European destinations that have particular appeal to the UK market. |
SPECIALIST UNITS
You will study a further 6 units:
Holiday Representatives
Preparing for Employment
Retail Travel Operations
Tour Operations
Responsible Tourism
Long Haul Destinations |
Examination Board: Edexcel