Travel and Tourism

Staff: Mr Vance, Mr Cunningham, Mr Talbot 

Why Study Travel and Tourism?

Travel and Tourism offers students the opportunity to study a globally significant industry while developing practical, academic and professional skills. Whether beginning with the Level 2 qualification or progressing through our Level 3 pathway, students gain the knowledge, experience and confidence required to succeed in higher education and a wide range of exciting careers.

Travel and Tourism equips students with the skills to understand the world, engage with diverse cultures and prepare for employment in one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving global industries.

Course Overview

Studying Travel and Tourism provides students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of one of the world's largest and most dynamic industries. Through a combination of classroom learning, independent research and practical activities, students gain valuable knowledge of tourism destinations, customer service, event management, visitor attractions and the global travel industry.

Our Travel and Tourism pathway offers progression from BTEC Level 2 through to BTEC Level 3 National qualifications, enabling students to build their knowledge, confidence and employability skills while preparing for higher education, apprenticeships or employment within the sector.

BTEC Level 2 First Award in Travel and Tourism

The BTEC Level 2 First Award in Travel and Tourism provides an excellent introduction to the travel and tourism industry and is ideally suited to students who wish to develop practical, vocational and customer service skills while gaining an understanding of one of the world's largest employment sectors.

Throughout the course, students explore the UK travel and tourism industry, investigating the role of major organisations and the factors that influence travel and tourism activities. They develop an understanding of popular UK and international destinations, visitor attractions and the importance of providing high-quality customer experiences. Students also examine how travel and tourism businesses operate and respond to changing customer needs and industry trends.

The qualification encourages students to apply their learning in realistic vocational contexts, developing confidence in communication, teamwork, research and presentation skills. Through a combination of coursework and external assessment, students gain both the knowledge and practical skills required for progression to further study.

The BTEC Level 2 First Award provides an excellent foundation for students wishing to progress to the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate or BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Travel and Tourism, as well as other Level 3 vocational and academic qualifications.

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Travel and Tourism

Equivalent to one A Level, the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate is designed for students who wish to develop specialist knowledge and skills relevant to the travel and tourism industry while maintaining a broader Level 3 study programme.

Students explore the structure and operation of the travel and tourism industry, examining the role of tourism organisations and the impact of domestic and international tourism. They investigate global destinations, consider factors affecting travel patterns and analyse current industry developments.

The course also enables students to develop practical skills through the study of business events and visitor attractions, giving them valuable insight into how organisations plan, deliver and evaluate tourism experiences.

Throughout the qualification, students enhance their research, analytical, communication and problem-solving skills while developing a strong understanding of customer service and business operations.

Assessment is through a combination of external examinations, controlled assessments and internally assessed coursework.

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Travel and Tourism

The BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Travel and Tourism is a larger qualification equivalent to two A Levels and is ideal for students considering progression to university or a career within the travel, tourism, aviation, hospitality or events sectors.

Building upon the knowledge gained through the Extended Certificate, students undertake a broader and more in-depth programme of study. They develop a detailed understanding of key industry sectors, global tourism trends, destination management, visitor attractions, sustainable tourism, marketing, customer service and business operations.

The qualification places a strong emphasis on applying learning to realistic vocational situations. Students undertake substantial project work, industry investigations and practical assignments that reflect real-world practices and challenges within the sector.

The extended nature of the programme allows students to develop higher-level research, analytical and professional skills, preparing them effectively for progression to higher education and employment.

Skills Developed

Across all Travel and Tourism qualifications, students develop a wide range of transferable skills highly valued by universities and employers. These include communication and interpersonal skills, customer service, teamworking, leadership, problem-solving, project management, event planning, research and analytical skills, presentation techniques and independent learning skills.

Students also develop commercial awareness and gain an understanding of how organisations operate within a competitive global marketplace.

Enrichment and Industry Engagement

Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of enrichment activities designed to enhance their learning and understanding of the industry. These may include educational visits, tourism destination studies, industry guest speakers, employer engagement activities, visits to visitor attractions and careers-focused events.

Such opportunities help students connect classroom learning with real-world industry practice while gaining valuable insight into future educational and career pathways.

Progression Opportunities

Travel and Tourism qualifications provide an excellent pathway into higher education, apprenticeships and industry employment. Many students progress to university courses in Tourism Management, International Tourism, Hospitality Management, Aviation Management, Event Management, Business Management and Marketing.

The qualifications also support progression into careers such as travel consultancy, airline operations, cabin crew, tourism development, hospitality management, event planning, visitor attraction management, destination marketing and customer experience management.