Tourism & Travel Management

·Major Topics Covered in this Diploma Program include:

Module 1 - The Tourism & Travel Industry and its Products

·Tourism defined, the wide range of motivations for travel, why a knowledge of people’s travel motivations is essential

·Travellers and types of visitors, elements of a trip, types of tour organisation, the tourism & travel industry and its activities

·Tourism products for holidays/vacations, excursions, business travel, their intangibility, the service element and features

·Tourist destinations and attractions, promotion of destinations, amenities expected, the importance of accessibility

MODULE 2 - The Importance of Tourism

·The economic importance and consequences, imports/exports and balance of trade, the spread of income from tourism

·Investment for tourism development, financial costs, importance of forecasting and planning of tourism

·Social results of tourism, employment opportunities, effects on local culture and values, negatives including noise, overcrowding, pollution, exploitation

·Reasons for developing tourism, foreign investment, employment, training, income from taxes and customs duties, business earnings and profits, the tourist income multiplier

MODULE 3 - Measurement of Tourism and Tourism Statistics

·Factors which influence the demand for tourism, cultural, social, financial and technological changes

·Measuring tourism, data needed by tourism planners, SWOT analysis, tourist behavioural patterns

·Statistics, quantitative and qualitative data, expenditure and arrivals statistics, what tourists spend money on

·Statistical indications about the economy, previous years, trends, data to plan advertising and promotional marketing

MODULE 4 - Considerations in Developing Tourism

·Tourists’ wants/needs, destinations and transit routes, the ‘visitor experience’, demand for types of accommodation, tourist area life cycle

·Sustainable tourism development, site capacity, infrastructure, accommodation units, food outlets, entertainment, transport facilities, utilities, improvements needed

·The people working in tourism, training, the government’s role, pollution, positive and negative environmental effects

·Accessibility, customs and entry, immigration formalities, public and private tourism organizations

MODULE 5 - The Tourism and Travel Market & Inclusive (IT) or Package Tour

·Leisure and activities holiday/vacation markets, destinations and activities dependent on interests, types of tours, effects of budget airlines

·Touring/cruising, cultural and sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, educational vacation markets, exotic and unusual holidays

·The business travel market, timing of business trips, levels of price sensitivity, services required by business travellers, conferences and special event markets

·Types and features of ITs: travel, accommodation, transfers, meals, tour reps, optional and special services, visas, travel insurance, foreign exchange

MODULE 6 - Structure & Organisation of the Tourism Industry

·Organizations in the industry, carriers, amenity and attraction providers, needs/demands and services they provide, their interdependence

·Wholesalers & retailers in tourism, travel agents, reservations websites, trade bodies, mass market, specialist, domestic and incoming tour operators

·Economics of tour operating and costs incurred, factors in setting prices of packages, effects of competition

·Other tour operator income, deposits, excursions, rental vehicles, supplements, surcharges, skills needed for successful tour operation

MODULE 7 - Transport

·Reliance of tourism on transport and routes, carriers and effects of competition, travel insurance policies and cover needed

·Air transport, national airlines, scheduled traditional and low fare/budget airlines, charter air services, air transport regulation, cabotage routes, IATA

·Rail transport and rail links, road transport, coach travel features and types, car/motoring tourism types and features

·Sea transport, cruising, ferry services, inland waterways, excursions and tours on lakes, rivers and canals

MODULE 8 - The Hospitality Industry: Accommodation and Catering

·The sectors of the industry: accommodation, food and beverages, clubs and gaming, arts, entertainment and recreation, transport, visitor information

·Commercial and non-commercial accommodation, serviced and self-catering, hotel/motel chains, franchises

·Location of accommodation, classification and grading, forecasting demand, seasonality, setting tariffs, what tour operators consider when selecting accommodation units

·The catering sector, its importance, priorities of catering operations, guests’ dietary and other requirements, variety of catering establishments

MODULE 9 - State Promotion of Tourism

·Economic, social and environmental factors affecting State involvement in tourism, security of tourists, training and manpower, improving transport links, visas

·Developing infrastructure and superstructure, planning for tourism, advantages and disadvantages of private developers

·Finance for tourism development, capital projects, internal and external sources of finance

·Areas of State supervision and control, why and how to restrain tourism growth, roles and activities of national and regional and local tourist organizations

MODULE 10 - The Marketing of Tourism and Travel

·Marketing by the public and private sector, how their aims differ, communications devices making up the ‘promotional mix’, statistics, visits by tour operators/travel agents, tourist information offices

·Forecasting and market research, consumer research, their purposes, questions needing answers, uncovering market opportunities

·Sales planning, advertising and publicity, why undertaken and when carried out, media which might be used, travel supplements and guides, building customer loyalty, passenger/guest clubs

·Sales promotion campaigns, special offers, merchandising and point of sale advertising, public relations (PR) in travel and tourism, crisis management

MODULE 11 - Tour Brochures and Websites

·Uses, types and sizes of tour brochures publications, categorising tours, general and specialist brochures

·Factors influencing cost, quality of production, design, layout of contents, booking forms, range of information, the essential information needed

·The Internet and the marketing of tourism and travel products, the importance and advantages of tourism, travel and hospitality websites

·Design and construction of tourism websites, online travel agencies (OTAs), comparison websites, online bookings/reservations and payment, customer and guest reviews

MODULE 12 - Social Media and Viral Marketing

·Community building and social media, effects on the marketing of travel and tourism, viral marketing management

·Tourism & travel promotional campaigns - a detailed example of the planning and implementation of a campaign

·Campaign planning, business & consumer & competition review, SWOT analysis, campaign strategy, setting objectives, audience targeting

·Marketing communication activities, campaign theme, advertising media, literature, visitor information, the website elements and content, inter-business relations, consumer promotions and trade activities, public relations and media relations