Travel, Tourism & Aviation Edexcel BTEC NQF Level 2 Extended Certificate

Is this course right for me?

Do you have a passion for travel? Are you interested in learning about the world's fastest growing industry? Are you a 'people' person? Do you want to join one of the 3.3 million people employed in the travel and tourism industry in the UK alone?

Travel and tourism is one of the world's largest industries and offers a huge variety of career opportunities. If you have a lively and enquiring mind, and want to combine your love of people and places with your passion for organisation and customer service this course will help your career take off!

This course will give you an excellent introduction to the travel and tourism industry and help you learn the essential skills you need to progress on to a higher-level programme.

While completing this programme you will grow in confidence as you acquire a range of skills that are recognised and highly valued by employers, such as planning trips to European and worldwide travel destinations, exploring marketing, cruise destinations, travel agency operations and customer services.

If you're interested in working in the aviation sector, you'll study a number of industry-specific modules which will give you an understanding of the range of functions and facilities in different airports and airlines, as well as increase your awareness of the wide range of employment opportunities in this area of the industry. 

You'll gain essential practical skills which will be enhanced by a range of visits to key travel and tourism organisations, learn from key industry representatives who will share their expertise and knowledge with you and, what's more, you'll have the chance to put your learning into practice on a work experience placement.

Entry Requirements

To access this course you are required to have:-

• Four or more GCSEs at Grade D / 3 or above including English and maths OR

• Successfully completed a full Level 1 study programme

What will I learn?

Dusring the course you will study the following modules:

• The UK travel and tourism sector- the main types of tourism in the UK, the contribution that travel and tourism makes to the UK economy, and the different component industries that make up the UK travel and tourism sector.

• UK travel and tourism destinations - exploring, identifying and planning routes to different types of UK destinations

• International travel and tourism destinations- exploring the range of destinations and the reasons for their appeal to different visitors

• Travel and tourism business environments - the range, structure and functions of businesses in the travel and tourism sector

• Development of travel and tourism in the UK - insight into why travel and tourism is such a dynamic sector and how it has  developed in-line with changing lifestyles, interests and technology

• Factors affecting worldwide travel and tourism - factors tha influence tourism and why events such as natural disasters can have a significant impact on the sector

• Marketing within travel and tourism - introduction to the concepts of marketing and how these are used within the travel and tourism industry

• Airports and airlines -  different types of UK airports and airlines - including geographical locations, international airport codes - and the facilities offered on low-cost, charter and scheduled flights

• Work experience in the travel and tourism industry - an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of working in the industry and put the skills and knowledge you have learnt into practice in the workplace 

What skills will I gain?

By studying this course you will:

• Gain an understanding of the travel and tourism industry as a whole

• Understand the roles of many different job opportunities within the industry.

• Develop knowledge on the functional aspects of UK and international airports

• Gain an understanding of the sectors of the industry and learn how the component industries work together

• Develop an appreciation for the importance of excellent customer service in the sector

• Develop your confidence and improve your skills in dealing with a range of customer types

• Understand the factors that affect tourism around the world

• Gain valuable team working and communication skills by taking part in planning trips and holidays for customers

• Gain the opportunity to study in more depth a range of areas such as different holiday and cruise destinations, airports and airline operations, marketing travel and tourism products and services and travel agency operation

How will I be assessed?

A variety of assessment methods are used including individual and group presentations, case studies, assignments, reports and marketing and event presentation materials, along with two exams, the first in January and the second in May/June