Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A training route that is growing in popularity in travel
and tourism is the government-funded Apprenticeship
training programme. Apprenticeships are work-based
programmes that offer an important route at entry level
into the travel and tourism sector. Apprenticeships are
currently available in retail travel, tourist attractions,
cabin crew, hospitality and airline operations.
you the chance to study in a familiar environment
closer to home. Entry requirements for the courses
vary enormously, so check carefully by going to the HE
institution's own website to get the most up-to-date
information. Studying for an HE qualifi cation not only
gives you knowledge and skills for a career in travel
and tourism, but also provides the opportunity for
you to grow as a person, make lasting friendships and
widen your horizons.
Weblink
Check out this website for more
information on apprenticeships in travel
and tourism.
www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Activity 6.5
Carry out a search on the UCAS website (
www.ucas.
ac.uk
) and fi nd six travel and tourism courses that
appeal to you, either because of the course name,
content or where it is offered. Gather together as
many details on the courses as possible and present
what you fi nd as a set of information sheets that
you and others on your course can use for future
reference.
Further education
Taking a further education (FE) college course in
travel and tourism is usually the fi rst step towards a
qualifi cation and possible career in the sector. You are
presently studying for a BTEC National qualifi cation.
Other travel and tourism qualifi cations taken in FE
colleges include the BTEC First, AS/A2 in Travel and
Tourism, and OCR Nationals.
This activity is designed to provide evidence for P1.
If you wish to continue developing a career in the travel
and tourism sector when you fi nish your BTEC course
you will have two choices:
Factors to consider
So far in this unit you have explored the many
different career opportunities in travel and tourism,
and investigated training and education. There are,
however, other factors to consider when deciding on a
career in the travel and tourism sector, including:
1.
Take a job in the sector and continue with on- and
off-the-job training opportunities (as described in
the previous sections of this unit);
2.
Enrol on a higher education (HE) course - this is an
important decision and you should be absolutely
sure that you want to spend another 3+ years
studying before you go down this route.
•
Seasonality - not all jobs in travel and tourism are for
12 months of the year - some may be for a specifi c
period of time or season. Examples include skiing
holiday jobs in the winter, overseas reps positions
for the summer months and jobs in tourist attractions
that only open for the peak tourist season. It is
sometimes possible to work in two or more jobs in
a 12-month period, perhaps a rep in the summer
and a chalet host in the winter season;
Higher education opportunities in
travel and tourism
There are currently more than 1200 HE courses in travel
and tourism listed on the UCAS website (
www.ucas.
ac.uk
), so there's plenty of choice! These are Degree,
HNDs (Higher National Diplomas), other diplomas and
Foundation Degrees in a variety of travel and tourism
subjects, such as tourism management, adventure
tourism, heritage tourism and international tourism. HE
courses are also offered by some FE colleges giving
•
Type of job - posts in travel and tourism may be
permanent, full-time, temporary, voluntary or short-
term contract, depending on the nature of the
organisation;
