Tourism Management Short Course

Here are some of the careers in the tourism industry:

• Chef – supports the Executive Chef in a restaurant kitchen. A chef helps in planning and cooking meals 
• Tour Guide – They accompany tourists on guided visits to parks and historical sites
• Valet – A valet is responsible for parking vehicles at places like hotels and restaurants
• Housekeeper – Responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of a hotel 
• Flight Attendant – provides customer service for passengers on a plane
• Concierge – Helps with transportation, activities and services for hotel guests
• Spa Manager – Oversee the operations of a spa facility
• Event Manager – Help plan and organise and functions for their clients
• Sommelier – Is an expert in all aspects of wine  
• Travel Agent – Help clients arrange travel services
• Resort Manager – Oversees the operations of resort facilities 
• Executive Chef – Oversees a team of chefs and cooks in a restaurant

The community within which tourism activities are taking place usually benefit from tourism. Here is how the community benefits:

• Employment opportunities
• Raised standards of living
• Culture preservation
• Improved infrastructure

Employment Opportunities

The local communities will benefit from downstream jobs that can be created through tourism. Local communities can benefit from the following tourism downstream industries:

• Supply of goods and services
• Local art
• Retailing
• Transport service, for example, taxis

Raised Standards Of Living

Because of the revenue coming in from tourism, there can be a rise in the standard of living for the local communities. The downstream jobs that local communities can be engaged in, will find their way to the household level. This means that families can improve their standard of living.

Culture Preservation

Tourism can allow local communities to preserve their history and cultural heritage. This helps communities in maintaining their traditions and culture.

Improved Infrastructure

The additional revenue that comes into the communities also helps the Government. This is usually in the form of an increased tax base due to the booming tourism economy. The increased revenue to the Government can be used to improve roads, parks and public spaces.

Here are the types of Tourism:

• Adventure Tourism – This includes, mountaineering, trekking, gliding, bungee jumping, white water rafting
• Medical Tourism – This is tourism for medical purposes
• Golf Tourism – This is travel specifically for golf
• Eco-Tourism – This is travel to fragile, pristine and protected natural areas
• Sustainable Tourism – This system encourages tourism establishments to practice tourism that preserves the environment
• Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) – This is part of tourism. Delegates will travel specifically for, meetings. Conferences and exhibitions.

Here are the three types of tourists:

1. Domestic – one is a domestic tourist when they travel within their country 
2. Inbound – An inbound tourist is one who travels from their home country to another country. They will be classified by their chosen destination as inbound tourists 
3. Outbound – An outbound tourist is a tourist that leave their country to travel to another country.  To their home country, they are an outbound tourist

A tourism product is a group of components and elements which are combined to satisfy the potential tourist. The product in the tourism industry is the complete experience of the tourist from the point of origin to the destination point and back to the origin point.

There are five types of tour packages. The following are the five types of tour packages;

1. Independent Tours – These are for tourists who travel independently
2. Escorted Tours – This is a tour where you have a trained Tour Manager accompanying tourists 
3. Hosted Tours – The travel agency utilises the services of another travel agent to cater for tourists
4. Incentive Tours – Usually given to employees as a reward by an employer
5. Freedom Tours – The tourist chooses how they want to travel

There are no subjects that are needed for the Tourism Management short course. Here are the minimum requirements:

• Be at least 16 years or older 
• Be able to read, write and understand English 
• Be able to study through distance learning

No, our Tourism courses do not have a Board. You will not write any formal examinations. You will be assessed on the basis of your assignments. You will be required to write three assignments per subject. To pass, you must obtain a minimum mark of 50%.