BTEC First Diploma in Travel and Tourism (Level 2)

Exam Board: Edexcel
Qualification: A BTEC First Diploma is equivalent to 4 GCSEs at grade A*- C
Length of Study: 2 Years

What will I learn in Travel and Tourism?

You will:
- Gain a broad understanding of travel and tourism and study selected areas in more depth
- Develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the travel and tourism
- Have an opportunity to apply learning in a practical and realistic way
- Follow a programme of study that enables progression to further education and employment in travel and tourism
- Develop key skills that are highly valued by employers
- Gain confidence by developing independent learning skills

How will I know if I will be good at it?

This course will appeal to students who:
- Have a keen interest in travel and tourism
- Enjoy studying a subject that is relevant to their own lives and experience
- Want the opportunity to carry out practical work outside the classroom as well as class work
- Enjoy discovering about themselves in practical situations
- Want to find out more about the subject through personal investigation
- Are interested in developing an understanding of organisations, the markets they serve and how to deal with customers effectively
- Want to study a course that is active and enjoyable
- Want to move onto a related career or further education course

How will I be assessed?

All Units are assessed and graded and an overall grade for the qualification awarded. Each unit is assessed through a portfolio of evidence. Work is completed in and out of class and marked and graded by the school before being moderated by the exam board.

Assessments for each unit will take the form of one of the following:

- Performance tasks
- Practical activities
- Structured tests
- Case studies
- Research activities and assignments
- Set assignments

What does studying a BTEC First Diploma in Travel and Tourism involve?

The BTEC First Diploma in Travel and Tourism is made up of 6 units (3 compulsory and 3 optional). The units to be studied are:
Compulsory Units:

Unit 1: The UK Travel and Tourism Industry

Unit 2: Exploring Customer Service in Travel and Tourism

Unit 3: UK Travel and Tourism Destinations
Optional Units:

Unit 4: European Holiday Destinations
Unit 5: Exploring Marketing in Travel and Tourism
Unit 8: Planning Visits for Travel and Tourism

What courses or employment can I progress to at the end of my course?

A BTEC First Diploma is equivalent to 4 GCSEs at grades A* - C.

Students gaining a BTEC First Diploma in Travel and Tourism will have access to a range of career and further education opportunities. You will learn and use a variety of skills throughout the course, including collecting, analysing and interpreting data, communicating your findings in different ways and identifying and developing links between different parts of the subject. These skills are in great demand and highly valued by employers and colleges throughout the Travel and Tourism Industry.

Recommended prior learning / attainment / experience

You will need to have one or more of the following:
- A BTEC Foundation Certificate in a related subject
- A standard of literacy and numeracy supported by a general education equivalent to GCSE at Grades D – G
- Related work experience
- Other related level 1 or 2 qualifications

BTEC National Certificate in Travel and Tourism (Level 3)

Exam board: Edexcel
Qualifications: A BTEC National certificate is equivalent to two GCE (A-levels)
Length of Study: 2 Years

What will I learn in Travel and Tourism?

The BTEC National Certificate is a course designed to give students an up to date and practical insight into working within the Travel and Tourism industry, which is one of the largest industries in the UK.

You will:
- Develop and sustain an interest in travel and tourism and the issues affecting the development of the industry and its potential effect on employment opportunities
- Develop an understanding of the scale and importance of the travel and tourism industry and the interdependence of its sectors
- Appreciate the importance of the customer to the travel and tourism industry.
- Appreciate the importance of host destinations and communities to the travel and tourism industry and the importance of sustainable development
- Appreciate the positive and negative impacts travel and tourism may have on people, environment and economy
- Develop practical and technical skills relevant to the travel and tourism industry
- Appreciate the global and dynamic nature of the travel and tourism industry, how people, environments and issues change, and how the industry responds to these changes
- Appreciate the impact of information communication technology (ICT) on the development of the travel and tourism industry and the potential effect on future activities
- Develop their own values and attitudes in relation to the travel and tourism industry

How will I know if I will be good at it?

This course will appeal to students who:
- Have a keen interest in the travel and tourism industry
- Enjoy studying a subject that is relevant to their own lives and experience
- Want the opportunity to carry out practical work outside the classroom as well as class work
- Enjoy discovering about themselves in practical situations

- Want to find out more about the subject through personal investigation
- Want to study a course that is active and enjoyable
- Want to move onto a related career or further education course

How will I be assessed?

All Units are assessed and graded and an overall grade for the qualification awarded. Each unit is assessed through a portfolio of evidence. The work completed in and out of class and marked and graded by the school before being moderated by the exam board.
What does studying a BTEC National Certificate in Travel and Tourism involve?

The BTEC National Certificate in Travel and Tourism consists of four core units plus eight specialist units. The units to be studied over the two years are:

Core Units:
- Investigating Travel and Tourism
- The Business of Travel and Tourism
- The UK as a Destination
- Customer Service in Travel and Tourism
Optional Units:
- Marketing Travel and tourism products and services
- Preparing for Employment in the Travel and Tourism Industry
- The European Travel Market
- Roles and Responsibilities of holiday representatives
- Events, conferences and Exhibitions
- The Appeal and Importance of UK Visitor Attractions
- Work Experience in the Travel and Tourism Industry
- Residential Study visit

What courses or employment can I progress to at the end of my course?
Higher Education:
The advanced award provides a sound basis for progression to a range of HE courses, e.g. HNC in Travel; HND in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Management; Foundation degree in Management and Tourism; BA in Management Tourism.

Employment:
This qualification aims to maintain and support the recognised standards demanded for travel and tourism education and training in order to meet the requirements of various sectors. With a GCE in travel and tourism, a student would be a suitable recruit for a role in a whole range of fields including travel agents, conference planning and resort representatives.

Recommended prior learning / attainment / experience
Student who would benefit most from the BTEC National Certificate Travel and Tourism course are likely to have one or more of the following:
- Four GCSEs at grade A*-C

- Other level 2 qualifications such as GCSE (Double Award) in Leisure and Tourism at grade AA-CC or an Intermediate GNVQ in Leisure and Tourism or BTEC First Diploma Travel and Tourism

Students should also have an interest in exploring the breadth of an extremely varied and rapidly growing industry. Work experience in travel and tourism or service industry is also extremely valuable.