Certificate in Tourism

Study tourism online, to develop a career or business in the travel and tourism industry. Learn to manage tour services, facilities and package tours.

Course Code: VTR009
Fee Code: CT
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 600 hours
Qualification
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Learn, Travel, Earn - Train for Your Dream Job
Tourism is a huge employer worldwide and  in many countries it is the largest employer.  In short, this is a significant industry that employs large numbers of people. Despite this fact, many of those who work in tourism are relatively low paid.

If you aspire to a well paid and secure job in tourism you either need to think about self employment (starting your own tourism business), or developing skills that will enable you to rise to a position of responsibility in a larger organisation such as a hotel, resort or theme park.

This course provides the skills and knowledge needed to build a career, following either of these pathways.

 


Modules

Core ModulesThese modules provide foundation knowledge for the Certificate in Tourism.
 Food & Beverage Management BTR102
 Tourism 1 BTR103
 Event Management BRE209
 
Elective ModulesIn addition to the core modules, students study any 3 of the following 11 modules.
 Bookkeeping Foundations (Bookkeeping I) BBS103
 Ecotour Management BTR101
 Personnel Management VBS107
 Entrepreneurship BBS204
 Farm Tourism BTR205
 Hotel Management BTR202
 Leisure Facility Management I BRE205
 Tourism II Special Interest Tourism BTR204
 Adventure Tourism BTR302
 Ecotourism Tour Guide Course BTR301
 Garden Tourism BTR303
 

Note that each module in the Certificate in Tourism is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.


 

WORKING AS A TOUR MANAGER OR OPERATOR



Tour managers take the difficulty out of holidays. They coordinate and arrange tour, travel, and holiday packages that coordinate a range of different services, including flights, transportation, accommodation, sight seeing, food, and any other necessary services. This can make travelling more appealing for people who are either time poor, or overwhelmed by the notion of having to organise all this themselves. Tours will also offer the added bonus of being able to offer clients authentic experiences due to local knowledge that the customers may not be able to access otherwise. Tour operators are responsible for planning, creating, organizing, and marketing the tour, as well as booking clients in, operating the tour, giving advice, and  solving any problems that arise.

Opportunities
Tour operators may work for themselves, or they may work for larger companies. Job opportunities include:

  • Working for yourself
  • Working in a small, specialised company
  • Working on cruise ships
  • Working for a hotel or resort
  • Working for a major international tour operator

Depending on the company, the role can vary to include all tasks involved in delivering tour packages, or the tour operator may be required to do just one or more task that they specialise in, for example leading the tour, taking bookings, negotiating deals with service providers, etc.

There are many different sectors of the market that tours can service. For example, tours for older people, tours for young travellers on their first overseas trip, adventure or eco tourism, holidays for families, etc. One of the latest areas in tours is voluntourism, where people will spend part of their trip touring around a country, and the other part participating in some form of volunteer work.

Although people are looking to the internet to book their tours, there is still a need for tourism operators to create the tours (as well as the website content). To be a successful tourism operator, you will need to have a good online presence, and be creative, innovative, and up to date with trends.

Risks and challenges
Access to information on the internet may threaten tourism operators as they exist today, however savvy tourism operators will be able to capitalise on the opportunities the internet offers (such as exposure to a global market).

The work may be seasonal, depending on the company you work for.

You will be dealing with people in an environment that is unfamiliar to them. Your clients may be stressed and difficult to deal with at times.

You will be required to resolve issues that inevitably arrive, for example lost luggage, stolen camera, missed connections, booking errors, etc.

How to become a Tourism Manager or Operator
There is no specific qualification that you need to become a tourism operator, although some training in tourism and hospitality will greatly benefit you. It you are delivering specialist tours, such as eco tours, you will need to have an appropriate level of knowledge about the tours you are leading. Vocational training may be sufficient to develop your skills and knowledge.

Other attributes that you will need include:

  • Being an effective communicator
  • Being interested in travel
  • Being culturally sensitive
  • Having the ability to use computers and computer programs
  • A knowledge about travel destinations
  • Basic administration skills

The majority of these skills can be learnt on the job. People will often start in this industry in a low level role, then move their way up to become a tourism operator. As mentioned, many of the necessary skills can be learnt on the job, however more in depth knowledge can be learnt through tourism, hospitality, or similar training which will be greatly beneficial for your career.

Other related jobs might include

  • Hospitality Manager
  • Hotel Manager
  • Tourism Agent
  • Bed and Breakfast Manager
  • Tour Guide
  • Ecotourism Guide
  • Nature Park Manager

 

Content of Core Modules

Food & Beverage Management

This subject has 9 lessons as follows:
1.Human Nutrition - This covers all the major food groups and their importance in a nutritional diet. Also including factors in nutrition from compatibility and range of ingredients through to healthy cooking and eating methods.
2.Cooking - Includes various cooking methods for a variety of different foods, covering both palatability and digestibility through to the nutritional value in processing foods.
3.Kitchen & Food Management - Learn to maximise efficiency and service through proper management of kitchen facilities, including the handling of food storage and preparation, hygiene and ethics.
4.Planning A Menu - Covering menu planning for the needs of special groups in different situations, including children; adolescents; elderly people; expectant and nursing mothers; immigrants; vegetarians and other health related diets.
5.Alcoholic Beverages - Learn how to provide adequate variety and product knowledge in order to manage the provisions of alcoholic beverages appropriately for different situations.
6.Tea, Coffee and Non-Alcoholic Beverages - This lesson provides an understanding of non-alcoholic beverages available in the catering industry and how they should be made and served.
7.Scope & Nature Of Catering Services - Learn to understand the differences in appropriate management and catering for a variety of situations from pubs to a-la-carte.
8.Personnel Management -(waiting skills, staffing a restaurant, kitchen etc) This lesson covers the management of people in the food and restaurant industry, including training programs, job specifications, recruitment etc.
9.Management Of Catering Services - By consolidating the skills developed throughout this course you are given a comprehensive understanding of marketing through to food purchasing in order to effectively manage in the food and beverage industry.

Tourism 1

There are ten lessons in this module as follows:

  1. Travel Industry Overview/Introduction : oliday travel, Business travel, Resources, Components of travel (Accommodation, Transport, Food, Luggage/what to take, Health, Money, etc)
  2. Destinations : Local, State, Interstate, International; health before departure.
  3. Money, Insurance & Legalities : Credit cards, travellers cheques, exchange rates, International driving, quarantine laws, Islamic law, political concerns, tariffs, duty free, departure taxes etc.
  4. Transport - Airline reservations : International Air Transport Assn, Aircraft types, Flight information, transfers, time zones, passports, visas, baggage, travelling with animals, making a reservation, etc.
  5. Transport - Car Rental : Types of hire cars, reading manuals, different road rules, making reservations, cost structures, etc
  6. Transport -Other, boat (ferries, cruising), bus, rail etc
  7. Accommodation : Camping, Caravans, Tents, B & B's & Guesthouses, Hotels, Youth Hostels, Resorts, etc
  8. Package Tours
  9. Travel Agency Systems : Ethics, Tourist organisations, Client records and accounts procedures, etc.
  10. Special Project -planning a trip
Bookkeeping Foundations
 
There are 13 lessons as follows:
  1. Introduction – Nature, Scope and Function of Bookkeeping
  2. The Balance Sheet
  3. Analysing and Designing Accounting Systems
  4. Double Entry Bookkeeping
  5. Cash Receipts and Cash Payments Journal
  6. Credit Sales, Fees and Purchases Journals
  7. The General Journal
  8. The Closing of the General Ledger
  9. Profit and Loss Statements
  10. Depreciation of Non-current Assets
  11. Profit Determination and Balance Day Adjustments
  12. Cash Control: Bank Reconciliations and Petty Cash
  13. Cash Control: Budgeting
Event Management

There are nine lessons in this module as follows:

  1. Scope and Nature of Event Management
  2. Developing the Concept
  3. Physical an Human Resources
  4. Project Logistics
  5. Marketing an Event
  6. Financial Management
  7. Risk Management
  8. Staging the Event
  9. After the Event
 
 
 

Where Can This Course Take Me?

To reach your potential you need to make use of the unique mixture of experience, knowledge and personality that only you can bring to a job. This course can provide the foundation in tourism principles and hospitality management skills you'll need. Add your own unique stamp and ambition, and the sky's the limit!
 
Are you a natural-born encourage, who loves to help others make their dreams a reality? Then consider using this Certificate as a stepping stone to a role in:
  • Travel Agency staff/management
  • Tour-management
  • Tour-design
  • Tourism Development Officer
  • Study-abroad programs
  • Student Exchange programs

Are your organised, with attention to detail and high standards, a person who likes to go the extra mile for the comfort of others? This qualification could lead to a career in:

  • Bed & Breakfast Owner/Operator
  • Hotel or Resort Management
  • Tour Guide
  • Ecotourism Owner/Manager
  • Local Tourism Specialist/Operator
  • Travel Advisor
  • Tourism Development Officer
  • International Student Coordinator
  • Student Exchange programs
Studying with ACS can give you the foundational knowledge you need and the confidence to apply it in pursuit of your ideal career. Our carefully designed course includes core modules and electives selected by you - you can build the Certificate in Tourism to match your own personal talents and aspirations. It's a course that can take you to where you want to go.

 

Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

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What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course is aimed at providing you with a solid understanding in your selected discipline. It has been designed to take 600 hours, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and more. When you complete the course, will have a good understanding of the area/ industry you want to work in.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exams (6 exams) and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Certificate. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.


Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
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We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

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How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

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We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

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Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

John Mason

Writer, Manager, Teacher and Businessman with over 40 years interenational experience covering Education, Publishing, Leisure Management, Education, and Horticulture. He has extensive experience both as a public servant, and as a small business owner.
John is a well respected member of many professional associations, and author of over seventy books and of over two thousand magazine articles.

Denise Hodges

Promotions Manager for ABC retail, Fitness Programmer/Instructor, Small Business Owner, Marketing Coordinator (Laserpoint). Over 20 years varied experienced in business and marketing. More recently Denise studied naturopathy to share her passion for health and wellness. Denise has an Adv.Dip.Bus., Dip. Clothing Design, Adv.Dip.Naturopathy (completing).

Lyn Quirk

M.Prof.Ed.; Adv.Dip.Compl.Med (Naturopathy); Adv.Dip.Sports Therapy
Over 30 years as Health Club Manager, Fitness Professional, Teacher, Coach and Business manager in health, fitness and leisure industries. As business owner and former department head for TAFE, she brings a wealth of skills and experience to her role as a tutor for ACS.

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