Travel and Tourism

Tourism is one of the world’s biggest industries, accounting for 1 in 10 jobs around the world in 2019. Through studying BTEC Travel and Tourism at Samuel Ryder Academy, students develop a deep understanding of this exciting, interesting and rewarding subject.

Travel and Tourism enhance students' knowledge and understanding of the world and how different conditions and events can affect the sector. For example, the collapse of an airline like Thomas Cook or the global COVID-19 pandemic. Geographical awareness of national and international holiday destinations is vital, as well as the many aspects that comprise the tourism experience, e.g. attractions, accommodation, transport options, cultures and experiences.

The BTEC qualification is a coursework-based qualification with one exam, and a real emphasis on independence and research work. The two years will enhance the student’s skills as the coursework involves independent work. This will take a variety of forms including presentations, creating tourism resources e.g. brochures, adverts and promotional displays. Additionally, work will take the form of research, planning, analysing and evaluating their own work as well as that available in the public domain. Good computer skills are essential to succeed in this course involving being able to research holidays and booking tickets on the internet, as well as being able to effectively use Excel and spreadsheets to create graphs.

KS4

What does the BTEC consist of and how is BTEC Travel and Tourism assessed?

BTEC Firsts Travel and Tourism Level 2:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-firsts/travel-and-tourism-2013-nqf.html

Over the two years, there is 1 exam and 3 pieces of coursework to complete. These comprise of:

Unit	Aims
1: The UK Travel and Tourism Sector Exam	This exam is 1 hour 15 minutes and contains 60 marks. It is taken in year 11. This exam comprises: Understanding the UK’s travel and tourism sector Its importance to the UK economy.
2: UK Travel and Tourism Destinations	This unit comprises to: Know UK travel and tourism destinations and gateways Investigate the appeal of UK tourism destinations for different types of visitors Plan UK holidays to meet the needs of different visitors.
3:The Travel and Tourism Customer Experience	This unit comprises to: Investigate travel and tourism customer service Explore the needs and expectations of different types of customer in the travel and tourism sector Understand the importance of customer service to travel and tourism organisations
4: International Travel and Tourism Destinations	This unit comprises to: Know the major international travel and tourism destinations and gateways Investigate the appeal of international travel and tourism destinations to different types of visitor Be able to plan international travel to meet the needs of visitors

Beyond GCSE

Through the two-year study, students develop transferable skills which are developed in Further Education. Students typically progress to Advanced level courses at Samuel Ryder Academy, college or at apprenticeship level where skills and knowledge learnt in Travel and Tourism will relate directly to employment.

Wider Curriculum and Careers

The BTEC offers many opportunities in the wider curriculum:

Speakers and visits- we have a wide variety of opportunities to have speakers come into school to share their knowledge and experiences. For instance, travel reps from the local area.
Wider curriculum outside the classroom- within each unit, students will be encouraged to extend their own knowledge and skills. Think about what can be done outside the classroom to: Read, Watch, Things to See and Things to Do.
‘Travel and Geography in the News’. We always want to keep up to date with events in the news so every few weeks the classes will cover current affairs. In the meantime, look at the BBC website, Visit Britain website and the World Tourism Organisation website for current developments.

Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world with currently 9% of total employment being within the industry, by 2027 this is expected to rise to 11.1%. Additionally, just under 15% of those employed in this sector are young people. These figures highlight the depth and the importance of the Tourism industry not only in the UK, but on a world scale.

Each student will develop transferable skills throughout the course that are in great demand and are recognised by employers, universities and colleges as being of great value. Possible careers include airline cabin crew, overseas representative, cruise ship, hotel industry, tour operator and travel agent. Career information can be found on these links:

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-categories/travel-and-tourism

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/travel-and-tourism