Qualification -ASSOCIATE DIPLOMA IN HOSPITALITY & TOURISM VTR002

An excellent foundation for a career in management in the tourism or hospetality industry. This course develops a diverseand unique combination of valuable skills that will set you apart from graduates of other courses. As with most industries, being different is often what gives you the edge over the competition.



Train to be a Professional in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry

This is an industry that is continually changing; and which does go through periods of boom and bust. Well trained, innovative and connected professionals will always be in high demand though; so long as there are people earning more money than they need for the basics of life.

As more of the worlds population becomes affluent; more p[people want to travel; and that situation fuels growth in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Shorter courses than this can be more than adequate to kick off a career in the industry; but a more involved and longer course will always teach you more; prepare you better; and increase you chances of advancing faster in your career. Don't fool yourself though -a course of study, here or anywhere else is only a starting point, and at that, only one piece of the puzzle.

Real and sustainable success takes commitment, and perseverance to further learning (formal or informal), coupled with experience, networking a a good attitude.


COURSE CONTENT

Twenty one modules need to be completed and passed in exams. These would commonly include the following, though you may substitute some modules for others offered by the school, provided the substitutions are approved by a member of the academic staff.

Module 1 Tourism I

Module 2 Tourism II

Module 3 Hotel Management

Module 4 Food & Beverage Management

Module 5 Introduction to Psychology

Module 6 B&B Management

Module 7 Facility Management I

Module 8 Ecotour Management

Module 9 Ecotourism Tour Guide Course

Module 10 Personnel Management

Module 11 Sales Management

Module 12  Financial Management

Module 13  Event Management

Module 14 Health and Fitness I

Module 15 Leadership

Module 16 Advertising and Promotions

Module 17 Facility Management II

Module 18 Adventure Tourism

Module 19 Research Project I

Module 20 Research Project II

Module 21  Industry Meetings (100 hrs attendance at seminars, conferences, trade shows or other events or meetings considered valuable as a networking and learning experience).

 

Duration   2100 hrs (2-3 years full time -up to 5 years part time)
 

What is Responsible Travel?

Responsible travel refers to a new paradigm in the travel industry which embraces the philosophy of respecting and fostering relationships with the local communities and caring for the environment through which you are travelling. By provision of local guides, smaller groups, and a more authentic experience, it is removed from mass market tourism that makes local people and their customs less accessible.  Responsible tourism may manifest in numerous ways, such as carbon offsets for flights or avoiding travel to Burma as requested by Aung San Suu Kyi.  Essentially it asks the question: what impact is tourism having on the local people, communities, environment, and economies?  This question may take various forms as follows:

  • Should we be travelling to pristine environments such as Antarctica?
  • Should all inclusive packages be banned, such as in Gambia, so that some income stays in the local economy?
  • Are local people in impoverished conditions taken advantage of?
  • What connection does the tour have to local communities?
  • How can we reduce any environmental impact?
  • Most businesses claiming to run RT travel should adhere to the following characteristics:
  • Cultural sensitivity - creating respect between both the host and the traveler.
  • Make positive contributions to the local environmental and cultural heritage, as well as conservation
  • Involve local communities in the decision making processes when they will be affected by outcomes
  • Help improve local conditions by ensuring that the tourism benefits the community financially
  • Carefully manage and minimise any negative impacts, be they cultural, economic or environmental
  • Actively foster a more enjoyable experience for the travelers by connection with local communities and people, and ongoing education of local environmental, social, and cultural issues.

Responsible travel and sustainable tourism both share the same endpoint with very similar guidelines (see above). The difference between them is that responsible travel places an emphasis upon all involved to take responsibility for their impact and their actions on the environment. This means that all stakeholders, from the local community to the tourism operators and the government, need to be involved and take responsibility for upholding the goals of responsible travel.