Travel and Tourism
Gain the skills to broaden your horizons
Travel and tourism students embark on a life-changing adventure, training aboard a luxury cruise liner to experience world-class hospitality firsthand. They learn from industry professionals, explore global destinations, and gain behind-the-scenes insight into cruise operations and guest experience. Blending luxury with learning, this immersive course prepares students for dynamic, international careers in the travel and tourism industry.
TRAVEL & TOURISM
Subject overview
What's on offer
Is your idea of a great holiday a fly-and-flop? Do you dream of cruising the high seas? Or is a cosmopolitan city break more your style? If travelling is in your veins, then perhaps a career in travel and tourism is for you.
At City of Portsmouth College, we bring the world to your classroom, helping you become a travel expert. With fantastic guidance from our experienced staff, and visits from industry experts, you’ll get all the hands-on and theoretical training you need to be not only a great travel agent or rep, but a fantastic salesperson and customer service executive.
Crucially, you’ll learn about flexibility and adaptability, qualities that are vital in an industry that’s always evolving. Depending on your course, you could even take part in life-changing volunteering opportunities in destinations like Nepal and Cambodia.
Subject highlights
- guest speakers, trips and real employer insight from across the sector
- explore global destinations, tourism impacts, and how travel can shape communities responsibly
- build confidence, communication and customer service skills valued by employers and universities
- potential to develop specialist skills in areas like travel agency and hospitality management.

Course: Level 2 Diploma in Travel & Tourism
- Course Type: Vocational
- Campus: Highbury Campus
- Attendance: Full-time
- Course Code: P127630
Course: Level 3 NCFE Introductory Diploma in Travel & Tourism
- Course Type: Vocational
- Campus: Highbury Campus
- Attendance: Full-time
- Course Code: P293002
Course: NCFE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Travel & Tourism
- Course Type: Vocational
- Campus: Highbury Campus
- Attendance: Full-time
- Course Code: P264673
Our facilities
From classrooms designed for great learning experiences, to tech that helps you develop professional skills, City of Portsmouth College is the place to get career-ready.
Key facilities include:
- flexible learning spaces for hands-on activities
- the latest digital tech for learning, including smart view boards
- interactive mapping tools, online booking simulations and virtual tourism experiences
- breakout areas for focused group discussion and collaboration.
Virtual tour
Take a closer look at our learning spaces and stand-out facilities with our interactive 360° virtual tour.
A great way to explore our facilities before booking a visit.
“It was a brilliant course and I enjoyed going on all the different trips and making new friends in my class. I gained a lot of confidence and built-up skills in an area that I’m passionate about.”James Duncan
Studied: Level 3 Extended Diploma in Travel & Tourism
Currently: Check-in operator at Portsmouth and Southampton cruise terminals & volunteer at The D-Day Story museum.
Future plans: To complete a HND in international travel.
Careers within the travel & tourism industry
Airline Customer Service Agent
Airline Customer Service Agents help every passenger’s journey get off to a good start.
Main responsibilities:
- Help passengers at airport check-in and answer flight or travel questions
- Check travel documents, issues boarding passes and explain baggage rules
- Take care of special assistance for children, VIPs and people with additional needs
- Follow safety, security and airline procedures at all times
- Use booking systems and scanners to update passenger records
Salary range:
£15,000 - £25,000
Heritage Officer
Heritage Officers help take care of culturally and historically important places.
Main responsibilities:
- Assess and advise on the preservation of historic buildings and sites
- Research archives and regulations to support conversation work
- Review plans, write reports, and manage project timelines and budgets
- Provide expert guidance to conservation teams and planning authorities
- Engage with the public through events and consultations on heritage issues
Salary range:
£18,000 - £48,000
Tour Manager
Tour Managers manage travel arrangements for holidaymakers or businesses.
Main responsibilities:
- Organise and oversee every aspect of travel, from arrival to departure
- Ensure accommodation, meals and services meet expected standards
- Provide local knowledge, suggest activities, and coordinate guided tours
- Handle travel issues and emergencies, and assist with immigration
- Promote excursions and keep records of tour feedback
Salary range:
£16,000 - £30,000
Hotel Manager
Hotel Managers are responsible for the staff and operations of a hotel.
Main responsibilities:
- Lead and coordinate hotel teams across departments like reception, housekeeping and catering
- Manage budgets, forecast income, and set sales and occupancy targets
- Oversee legal compliance including licensing, health and safety, and fire regulations
- Promote the hotel, handle corporate bookings, and build customer relationships
- Recruit and train staff, manage rotas and resolve any guest complaints
Salary range:
£30,000 - £60,000
Travel Agency Manager
Travel Agency Managers manage people and operations to promote and sell holidays.
Main responsibilities:
- Oversee the day-to-day running of a travel agency
- Lead a team of staff to deliver specialist, professional travel advice
- Work closely with airlines, cruise operators, hotels and tour operators
- Sell travel products and tour packages, and ensure the agency meets the targets you set
- Promote and market the business to meet changing customer demands
Salary range:
£26,000 - £50,000
Let’s help you shape your future.
UK travel market helps drive cruise line expansion
Florida-based cruise operator Azamara has named the UK as its second biggest market globally, with strong returns from British travellers helping to drive growth. The line, which offers boutique cruises on smaller shops, is seeing a rise in new and returning UK guests, with many choosing premium cabins. British travel agents do such a great job of matching the right customers to the brand that Azamara plans to release its 2027/28 sailings ahead of schedule to meet demand.
Frequently asked questions
You don't need extensive travel experience to succeed on this course. What matters most is curiosity about the world, an interest in people and places, and a willingness to learn about how the industry operates. Many learners develop their first real understanding of global destinations, transport systems, and tourism organisations through the course itself.
Travel and tourism is a highly practical and vocational course, combining classroom learning with real-world experiences. Alongside written assignments, learners take part in a wide range of enrichment activities, trips, and employer-led opportunities designed to bring the industry to life.
These include guest speakers from across the travel and tourism sector, such as representatives from local and national tour operators, air cabin crew, and professionals working in transport, hospitality, and attractions. Learners also benefit from work experience opportunities with local employers including transport providers such as Hovertravel and South Western Railway, as well as opportunities with organisations such as British Airways, local hotels, restaurants, and museums.
The course is enriched through educational visits and trips, including visits to London, local and national attractions, and a residential trip abroad. Learners are encouraged to be actively involved in shaping enrichment opportunities, helping to choose destinations and experiences that reflect their interests and career ambitions.
In addition, students can take part in the Turing Scheme, enabling international travel and work or volunteering experiences in destinations such as Cambodia, Nepal, and Thailand. These experiences help learners build confidence, independence, cultural awareness, and employability skills that are highly valued by universities and employers alike.
These programmes are designed to prepare learners for a wide range of future career ambitions and progression pathways, both immediately after study and in the longer term. Travel and tourism is a diverse, fast-paced, and global industry, where careers often evolve and branch into related sectors as skills and experience grow.
A qualification in travel and tourism can lead to opportunities across areas such as airlines and airports, cruise lines, travel agencies and tour operators, hotels and resorts, visitor attractions, events, customer service, marketing, and business administration. The transferable skills developed on the course - including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, customer focus, and professionalism - are highly valued by employers both within and beyond the sector.
Many learners also choose to progress to higher education, apprenticeships, or further professional training, or move into related industries such as hospitality, business, aviation, and international studies, giving them the flexibility to shape a career pathway that reflects their interests and ambitions.
Of course. Communication skills are developed gradually throughout the course. Tutors provide clear guidance, modelling, and structured feedback to help you improve written work, speaking, and presentations. Confidence grows over time, and support is available for learners who may need additional help.
Level 2 is for those who need to focus on developing their Maths and English or want to build confidence, focusing on core knowledge and practical skills.
Level 3 Introductory and Extended Diplomas are more in-depth and analytical, designed for learners aiming for higher education or skilled employment. Your tutors will guide you to the level that best suits your starting point and career goals.
While holidays are part of tourism, the course explores much more. You will learn about customer service, business operations, sustainability, marketing, global destinations, transport systems, and the economic and social impact of tourism. This gives you transferable skills valued across many industries.
The College offers a supportive learning environment with access to academic support, study skills guidance, and additional learning support where needed. Tutors work closely with learners to ensure expectations are clear and that progress is monitored throughout the course. All lesson resources are available on Microsoft Teams alongside links to useful websites and other resources to support you.
You will develop communication, teamwork, problem-solving, customer service, research, digital skills, and professional behaviours. These are highly transferable skills that employers value both within travel and tourism and across the wider business and service sectors.
Have a question?
Get in touch and our advice and guidance team will be more
than happy to answer any questions you may have and guide
you in the right direction.
