Travel and Tourism

Fancy making a career out of seeing the world? You’ll find all kinds of opportunities in travel and tourism – one of the globe’s fastest-growing industries.
Luxury Hospitality. Global Experience. Career-Ready.

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.

Explore all travel & tourism courses

Subject highlights

Course: Level 2 Diploma in Travel & Tourism

  • Course Type: Vocational
  • Campus: Highbury Campus
  • Attendance: Full-time
  • Course Code: P127630
Find out more about Level 2 Diploma in Travel & Tourism

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:

   Virtual tour

Take a closer look at our learning spaces and stand-out facilities with our interactive 360° virtual tour.

Explore the 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.


Let’s help you shape your future.

Start your travel & tourism career — find the right course for you
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

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.

Copyright 2026 © City of Portsmouth College | Site by Lake Solutions