Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management

The Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management is a one-year qualification for people who want to work in the tourism industry, either in Australia or overseas. At Australian Ideal College, you'll learn how the sector actually runs: how travel products are sold, how a tourism business is operated, how to manage customer service, and how to handle the day-to-day tasks that keep a travel agency, tour operation or visitor attraction ticking over. The course is practical, and you'll spend time on the skills employers ask for, planning itineraries, coordinating bookings, understanding Australian and international destinations, and dealing with the financial and legal side of tourism operations.

How the course is structured

Australian qualifications are built from units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. This diploma is no different. You'll complete a sequence of core and elective units across the year, with each unit assessed through a mix of assignments, practical tasks and exams. The exact unit list and credit point values are set by the provider and published on the official course page. The diploma is delivered over one year of full-time study, and the teaching calendar usually follows semesters or trimesters. Some providers offer a work placement or industry project as part of the course. Where that happens, it gives you real time in a tourism business, a travel agency, a tour company, a hotel front desk or a visitor information centre, and counts towards your qualification.

What you'll learn

You'll come out knowing how to sell travel and tourism products, interpret financial information for a tourism business, manage a team, and comply with the legal and safety rules that apply to the industry. You'll also build the communication and problem-solving skills that matter when you're dealing with travellers who have questions, changes or complaints. The course covers destination knowledge, both Australian and international, and shows you how to put together packages and itineraries that work in practice. You'll learn to use the booking and reservation systems that tourism businesses rely on. And you'll get a clear picture of how the industry is structured, who the operators are, how they work with each other, and where the jobs are.

Who it suits

This diploma suits people who want a hands-on qualification and a quick route into the workforce. It's a good fit if you're already working in tourism and want to move into a supervisory or management role, or if you're starting out and want a credential that employers recognise. It also works as a pathway: after completing the diploma, you may be able to get credit towards a bachelor degree in tourism, hospitality or business, depending on the university and the units you've completed. International students should check the English requirement before applying. The common standard for a course at this level is IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, though some fields ask for higher. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the college's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself, so you need to meet both. While you're studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may let you stay and work in Australia, provided you meet the visa requirements. Tuition fees are published on the CRICOS register, check there for the current amount, and confirm the unit list, intake dates and placement arrangements on the official page.

• Travel agency consultant or retail travel agent
• Tour operations coordinator or tour guide
• Reservations and bookings agent
• Visitor information officer
• Destination marketing assistant
• Front office supervisor in hotels and resorts
• Tourism business owner or manager
• Event and conference tourism coordinator

These roles sit across Australia's tourism industry, travel agencies, tour operators, hotels and resorts, visitor information centres, airlines, cruise companies, event organisers and regional tourism bodies. The diploma also gives you a pathway into further study, with credit towards a bachelor degree in tourism, hospitality or business at some Australian universities.