Diploma in Tourism Management

Purpose

The travel or tourism industry encompasses several types of jobs from service to executive positions. Learners from this qualification can find employment opportunities as Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Visitor Information Centre Officials, Car Rental Agents, Sales and Marketing Agents, as Planning and Development Officials and Consultants at National, Provincial and Local Government. Graduates with the qualification will also be able to operate as Supervisors, Managers, Owners and/or Operators of small Tourism Businesses. Learners with this qualification will be able to perform a wide range of responsibilities, from business planning and operations to finance and accounting to human resource management to marketing and sales.

Rationale

This qualification is designed to enable graduates to acquire focused skills and expertise in tourism management. Integrated learning is employed to guide learners in their acquisition of knowledge and practical skills that will enable them to apply their learning in the workplace. Government identified tourism as a strategic development area and this qualification addresses the lack of adequate tourism management talent. This qualification provides learners with important and essential skills to the benefit of tourism on a national basis. The focus of this qualification is on the financial, operations, marketing and management aspects of tourism. It includes important tourism-related modules to ensure a balanced perspective of modern-day tourism business management environment. This qualification addresses the national skills shortage and graduates will be equipped to take up positions within the tourism industry. In addition, this qualification enables graduates to continue with their studies in tourism if they so desire.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

As per institutional policy, Credits towards this qualification may be obtained

by means of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• A National Senior Certificate National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 and 6 totalling 364 Credits.

Compulsory Modules 1, Level 5 , 176 Credits

• Tourism Development I, 24 Credits.
• Travel and Tourism Management I, 24 Credits.
• Communication for Academic Purposes, 10 Credits.
• Travel and Tourism Practice I, 16 Credits.
• Life Skills I, 2 Credits.
• Travel and Tourism Geography I, 16 Credits.
• Marketing for Tourism I, 16 Credits.
• Information Literacy I, 2 Credits.
• Computer Literacy, 10 credits.
• Law for Tourism, 16 Credits.
• Travel and Tourism Human Resources I, 12 Credits.
• Tourism Economics, 12 Credits.
• Travel and Tourism Finance I, 16 Credits.

Compulsory Modules 2, Level 6, 188 Modules

• Travel and Tourism Practice II, 16 Credits.
• Travel and Tourism Geography II, 12 Credits.
• Communication for Occupational Purposes, 8 Credits.
• Marketing for Tourism II, 16 Credits.
• Tourism Development II, 16 Credits.
• Travel and Tourism Practice III, 12 Credits.
• Travel and Tourism Geography III, 12 Credits.
• Travel and Tourism Management III, 18 Credits.
• WIL in Tourism Management, 60 Credits.
• Tourism Development III, 18 Credits.

1.Demonstrate knowledge of basic law and how it relates to the travel and tourism industry.

2.Demonstrate the ability to review primary marketing principles and apply marketing strategies to individual tourism enterprises.

3.Demonstrate knowledge of sustainable tourism development within South Africa and the rest of the world.

4.Demonstrate effective use of computer skills through the use and manipulation of operating systems and systems application software, with specific emphasis on the travel and tourism industry.

5.Demonstrate understanding of the processes involved in communication by integrating knowledge gained in the correct and effective use of oral and written communication in the correct and applicable format.

6.Organise and implement tourism activities in a co-operative education position in the tourism industry.

7.Demonstrate competence in various aspects of tourism operations in a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programme.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes

• Perform the functions required of a tourism manager and directed at developing and promoting tourism in a changing environment and niche markets.
• Gather and analyse tourism information to address the management needs of industry.
• Perform appropriate practical skills and expertise in a professional service component of the tourism industry.
• Perform the necessary technical and operational tasks in a tourism enterprise.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment

This form of assessment occurs in the short term, as learners are in the process of making Meaning of new content and of integrating it into what they already know. Feedback to the learner is almost immediate, to enable the learner to change his/her behaviour and Understandings right away. Formative Assessment also enables the lecturer to "turn on a dime "and rethink instructional strategies, activities, and content based on student understanding and performance. His/her role here is comparable to that of a coach. Formative Assessment can be as informal as observing the learner's work or a very interactive class discussion or as formal as a written test.

Summative Assessment

This method of assessment is used to evaluate how candidates perform certain procedures and how they demonstrate techniques in relation to the tasks performed in the tourism industry. This method of assessment will be used in assessing practical learning activities in the workplace as part of Work Integrated Learning (WIL), This method of assessment is used to enable candidates to demonstrate knowledge and Understanding of the concepts, processes and procedures associated with the tourism industry. This is usually done through theoretical tests and written examinations which form part of the Assessment strategy in both National Qualifications Framework (NQF) 5 and 6 modules.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

This method of assessment is used to evaluate how candidates perform certain procedures and how they demonstrate techniques in relation to the tasks performed in the tourism industry. This method of assessment will be used in assessing practical learning activities in the workplace as Part of WIL.