Advanced Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management

The Advanced Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management is a two-year qualification delivered by the Australia Institute of Business and Technology. It sits at the advanced diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, which is a step above a diploma and below a bachelor degree. In practice that means a hands-on, industry-focused course rather than a theory-heavy academic one. You will spend most of your time learning how tourism businesses actually run, how to sell travel products, manage bookings and reservations, coordinate tours, handle customer service, and work with the systems and software that travel agencies and tour operators use every day.

What you study

Subjects cover the core of tourism operations: destination knowledge, retail and wholesale travel, tourism marketing, visitor interpretation, financial and operational reporting, and the legal and safety responsibilities that come with looking after travellers. You will also look at how tourism works in Australia, the domestic market, inbound international visitors, and the way tour operators, airlines, hotels and visitor information centres fit together. Assessment is practical. You will build itineraries, respond to customer enquiries, plan and cost tours, and work through real scenarios that tourism staff face. The course is structured around units of study, each carrying credit points. Most Australian institutions run two main study periods a year, semesters or trimesters, and you enrol in a set number of units each period. Confirm the exact unit list, credit points and study period structure on the official course page.

Work placement and practical learning

Tourism is a field where work-integrated learning matters. Many advanced diplomas include a placement or industry project component, where you spend time with a travel agency, tour operator, hotel, event business or visitor centre. That placement is where you test what you have learned and where many students make their first industry contacts. Some courses also include a capstone-style project in the final stage, pulling together the skills from earlier units into one piece of work. Check with the institute about whether placement is included, how it is arranged, and what hours are required.

Who it suits

This course suits people who want to work in the travel industry and prefer learning by doing. It is a good fit if you are entering tourism for the first time, changing careers, or already working in hospitality or events and want to move into travel and tourism management. It also works as a pathway, after finishing, you may be able to get credit towards a bachelor degree in tourism, hospitality or business, depending on the receiving institution. Australian tourism is a large employer, with strong links between training providers and industry, and qualifications like this are recognised by employers across the sector. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after you finish. Confirm current visa rules with the Department of Home Affairs and course details with the institute.

• Travel consultant or retail travel agent
• Tour coordinator or tour operations officer
• Reservations and bookings agent
• Visitor information officer
• Destination or tourism marketing assistant
• Airline or airport customer service roles
• Hotel or resort front office and guest services
• Event and conference tourism assistant
• Inbound tourism operator or ground handler
• Cruise or packaged holiday sales consultant

These roles are found across Australian travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, hotels, visitor information centres, event businesses and inbound tourism companies. Some graduates go on to start their own tour or travel business.