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 travel industry, either in Australia or overseas. It covers the practical side of tourism: selling travel products, coordinating tourism operations, providing visitor information, managing bookings and reservations, and understanding the rules and regulations that apply to travel businesses. You also learn how tourism organisations are run, rostering, budgeting, marketing, and looking after customers from different backgrounds.

This is an AQF diploma, which sits below a bachelor degree and is usually delivered over two or three study periods across a year. You complete a set number of units of study, each with a credit point value, and the course is structured so you build skills as you go rather than sitting one big exam at the end. Assessment is mostly practical, case studies, role plays, projects, and work-based tasks. Many diplomas in this field include a work placement or industry project, where you spend time in a real tourism or travel business. Check the official course page for the exact units, credit points, and whether placement is part of your course.

You finish with skills employers actually ask for: using reservation systems, preparing quotes and itineraries, handling complaints, working with overseas suppliers, and following workplace health and safety and legal requirements. You also get a grounding in Australian tourism, the domestic market, inbound visitors, and the rules that govern travel agents and tour operators here.

The course suits school leavers who want a fast route into paid work, career changers who like the idea of working in hotels, airlines, tour companies or visitor centres, and people already in the industry who need a formal qualification to move into a supervisory role. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while you study, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements are listed on the official page, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is common for courses at this level, but confirm the exact score and accepted equivalents before you apply. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 112193K.

• Travel consultant or travel agent
• Tour coordinator or operations assistant
• Visitor information officer
• Reservations agent (hotels, airlines, tour operators)
• Inbound tourism coordinator
• Tour guide or tour leader
• Customer service supervisor in a tourism or hospitality business
• Sales agent for a tourism wholesaler or online travel agency

These roles are found across Australian travel agencies, tour operators, hotels and resorts, airlines, visitor information centres, cruise companies, and inbound tour operators. Tourism is a major employer in every state and territory, and employers often value practical diplomas for front-line and supervisory positions.