Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management

The Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management at TAFE Queensland is a one-year qualification for people who want to work in the travel industry, either running operations or moving into a supervisory role. It covers the practical side of tourism: selling travel products, coordinating reservations, managing a tourism business, customer service, and the compliance and safety rules that apply to tour operations. You'll also look at destination marketing and how tourism businesses work with airlines, hotels, tour operators and inbound agents.

How the course is structured

The diploma runs for 51 weeks. TAFE Queensland delivers it through a mix of classroom study, practical activities and assessment tasks that mirror what happens in a real travel agency or tour operation. You'll complete units of study that build towards the qualification, with each unit carrying credit points. Assessment is competency-based, which is the standard for vocational education in Australia: you demonstrate you can do the task, not just recall the theory. Many TAFE Queensland campuses have travel training facilities where you practise booking systems and client scenarios before you go on placement.

Skills you'll gain

You'll learn to use reservation and booking systems, prepare quotes and itineraries, handle customer complaints, apply tourism legislation, and work within a team in a fast-paced environment. You'll also build the kind of communication skills that matter when you're dealing with travellers who are stressed, delayed or confused. The course includes work-integrated learning through a vocational placement, which gives you real time in a travel agency, tour desk, visitor information centre or tourism operator. That placement is often where students get their first job offer.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a practical qualification without committing to a three-year bachelor degree. It also suits people already working in tourism who want formal recognition to move into a supervisory or management role, and career changers who want to enter the industry quickly. International students should note the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream is available to eligible graduates of Australian qualifications, though you should check your own eligibility with the Department of Home Affairs. While you study, your visa allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight. English requirements for international applicants are typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced accepted as equivalents; the Student visa itself has a separate English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs.

Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 112776J. Check the official TAFE Queensland page and CRICOS for current fees, intake dates and campus options before you apply.

• Travel consultant or travel agent in retail or corporate agencies
• Tour coordinator or operations assistant with tour operators
• Reservations agent for airlines, hotels or inbound tour companies
• Visitor information officer at visitor centres or tourism boards
• Tour guide or tour leader for domestic and inbound operators
• Sales and marketing assistant for tourism or hospitality businesses
• Customer service supervisor in tourism and travel settings

These roles are found across Australia in retail travel agencies, online travel companies, inbound tour operators, regional tourism organisations, hotels, airlines and event tourism businesses. The diploma also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in tourism or business, with credit for your completed units.