Travel and Tourism Subjects

Tourism and the Travel Industry
An overview of the tourism and travel industry in Australia and overseas.  Topics include: types of tourism businesses, identification of tourists needs, relationship of tourism to Australia’s economy, industry practices and standards of service, trends in travel and tourism, sources of information on tourism contractors, services and destinations, the role of government tourist bureaus and economic, cultural and social factors that affect the tourism industry.

Tourist Destinations and Attractions
Students learn how to provide accurate advice and information about Australian and international tourist destinations and attractions.  Extensive world wise case studies cover each destination’s location, political system, climate, geography, distances, routes, population centres, culture, currency, festivals and events and natural and man-made attractions.  In addition, sources of information on destinations and passport and visa requirements for each country are examined to ensure they contain up to date advice for the preparation of quotes and itineraries.

Event and Conference Management
Students learn how to plan and organise conferences, exhibitions, functions, trade shows, meetings and sporting and cultural fixtures.  Topics include: preparing bids and proposals; themes; decorations and entertainment; budgets; sponsorships; contingency plans; registration procedures; risk management; catering and technical support; event technology and software. Event promotion and marketing is also covered including the role of government, tourism organisations and visitors bureaus in coordinating bids for major events to be held in Australia.

Customer Relations
This subject studies the concepts and practices of service provision and develops skills in interpersonal relations and communications. It examines guests expectations, differing customer profiles, the anticipation of customer needs, the art of conversation, suggestive selling, administration of communication systems, procedures for problem solving and dealing with social and cultural differences.

Travel Operations
A study of air, rail, coach and car hire services; the roles of consolidators, wholesalers and suppliers, inbound and outbound operators. Students learn how to prepare travel documents, passports, visas, a ticket register and maintain document security. Skills developed include compiling itineraries, reading timetables and fare schedules, preparing travel insurance and how to advise on packages, tours, transfers, accommodation, currency requirements and language and cultural differences.

Airline Sector
A study of international and domestic airlines including methods of marketing and management, airport operations, check-ins, fare calculations, timetables and careers in reservations, administration and flight attending.

Sports Tourism
A growth area of tourism both in Australia and worldwide. Students learn how to combine major sporting events and tourism activities into packages for individual and group travel.

Project Management
Students conduct a feasibility study of a real tourism operation and attain management skills in planning and monitoring a project, identifying key milestones, implementing financial control systems and evaluation of its success for future development.

Fares and Ticketing
Practical study of reservations and fare calculations for airlines, rail, coach and shipping transport including: how to operate a computer booking system; construct and calculate fares. The subject also covers international fares and ticketing, reservations and fare calculations.  International topics include: IATA BSP requirements; global indicators; air tariffs mileage system; currency regulations; return journeys; promotional fares; issuing of tickets; complex fares; add-ons; mixed class fares; prepared advices; fare checks.

Computer Reservation Systems
In-depth practical experience on Galileo computer reservations system.  Topics include: making reservations; calculating fares and making quotes; ticketing; Galileo agreements; linkages to carriers; creating itineraries; seat assignment; hotel reservations.

Human Resource Management
Managing staff development, staff training, rosters and working conditions within a travel business.  Topics include: recruitment; selection; induction; performance appraisal; succession planning; redundancy; dismissal; career skilling; multi-skilling; methods of training - groups and individuals.

Sales and Marketing
How to manage sales and marketing activities in the tourism industry.  Topics include: setting volume targets developing product market plans and advertising campaigns; preparing marketing budgets; implementing product marketing plans; promoting preferred product range; up selling and selling extras; understanding consumer behaviour and market research. Students learn how to develop travel products to meet market needs, including: researching market potential; coordinate the production of brochures and marketing material; negotiating with suppliers; calculating net and gross rates; costing tours and itineraries; preparing sales manuals; analysing customer preferences; creating a promotional display stand; meeting with principals and representatives; evaluating competing products.

Tourism Public Relations
How public relations can provide a competitive edge for tourism businesses such as attractions, destinations and airlines. Students learn media relations, crisis management and how to launch new travel products.

Tour Guiding
Students learn how to research, plan and conduct tours for groups and individuals, and deal with cultural and safety issues. A practical component is provided by students preparing and conducting a real tour for a specified group that highlights Sydney’s major points of interest.

Eco Tourism
An overview of the growing trend towards ecologically sustainable tourist activities and attractions.  Students examine how the expansion of tourism has generated the need to preserve the natural and cultural environment and its subsequent impact on the way tourism businesses are managed and marketed.

Internet Marketing
The Internet as a means for promotion and on-line booking of airfares, holiday destinations and tourism packages. Students evaluate web sites and learn how to use the Internet as a tool of global marketing.

Travel Business Management
Students gain the skills and knowledge required by travel supervisors and managers.  Topics include: planning, organising and controlling work activities; developing, implementing and monitoring operational plans; team building and motivation; leading and managing people; setting up systems and procedures.

Financial Management
Students learn basic financial recording procedures, the preparation and control of budgets and how financial information is used in the management of a range of tourism businesses.

Job Seeking and Career Planning
Studies the range of employment opportunities throughout the travel and tourism industry and encourages students to set personal career goals.  Skills developed include job application letters and telephone calls, professional resumes, job interview techniques, personal job search campaigns, long-term career orientation.

Keyboarding/Word Processing
A subject to develop professionally-acceptable typing and word processing speeds and standards. Instruction in typing is by professionally-trained teachers and practice is provided by computer-based training systems. Students also learn one of the standard commercial word processing packages used widely in the industry.

Computer Studies
A subject that develops additional computer skills that are in demand within the industry. Students learn to produce spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel, database using Access, promotional brochures using Aldus Pagemaker and presentations using Powerpoint.

Meetings and Events Sector in Australia
An overview of the meetings, conferences, festivals and special events sector. Emphasis is given to the relationship of events to domestic and international tourism and covers information sources on event venues and services, legal and ethical practices and future trends in conference and event management.

Business Communications
This subject area develops students' skills in both verbal and non-verbal communication and in writing effectively in the business environment. Students learn: how to prepare and deliver presentations to clients using audio visual aids; effective telephone techniques; research skills; planning and management of meetings

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Location: Level 1, 175 Liverpool Street, Sydney, 2000 Postal Address: PO Box 433, Paddington NSW 2021 Australia Telephone, local: (02) 9360 2033 Fax: (02) 9331 7368 Telephone, international: 61 2 9360 2033 Fax: 61 2 9331 7368
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