Skip to content

International Tourism Management

Course Code: UF6637, UX6638
  • Level: 5
  • Qualification: Foundation Degree
  • Awarding body: University of Plymouth
  • Duration: Two years (full-time), three years (part-time)
  • Course type: Full-time, Part-time
  • Time of day: Daytime
  • When you'll study: Year 1 - Mondays and Wednesdays, 9.00am - 6.00pm (approx.) + other dates and times depending on practical activities and planned events Year 2 - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.00am - 6.00pm (approx.) + other dates and times depending on practical activities and planned events Part-time - dependent on student choices

What's it all about?

Full Fee 

Full-time £14,900 (£7,450 per year) 

Part-time £11,100 (£3,700 per year) 

You will be attracted to this course if you wish to travel and see the world; have a clear vision of far off places or you may want to develop tourism destinations closer to home! 


If you are inquisitive by nature and are motivated to work in a customer-based industry, international tourism could be the study programme for you. We base our course on a mixture of trips and visits along with lectures and seminars so that you have plenty of opportunity to relate the information from your trips into reports or presentations for assessments. 


Our employer-led approach gives us an unparalleled insight into the skills priorities for the future, and the opportunity for you to gain experience from tourism activities as diverse as visiting a Devon-based spa resort to planning an event in our purpose-built fuselage. 


As part of this course, you will also study for your personal licence at no extra cost. 


The variety of opportunities and the range of people that form part of the course will prepare you for a long and successful career in this industry. 


For more information about this course please read the Programme Quality Handbook which contains programme specifications and module information.

Course information

Year 1 


Business Performance and Enterprise – in the hospitality, events and tourism industry, potential managers need to have an understanding of the principles of managing business performance including techniques or strategies used and their impact on decision making from a financial perspective. This module will examine these principles and apply them to case studies within the sector. 
Customer Relationship Marketing – this module introduces you to the basic principles of marketing and their application in a hospitality and tourism context. Marketing is at the heart of every organisation’s activities. It is also of growing importance in the non-commercial, public and voluntary sectors. The customer’s needs and expectations will also be introduced along with the tools and techniques used in the modern marketing industry. 
International Tourism and Sustainability – this module explores the organisation, structure and interdependency of the travel and tourism industry, with a focus on the environmental, political, social and cultural impacts that this has internationally. It will examine case studies and discuss the economic and moral impact tourists have in a given area and highlight their sustainability problems and initiatives. 
Leadership and Personal Development Skills – the aim of this module is to give you a general understanding of the management and leadership issues within the tourism, events and hospitality industry. This module will identify theories on leadership, team development, and motivation, which will give you an insight into your own motivation and leadership styles as learners develop their personal development plans (PDP). 
Destination Management – destination management is the coordinated management of all elements that make up a destination, including the attractions, amenities, access, marketing and pricing. This module investigates the challenges of destination management and discusses what makes a successful destination in the global and local contexts of the tourism industry. 
Alternative Tourism – this module provides the opportunity for you to investigate the increasingly wide range of tourism activity outside the more conventional, mainstream provision of mass packaged tourism. The definition of alternative tourism is an all-encompassing term covering such specialist areas as ecotourism, ethno-tourism and many forms of adventure tourism, in contrast to mainstream mass tourism. 
Spa and Resort Management – this module introduces the topic of spa and resort management and its impact on the hospitality and tourism industry. It examines the wellbeing sector and of contemporary spa and resort management. It informs you of the growth of the sector and addresses the business opportunities this provides. 
Year 2 

Research Methods in Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management – this module enables you to identify a range of different research methods, processes and ethical considerations which are central in conducting research in their academic or professional discipline. It allows you to identify the Continuing Professional Development you require to gain employment in the sector. 

Staging Events – this module offers you the opportunity to plan, organise and manage events in the hospitality and tourism sector. The module is designed to develop the academic, organisational and reflective skills necessary to be an effective event manager. Concepts of employability and team dynamics in relation to staging events enables you to gain an understanding of the opportunities that exist for future employment. 

The Hospitality, Tourism and Events Customer Experience – this module examines key aspects of customer service provision within the hotel, tourism and events sector, and evaluates the methods by which organisations manage both customer services and the development of relationships. The module will consider methods employed by organisations, skills required by staff, the use of appropriate technology and quality initiatives used to develop excellence. 

Managing People – this module explores essential theories, attributes, skills, approaches and strategies which contribute to the effective management of the employer/employee relationship. It looks at practical considerations of the management of people in the hospitality, tourism and events sector and develops the employability skills required by the future managers and leaders in the sector. 

Visitor Attraction Management – this module gives you a broad understanding of the nature, development and management of visitor attractions, highlighting the importance within the sector and investigating the key issues. It identifies the range and importance of visitor attractions within the international tourism sector and investigates the types of tourist and the theories of tourist motivation. 

We welcome applications from those who have all of the following:

  • 32 UCAS tariff points (to include a full level 3 qualification)
  • five GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, to include English and maths

or alternatively:

  • equivalent qualifications
  • relevant work experience.

Should entry requirements not be met then individual cases will be considered.

To complete each subject successfully you must demonstrate your competence at meeting the learning outcomes for each module. This will be in a number of ways and wherever possible to reflect the needs of hotel & hospitality employment. Examples are:

  • portfolio of evidence
  • presentation
  • group projects
  • case studies from the world of work
  • seminars
  • reports
  • reflective statements.

The agreed progression route for students who successfully pass the Foundation Degree is to the BA (Hons) Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management at the University of Plymouth. 

Students are able to apply for progression to other programmes but that this will be considered on an individual basis. 
Among the roles our graduates have gone into include:
  • tour operator
  • flight attendant/supervisor
  • destination management company
  • reservation manager for a cruise/ferry company
  • city tour guide
  • director of marketing for local tour operator
  • hospitality and tourism teacher
  • gin distillery customer service manager
  • events coordinator for a luxury spa hotel.

Please note fees are quoted for one year only.

Download course PDF

Future careers

What you could earn:

Travel Agency Managers and Proprietors

£47,625.35

Potential salary

£15,483.61

Entry level salary

£28,229.99

Average salary

3

Annual openings in Plymouth

Related courses

Travel and Tourism

  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: Certificate, Diploma
  • Awarding body: Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE), Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE)
  • Duration: One or two years
  • Course type: Full-time

Travel and Tourism

  • Level: 2
  • Qualification: NCFE Diploma
  • Duration: One year
  • Course type: Full-time

Resort Rep and Cabin Crew

  • Level: 2
  • Qualification: Diploma
  • Duration: One year
  • Course type: Full-time
View all courses

Book an open day and come visit us!

Come and visit us on one of our college open days, where you can find out more about our courses, check out our facilities and speak to current students and staff.