Travel and Tourism GCSE
Course Length
One year or two.
The course
Travel and Tourism encompasses five main topics. The first is An Introduction to Travel and Tourism. This looks at the primary types of tourism, reasons for travel, sustainable travel and tourism, and various types of tourists and destinations.
The second topic is Global Tourism. This covers the characteristics of destinations and their appeal to different tourist types, the role of organizations in the development and management of destinations, factors influencing tourism development and management, and sustainable destination management.
The third topic is Travel and Tourism Organisations. This topic explores how travel and tourism organizations collaborate, different types of transport and their appeal, and the infrastructure for domestic and international travel and transport.
The fourth topic is Customer Service. This includes the significance of customer service and how it is provided to different types of tourists.
The fifth and final topic is Destination Marketing. This covers the importance of marketing for travel and tourism organizations, factors affecting marketing, the marketing mix, and market segmentation and targeting.
What skills do I need?
Problem solving, literacy and numeracy, an interest in business and in the opportunities within the travel and tourism sector. An alertness to world events would also be useful.
How is the course assessed?
There are two exam papers. The first is on key terms and concepts. It contains four scenario-based questions covering the introductory key concepts, customer service and impacts of tourism at destinations. It lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 50% of the IGCSE. The second paper is on managing and marketing destinations. It too has four scenario-based questions. It lasts 2 hours and is worth 50% of the IGCSE.
Reading List
Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Travel & Tourism (2022, second edition)
Rickerby S, Smith, J and Figg, R
Cambridge University Press, ISBN 9781009064682
Exam Board and Specification Codes
Cambridge IGCSE Travel & Tourism 0471
Duncan Chamberlain
Head of Department
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