Description
Travel and tourism vocational teachers instruct students in their specialised field of study, travel and tourism, which is predominantly practical in nature. They provide theoretical instruction in service of the practical skills and techniques the students must subsequently master for a travel and tourism-related profession. Travel and tourism vocational teachers monitor the students’ progress, assist individually when necessary, and evaluate their knowledge and performance on the subject of travel and tourism through assignments, tests and examinations.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to travel and tourism vocational teacher:
travel and tourism teacher
vocational travel and tourism teacher
vocational instructor in travel and tourism
travel and tourism trainer
travel and tourism instructor
vocational teacher in travel and tourism
travel and tourism vocational instructor
instructor in travel and tourism
trainer in travel and tourism
Minimum qualifications
Associate’s degree is generally required to work as travel and tourism vocational teacher. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Travel and tourism vocational teacher is a Skill level 4 occupation.
Travel and tourism vocational teacher career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to travel and tourism vocational teacher.
hospitality vocational teacher
business administration vocational teacher
hairdressing vocational teacher
beauty vocational teacher
business and marketing vocational teacher
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of travel and tourism vocational teacher. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of travel and tourism vocational teacher with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of travel and tourism vocational teacher.
Customer service: Processes and principles related to the customer, client, service user and to personal services; these may include procedures to evaluate customer’s or service user’s satisfaction.
Local area tourism industry: The characteristics of local sights and events, accommodation, bars and restaurants and leisure activities.
Tourism market: The study of the tourism market on a international, regional and local level and considering worldwide tourist destinations.
Travel bookings processes: The various steps that constitute a booking made for travelling purposes, its execution, and any additional relevant actions.
Teamwork principles: The cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.
Curriculum objectives: The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.
Geographical areas relevant to tourism: The field of tourism geography in Europe as well as the rest of the world in order to point out relevant tourism areas and attractions.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of travel and tourism vocational teacher.
Assign homework: Provide additional exercises and assignments that the students will prepare at home, explain them in a clear way, and determine the deadline and evaluation method.
Prepare lesson content: Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.
Facilitate teamwork between students: Encourage students to cooperate with others in their learning by working in teams, for example through group activities.
Monitor developments in field of expertise: Keep up with new research, regulations, and other significant changes, labour market related or otherwise, occurring within the field of specialisation.
Observe student’s progress: Follow up on students’ learning progress and assess their achievements and needs.
Manage student relationships: Manage the relations between students and between student and teacher. Act as a just authority and create an environment of trust and stability.
Adapt teaching to student’s capabilities: Identify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.
Apply teaching strategies: Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use a wide range of teaching devices and methodologies appropriate to the class content, the learners’ level, goals, and priorities.
Maintain students’ discipline: Make sure students follow the rules and code of behaviour established in the school and take the appropriate measures in case of violation or misbehaviour.
Teach tourism principles: Instruct students in the theory and practice of the subject travel and tourism, with the aim of assisting them in pursuing a future career in this field, and more specifically in topics such as tourism locations, customer service and booking techniques.
Assess students: Evaluate the students’ (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of the goals the student achieved.
Teach customer service techniques: Teach techniques designed to maintain customer service standards at a satisfactory level.
Adapt instruction to labour market: Identify developments in the labour market and recognise their relevance to the training of students.
Give constructive feedback: Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.
Perform classroom management: Maintain discipline and engage students during instruction.
Provide lesson materials: Ensure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.
Assist students in their learning: Support and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.
Apply intercultural teaching strategies: Ensure that the content, methods, materials and the general learning experience is inclusive for all students and takes into account the expectations and experiences of learners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Explore individual and social stereotypes and develop cross-cultural teaching strategies.
Work in vocational school: Work in a vocational school that instructs students in practical courses.
Develop course outline: Research and establish an outline of the course to be taught and calculate a time frame for the instructional plan in accordance with school regulations and curriculum objectives.
Deliver presentations on tourism: Make presentations about the tourism industry in general and about specific tourist attractions.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of travel and tourism vocational teacher. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Assessment processes: Various evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, summative and self- assessment are used for varying purposes.
Disability types: The nature and types of disabilities affecting the human beings such as physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional or developmental and the specific needs and access requirements of disabled people.
Learning difficulties: The learning disorders some students face in an academic context, especially Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and concentration deficit disorders.
Environmental impact of tourism: The study of the environmental impact of travel and tourist activities on tour destinations.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of travel and tourism vocational teacher. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Use global distribution system: Operate a computer reservations system or a global distribution system to book or reserve transportations and accommodations.
Speak different languages: Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
Process booking: Execute a booking of a place according to client’s requirement in advance and issue all appropriate documents.
Provide tourism related information: Give customers relevant information about historical and cultural locations and events while conveying this information in an entertaining and informative manner.
Devise tailor-made tourism itineraries: Create custom-made itineraries, taking into account the specific needs and preferences of customers.
Evaluate education programmes: Evaluate ongoing training programmes and advise on potential optimisation.
Manage resources for educational purposes: Identify the necessary resources needed for learning purposes, such as materials in class or arranged transportation for a field trip. Apply for the corresponding budget and follow up on the orders.
Participate in tourism events: Take part in tourism fairs and exhibitions in order to promote, distribute and negotiate tourism services and packages.
Use customer relationship management software: Use specialised software to manage company’s interactions with current and future customers. Organise, automate and synchronise sales, marketing, customer service, and technical support, to increase targeted sales.
Work with virtual learning environments: Incorporate the use of online learning environments and platforms into the process of instruction.
Develop tourist information materials: Create documents such as leaflets, brochures or city guides to inform tourists about local, cultural, social and historical activities and places of interest.
Assess an area as a tourism destination: Evaluate an area by analysing its typology, characteristics and its application as a tourist resource.
ISCO group and title
2320 – Vocational education teachers
References