Travel Consultant Course

At BOLC Academy, our Travel Consultant Course introduces you to how travel businesses operate, what makes destinations attractive and how tourism services are presented to customers. Designed for beginners, this flexible online programme gives you the background knowledge to explore customer-facing opportunities in the travel sector.

If you are comparing subjects before choosing your next step, browse our course catalogue and our dedicated travel and tourism courses. This introductory programme focuses on understanding the industry and its products, rather than claiming to provide advanced booking-system training or a management qualification.

You will examine different reasons people travel, the features that influence destination choices, and the products offered to leisure and business travellers. You will also explore the marketing mix and how a travel business can match its services to the needs of a defined audience. The course is delivered online, with approximately 60 hours of study and the flexibility to learn at your own pace.

About This Travel Management Course

A capable travel consultant needs to understand more than the appeal of a destination. Customers often compare transport, accommodation, convenience, purpose, value and the overall suitability of a proposed trip. Our Travel Management Course helps you develop the foundation to recognise these considerations and understand how tourism providers bring different services together.

The syllabus takes you from the structure and purpose of the travel sector into the products and services businesses offer. It also introduces the marketing mix, enabling you to see why a service that appeals to one group of travellers may be unsuitable for another. For example, a business traveller may prioritise flexible transport and reliable connections, while a leisure traveller may be more concerned with accommodation, attractions and total package value.

What You Will Learn

• Identify major types of tourism and explain why people travel.
• Describe the role of the travel and tourism sector in modern society.
• Recognise factors that make destinations attractive to different visitors.
• Distinguish between common leisure and business travel services.
• Explain how tourism products and services are positioned for different customer needs.
• Understand the basic marketing mix and its relevance to promoting travel services.

Studying Online with BOLC Academy

Our online study format lets you work through course materials around your existing commitments. With approximately 60 hours of learning, this introductory course gives you time to build understanding of essential industry concepts without requiring you to attend a physical classroom. You can revisit the topics as you study and reflect on how the ideas relate to real travel services.

Why Study Travel and Tourism?

Travel services bring together people, destinations, logistics and customer expectations. Studying the foundations of the sector can help you understand how these elements interact and why good product knowledge matters in customer-facing work. It can also help you decide which area of the industry best suits your interests, whether that involves agencies, tour operators, accommodation providers or visitor services.

For a closer look at actual duties and career settings, read our guide to working in travel and tourism. The article discusses the variety of roles and the interpersonal qualities that travel workers may need.

Professional Development and Next Steps

This Level 1 programme concentrates on broad industry awareness and the basics of tourism products and services. It is not a substitute for workplace experience, specialist reservation software training or advanced management study. After completing this introduction, you may choose more detailed advanced tour and travel training if your interests extend to tour operations, distribution systems and wider tourism management topics.

Start building your knowledge with BOLC Academy and explore the travel industry through a clear, accessible introduction.

Module 1. An introduction to Travel & Tourism

Your first module explores the structure, purpose and importance of the contemporary travel and tourism sector. You will consider how travel activity connects transport providers, accommodation businesses, attractions, tour operators and other services, and why these organisations depend on each other to deliver a visitor experience.

You will learn to distinguish between different types of tourism and the motivations behind them. Leisure travellers, for instance, may travel for relaxation, culture or adventure, whereas business travellers may need reliable schedules, convenient locations and efficient services. Understanding these differences is essential when considering what a traveller values and how a destination or service might meet their expectations.

The module also examines why destinations appeal to particular visitor groups. Natural features, cultural heritage, accessibility, facilities, climate and perceived value can all influence travel decisions. By the end of this module, you should be better equipped to discuss the travel industry in professional terms and explain how customer motivations affect tourism demand.

Module 2. Tourism Products & Services

The second module focuses on the products and services available to travellers. You will investigate the features of different leisure and business travel offerings, including how individual services may be combined into an experience that meets a particular customer need.

You will consider the distinctions between tangible elements, such as accommodation and transport, and service features, such as convenience, advice, flexibility and customer assistance. This helps explain why travellers may evaluate similar offers differently. A low advertised price is only one consideration; location, service availability, suitability and overall value may be equally important.

The module introduces the marketing mix as a framework for understanding how travel businesses present their offerings. You will consider how product, price, place and promotion influence the ability to reach a relevant audience. For example, a family holiday service may be marketed differently from a corporate travel arrangement because the customer priorities and purchasing decisions are different.

On completing this module, you will have a clearer understanding of how tourism products are developed, described and promoted. This knowledge can support informed conversations about customer preferences and provide a starting point for further specialist training.

At the end of this course successful learners will receive a Certificate of Achievement from the Quality Licence Scheme and a Learner Unit Summary (which lists the components the learner has completed as part of the course).

This course and/or training programme has been endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme for its high-quality, non-regulated provision and training programmes. This course and/or training programme is not regulated by Ofqual and is not an accredited qualification. Your training provider will be able to advise you on any further recognition, for example progression routes into further and/or higher education. For further information please visit the Learner FAQs on the Quality Licence Scheme website.

Frequently Asked Questions
 

What is covered in this Travel Consultant Course?

The course covers an introduction to the travel and tourism industry, reasons people travel, destination appeal, popular tourism products and services, and basic marketing concepts relevant to travel businesses.

Is the course suitable for a complete beginner?

Yes. It is designed as an introductory Level 1 programme and does not assume previous experience in travel and tourism.

How many modules are included?

There are two approved modules: An introduction to Travel & Tourism, followed by Tourism Products & Services.

How long does the course take?

The study duration is approximately 60 hours. Your own pace will depend on your previous knowledge and study routine.

Can I study the Travel Management Course online?

Yes. BOLC Academy offers this programme through online study, allowing you to work through the material without attending a classroom.

Will I learn to use airline reservation or booking software?

This syllabus focuses on industry awareness, tourism products, services and introductory marketing. It does not specify specialist airline reservation software training.

Does the programme explain different types of tourism?

Yes. The first module explores different tourism types, visitor motivations and factors that influence the attractiveness of destinations.

Will I study travel marketing?

Yes. The second module introduces the marketing mix and explains its role in promoting tourism products and services to a relevant target audience.

What certificate is available upon successful completion?

Successful learners receive a Certificate of Achievement from the Quality Licence Scheme and a Learner Unit Summary of completed course components.

Is the QLS Level 1 Award an Ofqual-regulated qualification?

No. This is Quality Licence Scheme-endorsed, non-regulated training. It is not an Ofqual-regulated qualification or an accredited RQF qualification.

Can this course guarantee a travel consultant job?

No course can guarantee employment. This introduction can help you build subject knowledge that may support further learning and applications for suitable roles.

What could I study after this introductory course?

You may explore more advanced travel and tourism study, depending on your career aims. BOLC Academy offers further learning in tourism operations and management.

A career in travel and tourism could literally take you places you never dreamed possible. With no prior knowledge or experience required, this fully endorsed Level 1 Travel and Tourism Award is designed to lay the groundwork for a successful career in the field. Continue studying at diploma level upon completion, or put your new skills and knowledge to use in the practical setting of your choosing. Newly qualified travel and tourism personnel can expect to earn approximately £20,000, alongside a world of attractive perks and privileges.

• Beginners who want a structured introduction to travel and tourism.
• Jobseekers considering entry-level, customer-facing opportunities in the sector.
• People working in customer service who want to understand tourism offerings.
• Aspiring travel consultants interested in the basics of tourism products and customer motivations.
• Learners considering further study in tourism operations or management.