Introduction to Travel and Tourism (4959)

Last Updated: 06 Jun 2023
Important Update: All awarding organisations are required by external regulators and funding agencies to regularly review performance and take-up of their products and services. Following a review City & Guilds has come to the difficult decision to no longer offer qualifications in Travel and Tourism.  
 
When we carry out reviews, there are a wide range of factors that are considered, including the number of learners taking the qualifications, assessment needs, funding, and government plans.  Some qualifications are being retired, which means the published last learner registration date will not be extended. Some qualifications are being withdrawn, which means we will be bringing forward the last registration date for learners. We will of course continue to fully support our customers and learners throughout the life of the qualifications and certification activities.

Please review the revised end registration dates on our website and catalogue.

These qualifications will enable you to learn, develop and practise the skills required to get started and progress in your career in the travel and tourism sector.
These introductory qualifications are ideal for anyone looking to work in or already working in a number of travel and tourism roles including:
  • holiday representative
  • tour guide
  • tourist information centre assistant
  • travel agent.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

These qualifications will help you develop specialist knowledge and skills such as:

  • customer service
  • locational geography
  • providing information
  • the role of the overseas representative
  • package travel and tourism products and services.

This qualification is assessed in a number of ways to provide a clear indication of candidate knowledge and abilities. The types of assessments used are:

  • research tasks (part of an assignment)
  • short-answer questions (part of an assignment)
  • practical tasks (part of an assignment)
  • online e-assessments.

Is this level right for me?

Level 1
This is for learners with little or no experience who wish to understand and work in the travel and tourism sector. Candidates will learn, develop and practise the skills required for employment and/or career progression.
What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications can help you to progress in a wide range of travel and tourism roles including:

  • Holiday representative
  • Tour guide
  • Tourist information centre assistant
  • Travel agent.

Learners can also go on to study the following related qualifications:

  • Level 2 Award/Certificate/Diploma in Travel and Tourism (4976)
  • Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Travel Services (4927)
  • Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Tourism Services (4927).
What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver these qualifications you will need qualified assessors - you can train internal members of staff or recruit specially.

You will also need suitable facilities to carry out the required training to enable learners to achieve industry standards.

Anyone can take this qualification. To find all the resource requirements, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

Level 1

Level 1 is ideal for those learners with little or no experience who wish to understand and work in the travel and tourism sector. Candidates will learn, develop and practise the skills required for employment and/or career progression.

There are three sizes of qualification at this level:

  • Award in Introduction to the Travel and Tourism Industry
  • Certificate in Introduction to the Travel and Tourism Industry
  • Diploma in Introduction to the Travel and Tourism Industry.

These comprise mandatory and optional units. Mandatory units include:

  • The UK Travel Industry
  • The UK Tourism Industry
  • Customer Service in Travel and Tourism
  • Locational Geography.

Optional units cover a range of specialisms including:

  • Accessible Travel and Tourism
  • Travel and Tourism Itineraries
  • Worldwide Travel and Tourism Destinations
  • The Role of Overseas Resort Representatives
  • Providing Information on a Tourism Destination.

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications can help you to progress in a wide range of travel and tourism roles including:

  • holiday representative
  • tour guide
  • tourist information centre assistant
  • travel agent.

Learners can also go on to study the following related qualifications:

  • Level 2 Award/Certificate/Diploma in Travel and Tourism (4876)
  • Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Travel Services (4927)
  • Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Tourism Services (4927).
Level 1 Award in Introduction to Travel and Tourism Industry (4959-01)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2024

Level 1 Award in Introduction to the Travel and Tourism Industry

  • Accreditation No: 600/1096/4 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 11 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 95 - 95 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 110 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2025 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £59.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 1 Certificate in Introduction to Travel and Tourism Industry (4959-02)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2024

Level 1 Certificate in Introduction to the Travel and Tourism Industry

  • Accreditation No: 600/1097/6 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 24 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 206 - 216 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 240 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2025 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £114.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 1 Diploma in Introduction to Travel and Tourism Industry (4959-03)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2024

Level 1 Diploma in Introduction to the Travel and Tourism Industry

  • Accreditation No: 600/1098/8 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 323 - 329 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2025 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £138.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

Explore our wider maths & English offer

Our maths & English qualifications underpin our apprenticeships and technical qualifications. They build learners’ confidence with the core skills required for employment, including the capacity to problem solve and use technology effectively. They are also key to triggering conditions of funding.

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For Learners

Related Qualifications

Browse some of our related qualifications:

> (4931) Travel and Tourism (SVQs)

> (4976) Travel and Tourism Professional