BTEC Level 2 First Award in Travel and Tourism

The BTEC Level 2 First Award in Travel and Tourism is designed for learners who want a qualification that links their education to real‑world, vocational learning in the tourism and visitor economy sector. 

Students gain a foundational understanding of the subject, develop sector‑specific knowledge, and build transferable skills to support future study or employment. 

The qualification is intended for learners who:

• Are motivated by practical, applied learning and prefer assessment through assignments and real‑world scenarios rather than exams alone.
• Want to progress to further study at Level 3, apprenticeships, or employment in travel, tourism, hospitality, events, customer service, and related sectors.
• Benefit from developing key skills such as teamwork, communication, independent learning, research, planning and customer service which are all skills valued widely across industries.
• The course is well suited for students who are curious about how the tourism and visitor economy sector operates, enjoy exploring destinations, and want to understand the role of customer experience, global events, and industry organisations.

4 GCSEs at Grade 3 or above and one must be Maths or GCSE English Language at Grade 4 or above

The units you will study are:

• Unit 1 The UK Travel and Tourism Sector
• Unit 2 UK Travel and Tourism Destinations
• Unit 3 The Travel and Tourism Customer Experience
• Unit 5 Factors Affection Worldwide Travel and Tourism

Students can retake GCSE Maths or GCSE English Language 

The qualification also supports the development of transferable maths and English skills, which are valuable for further education and employment across travel, tourism, hospitality, and customer‑service roles.

Students learn through a vocational, applied approach, where knowledge is developed by exploring real tourism, visitor economy and travel situations and carrying out practical tasks linked to the industry. The course blends classroom instruction with activities that help learners apply their learning to real events, workplaces and customer scenarios. 

Learning is structured around:

• Practical activities -Students’ complete tasks such as planning routes, creating itineraries, investigating destinations, analysing customer needs, and exploring how organisations work together. These activities mirror real travel and tourism jobs and encourage learners to apply theory in context.
• Independent research and use of real resources – Learners use guidebooks, maps, brochures, websites, travel data and industry examples to investigate destinations, customer experiences and global travel issues. They are encouraged to draw on personal experiences, case studies and local tourism examples.
• Most units are internally assessed through assignments, projects, maps, itineraries, presentations and written tasks. Students receive preparation and feedback that helps them develop their skills over time.
• Synoptic learning across units – Students combine knowledge from different units, destinations, the sector, customer service and global factors, to solve realistic scenarios.
• Engagement with real industry contexts – Learning may involve workplace examples, visiting speakers, case studies from local tourism providers, local visits, or employer input, helping students understand how the sector operates in real settings.
• Development of transferable skills – Throughout the course, students build communication, problem‑solving, teamwork, planning, research, customer service and organisational skills—central to both the qualification and future employment.
• External assessment for Unit 1 – Students also prepare for an externally marked written exam (Unit 1), which tests their ability to apply knowledge to case‑study‑based questions.

Students will be expected to:

• Bring basic stationery, such as pens, pencils, rulers and highlighters, to complete written tasks and map work.
• Keep an organised folder for assignments, itineraries, maps and research evidence, as work is assessed through a portfolio.
• Have access to a computer or laptop

Most units are internally assessed, meaning your teacher sets assignments and mark your work.

These assessments include tasks such as:

• written reports, presentations, posters and booklets
• practical tasks like planning routes or creating itineraries
• map work and research activities
• case‑study investigations and scenario‑based tasks

External Assessment (Exam) -One unit, Unit 1: The UK Travel and Tourism Sectoris assessed externally through a written exam.

The course is designed to help you progress into further education, apprenticeships, or employment within the travel and tourism sector.

• After completing this qualification, you can move on to:
• Level 2 vocational qualifications in related areas.
• Level 3 vocational programmes, including the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National in Travel and Tourism.
• Related academic qualifications, such as GCSEs or other Level 3 subjects that complement travel and tourism.

Apprenticeship Opportunities – The course provides the knowledge and skills needed to progress into:

• Apprenticeships in travel and tourism
• Apprenticeships in hospitality
• These pathways build on the customer service, destination knowledge and employability skills developed throughout the programme.

Progression into Employment – The qualification supports entry into a wide range of travel, tourism and customer‑facing roles, including:

• Travel services
• Tourism services
• Visitor attractions
• Conferences and events
• Passenger transport

These roles draw directly on the industry knowledge, customer service skills and destination awareness developed during the course.

Transferable Skills for Any Future Pathway – Throughout the course, learners develop valuable skills such as:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Problem solving
• Research
• Customer service

These skills support progression into many different sectors, not just travel and tourism.

For more information contact Derby College on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk