Friday, January 12, 2024
ABTA is initiating a survey to gather opinions and insights from its members and the broader travel industry regarding the content of upcoming training programs designed for college students pursuing careers in travel.
This initiative stems from the government’s decision last year to cease funding for all existing travel and tourism courses at level 3 colleges in England by September 2026, as part of a comprehensive plan to replace level 3 qualifications across the country. The survey, which aims to capture input from industry experts, has a deadline of January 31.
This survey marks the latest effort in ABTA’s ongoing work in this area, building on the establishment of the Tourism Industry Skills Working Group last year. The working group convened various organizations from the travel sector, education representatives, and leaders of travel and tourism courses, collaborating to devise alternative training options to attract young talent to the industry.
ABTA and the working group have outlined a pathway for the approval of new courses and have conducted numerous meetings and workshops to engage the industry in determining the course content. This presents an opportunity to ensure that students enrolled in these courses are well-equipped for launching careers in travel, hospitality, or the events sector. To guarantee a favorable outcome, the involvement of industry experts such as HR professionals and education and training leads is crucial in shaping the final design of these courses.
The information collected through the survey will be shared with relevant awarding bodies, enabling them to develop the new courses set to commence in September 2026, pending approval in June.
Luke Petherbridge, ABTA Director of Public Affairs, said:
“ABTA has worked hard with industry partners and education specialists to find a practical solution to the defunding of travel and tourism courses in England from September 2026. We now have a clear way ahead, and the opportunity to shape future college courses for young people with an interest in making a career within our industries is exciting.
“Our creation of the Tourism Industry Skills Working Group is the clearest possible indication of ABTA commitment to ensuring that the industry can continue to attract young people to the travel industry and of ABTA’s engagement in policy work and our expertise in education producing tangible results that will shape the future of our sector.
“However, the success of the working group’s efforts will depend on securing input from across the wider travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors. Consultation and engagement with a wide range of industry representatives is a vital part of the approvals process for new courses. I would urge everyone with an interest in this area to take part and share your views. Please also share it widely with any industry colleagues or contacts that might be interested.”
Claire Steiner, Director of the Institute of Travel and Tourism said:
“It was heartening to see how all corners of our industry came together when the news of the defunding was announced a year ago. This is a great opportunity for us to help shape the new courses for the next generation of travel professionals, show our continued support for these qualifications and ensure that they are fit for purpose.”
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