Last Updated on January 4, 2023
Are you interested in starting a career in travel and tourism? It might interest you to read this article, as we share the list of the best travel and tourism courses in Kenya in 2023.
The field of travel and tourism primarily deals with taking care of tourists, hospitality management, travel management, tour management, etc. It offers diverse job opportunities.
The travel and tourism sector is growing at a good pace in Kenya. The Government is giving much importance to the tourism sector. Various plans and initiatives have been designed and developed by the Government, keeping the tourism sector in mind.
This is a good sign. The tourism sector will employ many Kenyan nationals and help generate more revenue.
With the increase in the size of this sector, the tourism industry is also going to need an increased number of qualified travel and tourism professionals.
In this article, you will come to know about the good travel and tourism courses available in Kenya. Information such as course details, eligibility criteria, and career prospects has also been covered here.
Table of Contents
What is Travel & Tourism?
The travel and tourism industry in Kenya is currently experiencing unprecedented growth. The industry is one of the largest and most profitable industries in Kenya and contributes significantly to the foreign exchange earned.
As per various studies, the industry is expected to create over 45 million jobs in Kenya by 2025. Students have endless career opportunities in this fast-growing industry of travel and tourism.
Candidates looking to pursue their career in the industry can choose to work for travel agencies, government tourism departments, tour operations, immigration and customs services, airlines, hotels, and the list continues.
Candidates can pursue a degree, diploma, or certificate course in travel and tourism at graduation or post-graduation level. Candidates can also pursue a Ph.D. in their chosen subject of travel and tourism to build their career in the field of research.
Kenya is a well-known tourist destination. Heritage, cultural and medical tourists throng Kenyan tourist destinations each year. Travel and Tourism management professionals may manage the accommodation, travel modes, tour program, and overall stay of such tourists in Kenya.
Not only in Kenya, travel and tourism professionals may also perform the above-mentioned tasks abroad, where they may take Kenyan nationals on tours!
Let us check some course details now. In Kenya, travel and tourism courses are available in these formats-
- Bachelor’s Degree courses
- Diploma courses
- Certificate courses
- PG Degree courses
- PG Diploma courses
- PG Certificate courses
Travel and Tourism Courses in Kenya
Bachelor’s Degree Courses
- BA in Travel and Tourism Management
- BA in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Management
- Sc. in Travel and Tourism Management
- BA Tourism Studies
- Sc. in Hospitality and Travel Management
- BBA in Travel and Tourism Management
- BBA in Hospitality and Travel Management
- BBA in Air Travel Management
- Bachelor of Tourism Studies
- Bachelor of Tourism Administration
- Com. Travel and Tourism Management
- BA Travel and Tourism
The above-mentioned courses are Undergraduate level Degree programs. They are various versions of BA, BBA, and B.Sc. programs. Some generalized courses also exist, which are relevant to the field of travel and tourism management.
They are- Hotel and Hospitality management courses, Aviation and Hospitality management courses, Culinary Arts courses. After pursuing the generalized courses also, one could find a job in the travel and tourism sector.
Duration
Bachelor’s Degree programs are 3-4 years long (each).
PG Courses and Further Studies
After completing any of the above-mentioned Degree programs, one may go for relevant PG courses such as MA, M.Sc., PG Diploma, Master of Tourism Studies, Master of Tourism Administration or MBA in Travel and Tourism management.
For further advanced studies, one may go for Ph.D. programs related to travel and tourism studies.
Diploma Courses
- Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management
- Also, Diploma in Hospitality and Travel Management
- Diploma in Tourism Studies
- Diploma in Aviation Hospitality and Travel Management
- Also, Diploma in Tourist Guide
- Diploma in Tourism and Ticketing
- Diploma in Airfare and Ticketing
Duration
Depending on the institute and the program, the course duration could be anywhere between 1- 2 years. Some institutes are also known to offer foundation Diploma courses lasting for a period of 6 months.
Certificate Courses
- Certificate in Travel and Tourism Management
- Also, Certificate in Travel Management
- Certificate in Tour Guide
- Certificate in Tourism Management
Duration
Depending on the institute and the program, the course duration could be anywhere between 6 months to 1 year.
Travel And Tourism Courses Syllabus
Irrespective of the course format, there exist a few core subjects, when it comes to travel and tourism studies. Let us check out those core subjects to get a better idea about the course structure.
- Communication Skills
- Fundamentals of Tourism
- Accounting
- Cultural History and Heritage of Kenya
- Tourism Policy and Law
- Tourism Marketing
- Management
- Travel Agency Training
- Tour Guiding Skills and Training
- HR Management
- Computer Utilization and Application
- Office Management and Functions
- Air Ticketing
- Public Relations
- Tour Operation
Career Prospects and Job Opportunities in Travel And Tourism
When it comes to the Government sector, one may find a job at Tourism Boards (State as well as Central), Government Tourist information offices, Government-run Hotels, Airlines, Transportation services, etc.
When it comes to the private sector, one may work for Travel agencies, Tour operators, Travel consultants, Airlines, Airports, Travel and ticketing websites, Visa and travel document service firms, Hotels, Resorts, Tourist information offices, Cruise lines, etc.
If one has entrepreneurship skills and access to decent financial resources, one may start own travel agency, ticketing firm, tour agency, travel consultancy, tourist information service, etc.
Common job profiles available in front of travel and tourism professionals include–
- Travel Agency staff
- Travel and Tourism Consultant
- Also, Travel Agent
- Tour Operator
- Ticketing staff
- Air hostess
- Airline employee / Airport staff
- Entrepreneur
- Tour Guide
- Customer service manager
- Event manager
- Tour manager
- Tourism promoter/marketer
Travel And Tourism Courses Salary Scale In Kenya
Starting salary depends on numerous factors. Prominent ones include- the profile of the employer, job profile, and job location. Average starting salary – 274,000 KES per month. In the case of a Government job, the salary will be based on Pay Band and scale.
Travel and Tourism Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
While experience is a significant factor in growth in the field of travel and tourism, there are endless job opportunities that candidates can avail themselves of in both private and public sectors after pursuing a course in the same. Some of the popular job profiles in travel and tourism are:
Holiday/ Travel Agent
A travel agent evaluates the requirements of tourists and helps them make the best possible travel arrangements. Many hotels and travel groups hire travel agents to sell their tour packages to clients.
Travel Executive
A travel executive is responsible for managing different aspects of travel including transportation, flight booking, hotel accommodation, destination information, etc.
Tourism Manager
A tourism manager promotes tourism in his/her region through different advertising strategies and campaigns. The manager also offers assistance to tourists from different cultures and traditions.
Travel Officer/ Coordinator
A travel coordinator finds the best prices on hotels, flights, and rental cars; processes employee travel expenses, sets up corporate discounts with travel vendors, creates itineraries, etc.
Airlines/ Ground Staff
The ground staff plays a crucial role in areas such as commercial activities, running of airports, airline operations, etc. The job of ground staff is vast and includes responsibilities such as inspecting, storing, and transporting luggage; and stocking the aircraft with food and beverage items.
Tourist Guide
A tourist guide helps tourists visiting different tourist places and provides them information on the cultural, historical, and contemporary heritage of religious and historical sites, museums, and other places of interest.
Transport Officer
A transport officer is typically appointed by a state government or local transport body to carry out activities like maintenance of the vehicle fleet, overseeing vehicle establishment programs, certifying ground transportation budget, etc.
Lastly, diverse job opportunities are available in front of travel and tourism management professionals. The government, as well as private sector enterprises, is known to recruit them. Self-employment is another popular career path that professionals may go for!