Tourism with Business
Programme Aim
The main aim of the programme is to provide learners with an appropriate base of relevant knowledge in various areas of tourism local, national, and international and the strategic marketing employed by the relevant stakeholders for their tourism attractions.
The purpose of this award is to enable you to carry out a range of information, administrative and service functions in tourism-related enterprises with a view to gaining employment/progressing to further education in this sector.
In recent years there has been considerable and continuing investments in promoting County Leitrim as a leading tourist destination in Ireland. The various tourist initiatives have been responsible for many recognised tourist attractions throughout the county e.g. Shannon Blueway, Southern Waterways Trail, The Shed Distillery, Northern Glens Trail and Sliabh an Iarainn, coupled with the existing attractions such as Glencar Waterfalls, Parke’s Castle, Lough Rynn Estate etc.
Leitrim now has so much to offer tourists; the county also has the advantage of been included in both “The Wild Atlantic Way” and “ Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands” owing to its location and having the shortest length of coast of any Irish county: Tullaghan and measuring a mere 4.7km.
These new attractions have increased tourism and employment in the county and have been responsible for a more diverse blend of tourist.
This course will also equip learners with the knowledge to promote personal development and new career prospects both locally, nationally, and internationally.
You can also progress to further or higher education and training by applying to enrol in a third level Institution such as the Atlantic Technological University Sligo (ATU) and the Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Athlone (TUS)
Entry Requirements
Education: No formal education or qualifications are required although applicants may have participated in primary and secondary education. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate a standard of knowledge, skill, and competence equivalent to NFQ Level 4 when accessing a Level 5 programme.
Aptitude: Applicants must have a motivation to learn, an interest in the subject and the ability to acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies set out in the course.
Previous Experience: N/A
There will be an informal interview with all applicants to assess suitability to the course.
Learning Outcomes
Enable the learner to understand the operation of tourism enterprises through the provision of administrative knowledge and skills e.g. dealing with reservations, record keeping, cash management, complaints procedures, health and safety, security practices, promotional activities, and stock control.
To facilitate the learner in understanding the importance of marketing, selling, display, merchandising, customer service, customer care, hospitality, and personal presentation in tourism enterprise operations.
To familiarise the learner with a substantial knowledge of the Irish tourism product, especially local tourist attractions, to allow them to provide visitor information in an accurate and impartial manner.
Effectively use digital marketing / e-tools to include social media marketing (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest), blogs, rich media, email marketing, search engine optimization and online advertising to advertise and promote the tourist enterprise.
To provide a programme of learning that is flexible so that the learner has the maximum opportunity to improve his/her literacy, numerical, ICT and planning skills while participating in the programme.
To facilitate the learner to further develop his/her interpersonal, team working, problem solving and time management skills, as appropriate, so that the learner is enabled to take responsibility for his/her own learning and to support progression including future participation in education and employment.
To afford the learner opportunities to enhance his/her confidence and ability to develop the skills to reach his/her full potential.
Modules
- Tourism Information and Administration 5N0636
- Tourism Principles and Practice 5N2078
- Ecotourism 5N0631
- Heritage 5N1453
- Event Production 5N1374
- Marketing Practice 5N1400
- Customer Service 5N0972
- Word Processing 5N1356
- Safety and Health at Work 5N1794
- Work Experience 5N1356.
- Communications 5N0690
Further Details
These courses:
- Are FREE of charge.
- Allow you retain your social welfare benefits (even if you miss a day of class).
- Provide an increase to €232 for students aged 21-25 who are on an aged reduced rate of payment.
- Qualify for National Childcare Scheme (NCS) formerly known as CETS.
- Provide meal and travel allowances.
- Provide the loan of a laptop for the duration of the course.
- Provide CV and interview preparation.
- Provide one to one meeting with an adult guidance counsellor.
- With a potential 390 CAO points available there is the opportunity of progression to Institutes of Technology.
- Provide Microsoft Office Specialist as an ad-on.
- Include relevant work experience and field trips.
- Include the opportunity to travel abroad for 2 weeks work experience under the Erasmus+ Programme – accommodation, travel and living expenses are covered.
- Utilise the local link bus service from Carrick on Shannon brings students to Drumshanbo town in the mornings and brings students back in the evening.