Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to source and use current and emerging information on the tourism and travel industry. This includes industry structures, technology, laws and ethical issues specifically relevant to the tourism and travel industry. Tourism and travel personnel integrate this essential knowledge on a daily basis to work effectively in the industry.
This unit applies to all tourism and travel sectors and people working at different levels. Managers will use more formal research to attain specialised and comprehensive knowledge which supports product planning, marketing and strategic management activities. This is covered within other units of competency.
This unit is not about having in-depth knowledge but focuses on the ability to source and interpret information relevant to day-to-day activities in order to maximise performance.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Source and use industry information. | 1.1.Identify sources of information on the structure and operation of the tourism and travel industry. 1.2.Access specific information of relevance to the tourism and travel industry to assist operational duties. 1.3.Obtain information on features of current and emerging tourism products and services relevant to job role. 1.4.Use knowledge of the tourism and travel industry and its products and services to enhance the quality of work performance. |
2. Source and use compliance information. | 2.1.Obtain information on laws specifically relevant to the tourism and travel industry and work compliantly. 2.2.Seek information on industry quality assurance schemes and use it to benefit own organisation. 2.3.Access information on career planning and equal employment opportunity (EEO) law. 2.4.Obtain information on ethical industry practices and conduct day-to-day tourism and travel activities according to those practices. |
3. Source and use information on tourism and travel technology. | 3.1.Source and access information on current and emerging technologies that impact on operational duties. 3.2.Use information on technology to suggest new and improved workplace practices. 3.3.Use current and emerging technology in day-to-day work activities to enhance the quality of work performance. |
4. Update personal and organisational knowledge of the tourism and travel industry. | 4.1.Identify and use a range of opportunities to update knowledge of the tourism and travel industry. 4.2.Monitor current issues and trends for the industry. 4.3.Share current tourism and travel issues and trends with colleagues. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
source and document current industry information on the tourism and travel industry using at least three information sources listed in the knowledge evidence
source and interpret information on the following from the above sources and share with colleagues to improve knowledge of the tourism and travel industry:
current and emerging products and services
current issues
career opportunities
relationships between other related industries
compliance issues and quality assurance
new products, technology, techniques and services
work ethic required to work in the industry
identify ways to integrate current tourism and travel industry information into daily work activities to:
enhance the quality of work performance
conduct ethical practice within the travel and tourism industry.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
sources of industry information:
discussions with experienced industry personnel, colleagues or suppliers
industry:
accreditation operators
associations and organisations
developers of codes of conduct or ethics
journals
seminars
plain English documents, issued by government regulators, that describe laws relevant to the tourism and travel industry
libraries
media
regional, state and national tourism offices
reference books
training courses
structure, functions and key characteristics of the tourism and travel industry
roles and general responsibilities for different jobs, functions and the interrelationship of different sectors in the industry
general nature of allied and related industries:
hospitality
meetings
incentives
conferences and events
primary functions of:
major cross-industry and sector-specific industry associations especially those with which the organisation has a relationship
trade unions in the industry
local, regional, state and national tourism information service and marketing organisations
tourism research bodies
basic aspects of tourism and travel industry quality assurance processes:
industry accreditation schemes
codes of conduct or ethics
occupational licensing
reasons for participation and impacts of non-compliance
roles and responsibilities of individual staff members when participating in schemes
basic aspects of state, territory and commonwealth laws specifically relevant to the tourism and travel industry and actions that must be adhered to by tourism organisations:
Criminal Code Act 1995 for child sex offences outside Australia
equal employment opportunity (EEO)
rights of employees and responsibilities of employers to make merit based employment decisions
for inbound tour operators and guides, basic aspects of and actions that must be adhered to by tourism organisations:
Queensland Tourism Services Act 2003 for the delivery of tourism products in Queensland
current and emerging technology used in the tourism industry:
e-business
social media.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in an operational tourism or travel environment. This can be:
an industry workplace
a simulated industry environment or activity.
Assessment must ensure use of:
computers, printers, communication technology and information programs used to source industry information
information on codes of conduct, membership and benefits distributed by:
industry associations
accreditation operators
unions
plain English documents issued by government regulators that describe laws specifically relevant to the tourism industry:
Criminal Code Act 1995 for child sex offences outside Australia
Queensland Tourism Services Act 2003
experienced industry personnel, colleagues or suppliers with whom the individual can interact to obtain current industry information; these can be:
industry personnel, colleagues or suppliers within a workplace; or
individuals who participate in role plays or simulated activities set up for the purpose of assessment.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations’ requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement. | |
SKILLS | DESCRIPTION |
Reading skills to: | read the content of plain English information about laws, industry accreditation schemes and codes of conduct research, sort and use tourism and travel industry information. |
Writing skills to: | prepare notes, summarise and record information in basic documents, sheets and files on current tourism and travel industry practices, products, services and technology. |
Oral communication skills to: | discuss current and emerging industry trends with experienced industry personnel, colleagues, suppliers and industry bodies. |
Learning skills to: | continuously update, review and maintain own knowledge of the tourism and travel industries. |
Self-management skills to: | take responsibility for sourcing and updating current and emerging information. |
Technology skills to: | use online information systems to access tourism and travel industry information. |
Sectors
Tourism
Competency Field
Working in Industry