Have you been looking to get into tourism but lack the skills and knowledge? Well, do you know skills in tourism can be acquired online? Let me show you! Curated in this blog are 15 list of free online tourism courses with certificates that you can enroll in to acquire the skills and expertise to work in the tourism industry which happens to be one of the largest industries in the world.
In 2022, the global tourism industry sat at 7.7 trillion US dollars according to Statista’s Global Tourism Industry Statistics and Facts. This industry is not just large in GDP but equally large as a service sector encompassing accommodation, entertainment, attractions, transportation, and more, therefore, there are many subsectors within the tourism industry for you to explore, get into, and earn high income.
In many regions, tourism is their most important source of income, and not just for regions but even for entire countries. In those countries, tourism makes up the bulk of their national GDP. This is one of the economic significances of tourism, so if you are looking to get into tourism to make money, you can not be disappointed
Just like any other field, you need to acquire a college degree like a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, a bachelor of communication and media, a bachelor of event/arts and tourism management, or a related field. Any of these bachelor’s degrees in tourism or related to tourism take 3-4 years to complete. Your years of study will be about learning the most significant concepts, skills, and values of the tourism and hospitality industry, and when you graduate you will be employed in managerial roles.
However, if you cannot wait that long to acquire the degree but just want to jump right in faster and build your experience first-hand while working in the industry there are other alternatives. These alternatives are taking an associate’s degree in tourism which takes 2 years to complete, a diploma in tourism which takes, at most, one year to complete, and then there are certification programs in tourism that you can complete in just a few weeks.
However, any of these alternatives will only prepare you for entry-level jobs then you can gradually work your way up to a managerial position after you have acquired many years of firsthand experience. Aside from being faster to complete and get into the industry, these alternatives are affordable like their tuition fees but do you know what is even cheaper? It is the free online tourism courses with certificates that I have curated here.
Oh! Did I say cheaper? I meant free 😉😊
You can take tourism classes online absolutely for free, receive an accredited certificate, and start applying for entry-level jobs with your certificate. While I can guarantee that the online tourism classes are free, I cannot guarantee that their certifications are free, some online learning platforms with free online tourism courses offer the certifications for free while others require a nominal fee to get the certificate.
The certificate is important if you have zero knowledge or skill and want to pursue a career in tourism because without it there is no proof for potential employers to know whether you have the skill or not. However, if you have already working in the field for some time then getting the certificate after completing a free online tourism course is not necessary. Because what is most important to you is the new knowledge and skillset that you will acquire and not some paper.
So, in that case, you just go ahead and take the course to advance your existing skills and acquire the latest knowledge in the tourism industry to apply to your business.
This shows that the free online tourism courses with certificates are not for beginners alone but for all experience levels as long as you work or want to work in the tourism and hospitality sector.
List of Industries in Tourism
I am adding this header so that you can know all the industries in tourism to help you know where to direct your focus and not make you confused. The industries in tourism are:
- Travel agency
- Agritourism
- Business travel
- Amusement Park
- Cultural tourism
- Sports tourism
- Sustainable tourism
- Tour operator
- Marketing
- Hotel management
- Safari
- Ecotourism
- Resort
- Adventure travel
Do further research on each of these industries later in your own free time to know where to direct your focus and get into that industry.
Having said that, let’s get into the main topic…
Free Online Tourism Courses With Certificates
The following are the with their specific details further below:
- Travel and Tourism Short Course
- Travel and Tourism Management
- Travel Agent and Consultant Training
- Diploma in Tourism Studies
- Ecotourism – Principles and Practices
- Exploring Air Travel and Tourism
- Tourism – Marketing and Promotion
- Diploma in Airline Cabin Crew Service
- Tourism – Introduction to Travel Patterns and Destinations
- Hospitality Management Studies – Hotel Operations
- Hospitality Management – Health and Safety in Food Service
- Hospitality Management Studies – Food and Beverage Services
- Diploma in Hospitality Management
- Concierge: Roles, Work Environment and Etiquettes
- Understanding Travel and Tourism
1. Travel and Tourism Short Course
This free online short course in travel and tourism is designed for experienced tourism managers and those looking to switch careers and are considering tourism. The course will teach you the various types of tourism and the identifying motivating factors for tourism. It begins with an introduction to travel and tourism so that those with no experience can follow along.
Travel and Tourism Short Course is self-paced, that is, you can start and complete it on your own time. Upon completion of the course, you will receive a free certificate but only if you pass the assignments with the required marks.
2. Travel and Tourism Management
Are you currently a manager in the travel and tourism sector? Are you looking to enhance your skills and your resume at the same time? You have stumbled on the right course. This course right here – Travel and Tourism Management – is all you need to develop your management skills and stay updated with the latest technologies and sustainable development strategies to maximize your career opportunities.
This course will teach you tour operations, consumer trends, tour operation duties, the importance of crisis management and public awareness in tourism, and components of tourism products, services, and goals. The course also offers a free certification of completion when you pass the assessment with an aggregate score of 80%.
3. Travel Agent and Consultant Training
If you would like to pursue a career as a travel agent and consultant you can start right now with this course, acquire the skillset, get your certification, and begin applying for entry-level roles without the need for a degree. Enrolling in this course will help you know all there is to work as a travel agent and consultant in the tourism industry.
You will learn to use the latest technologies and the foremost principles and practical techniques for building a professional career as a travel agent and consultant. At the end of this course, you will not just acquire knowledge of tourism and travel but also acquire knowledge in human resource management.
4. Diploma in Tourism Studies
This is a diploma course which means it is more in-depth with broader topics compared to the typical certificate courses. The diploma in Tourism Studies course starts from the very beginning of travel and continues further to discuss careers in tourism, types of travel, the tourist industry, travel destinations, advertising tourism, and many other topics.
The course consists of three assessments in total and you have to pass them to get your free certificate. This is an ideal course for those who want to pursue careers as travel agents or want to work in the travel sector. Diploma in Tourism Studies is one of the best travel and tourism diploma courses online.
5. Ecotourism – Principles and Practices
If you looked at the list of industries in tourism that I curated above, you would find ecotourism among the list, and if it is an industry you would like to explore then you should get started with this free online course. Students enrolled in this course will learn what ecotourism is all about, and its importance to tourism and the world as a whole.
Students will also learn about the ecotourism market and how to build a successful business in the niche. The course goes further to explore the standards and approaches of ecotourism to minimize environmental impacts, manage natural resources, and support local communities. There is a free certificate at the end of the course.
6. Exploring Air Travel and Tourism
This is one of the best free online travel and tourism courses with certificates from Alison designed to equip you with knowledge on how travel agents organize safe and memorable journeys. If you are currently a travel agent or looking to become one, you should take this course.
7. Tourism – Marketing and Promotion
Marketers in Tourism here is a free online course to boost your knowledge in identifying a target audience, understanding the purchasing process of your customers, and learning the rules of promoting tourism campaigns and effective advertising strategies. If you are already a marketer but want to focus on tourism marketing, enroll in this course to get started.
At the end of the course, you will receive a free certificate and acquire skills and knowledge in product marketing, digital marketing, advertising, and tourism.
8. Diploma in Airline Cabin Crew Service
Are you looking to become a cabin crew member or you are already one but want to upgrade your skills and knowledge to stand out from the crowd? Then do not hesitate to enroll in this diploma course where you will explore the roles of flight attendants and covers safety, emergency procedures, and customer service to prepare you for an exciting career as a cabin crew member.
The course consists of 5 modules with one assessment. The topics in these modules include recruitment and training procedures of aircraft cabin crew, duties and responsibilities of the cabin crew, and fatigue and resource management.
9. Tourism – Introduction to Travel Patterns and Destinations
Different people travel for different reasons, and understanding these factors can help you organize travels that will suit your client’s demands. It can also help manage or plan any tourist facility. This course is ideal for travel agents and consultants to boost their knowledge of planning trips for clients.
10. Hospitality Management Studies – Hotel Operations
This is one of the best free online hospitality courses on Alison designed to ready you for careers in hotel operations. With the aid of this course, those looking to become hotel managers will learn about the organizational structure of a hotel, the functions of different hotel departments, and how they work together to provide excellent services to their guests.
11. Hospitality Management – Health and Safety in Food Service
This course is aimed at introducing learners to basic health and safety practices in the food service industry. You will learn about the functions and operations of the food and beverage department in any hospitality and tourism setting. This is an ideal course for chefs, restaurateurs, and hotel managers. This course is one of the best free online tourism and hospitality courses on Alison with a free certificate for those who complete the course.
12. Hospitality Management Studies – Food and Beverage Services
Here is another free online course focused on food and beverage services that explores the functions, operations, and organization of the food and beverage department in the hospitality industry. The course takes 3 hours to complete and there is a free certificate at the end of the course if you pass the assessment with an 80% score.
13. Diploma in Hospitality Management
If you work in tourism, grabbing a diploma in hospitality management will plant your feet firmly on the ground because tourism and hospitality work hand in hand. This is a diploma course which means it provides deeper knowledge of hospitality management including its principles, nature, and concepts and skills required to operate in the sector.
14. Concierge: Roles, Work Environment and Etiquettes
Concierge work in tourism and hospitality settings and they are mainly found in hotels. This is a role you can get into without a degree and if you don’t know what they do or where they work, don’t worry, this course will walk you through all that and still equip you with skills to become a concierge at any tourist/hospitality facility.
15. Understanding Travel and Tourism
Last but not least, this course will satisfy your curiosity about travel and tourism. It is an ideal course for beginners who would like to enter the field of travel and tourism. The course introduces beginners to elements that make travel and tourism important and fascinating.
Recommendations
- 9 Free Online Hospitality Management Courses with Certificates
. - 11 Best Free Online Classes for Interior Design
. - 16 Best Free Online Media Courses with Certificate
. - 14 Best Free Online German Language Courses
. - 13 Free Online Python Course for Beginners