Travel and tourism is a booming industry that offers vast career opportunities for professionals who have the knowledge and skills to navigate the field. However, not everyone has the resources to obtain a formal education in travel and tourism. Fortunately, there are plenty of free travel and tourism courses available online for those who are passionate about exploring the world and serving travelers. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best free travel and tourism courses that you can take to enhance your skills and knowledge in this exciting field.
1. World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Online Academy
The UNWTO Online Academy is a world-class learning and capacity building platform designed to provide tourism professionals with the latest insights, tools, and practices in the industry. The platform offers free online courses on a wide range of topics, such as sustainable tourism, tourism statistics, and tourism marketing. The courses are self-paced and available in multiple languages, making them accessible to learners from all over the world.
2. Alison’s Diploma in Tourism Studies
Alison is a leading provider of free online courses that offer high-quality, interactive learning experiences. The Diploma in Tourism Studies is a comprehensive course that covers essential topics in travel and tourism, such as tourism management, marketing, and customer service. The course also includes practical exercises and assessments to help learners apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.
3. Tourism eSchool’s Training Webinars
Tourism eSchool is an online learning platform that specializes in providing training and resources for tourism businesses and organizations. The platform offers a variety of free training webinars on topics such as destination marketing, social media, and customer experience. The webinars are led by experienced tourism professionals and are designed to provide practical insights and strategies for improving business performance.
4. Coursera’s Introduction to Tourism and Travel
Coursera is a popular online learning platform that offers free and paid courses from top universities and institutions around the world. The Introduction to Tourism and Travel course is offered by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and provides a broad overview of the tourism industry, including its history, trends, and future prospects. The course also covers key concepts in tourism management, such as customer service, destination marketing, and sustainable tourism.
5. FutureLearn’s Tourism Courses
FutureLearn is a UK-based online learning platform that offers free and paid courses from leading universities and cultural institutions. The platform offers a variety of courses related to travel and tourism, such as cultural tourism, tourism planning, and hospitality management. The courses are designed to provide learners with a deep understanding of the industry and equip them with the skills to succeed in their careers.
6. Harvard’s Cultural Heritage Tourism
Harvard University offers a free online course on Cultural Heritage Tourism, which explores the connections between tourism, culture, and heritage. The course covers key topics such as heritage interpretation, site management, and cultural preservation. The course is self-paced and includes video lectures, readings, and quizzes to help learners deepen their understanding of the subject.
7. MIT’s The Geography of International Tourism
MIT offers a free online course on The Geography of International Tourism, which examines the global patterns and impacts of tourism. The course covers topics such as tourism flows, destination development, and tourism sustainability. The course is taught by world-renowned experts in the field and includes interactive assignments and discussions to help learners engage with the material.
8. OpenLearn’s Tourism and Hospitality Courses
OpenLearn is a free online learning platform that offers courses and resources from The Open University. The platform offers several courses related to travel and tourism, such as tourism and hospitality management, tourism marketing, and tourism in the Caribbean. The courses are self-paced and include multimedia resources, activities, and quizzes to help learners master the material.
9. Saylor Academy’s Travel and Tourism Management
Saylor Academy is a non-profit organization that offers free online courses in various subjects, including travel and tourism management. The Travel and Tourism Management course covers topics such as tourism planning, marketing, and operations management. The course also includes assessments and a final exam to help learners evaluate their progress.
10. edX’s Global Tourism Development
edX is a massive open online course (MOOC) provider that offers free online courses from leading universities and institutions around the world. The Global Tourism Development course is offered by Wageningen University and explores the social, economic, and environmental impacts of tourism on global development. The course also covers strategies and policies for sustainable tourism development.
FAQ
Q: Are these courses really free? | A: Yes, all of the courses listed here are completely free of charge. |
Q: Do I need any qualifications to enroll in these courses? | A: Most of the courses do not have any prerequisites, but some may require basic knowledge of tourism concepts and terminology. |
Q: How long do these courses take to complete? | A: The duration of the courses varies depending on the platform and the course itself. Some courses can be completed in a few hours, while others may take several weeks or months. |
Q: Will I receive a certificate or degree after completing the course? | A: It depends on the course and the platform. Some courses offer certificates of completion or badges that can be added to your LinkedIn profile. However, these certificates may not have formal accreditation or recognition. |
Q: Can I access these courses from anywhere in the world? | A: Yes, most of the courses are available online and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. |