Certificate in Tours and Travel
The Certificate in Tours and Travel provides foundational training in tour operations, travel agency management, ticketing, tourism geography, and customer service. Students learn tour operations, travel booking, ticketing systems, tourism geography, and travel industry regulations. The programme is designed for individuals seeking entry-level positions in the tours and travel industry or as a pathway to further studies in tourism and travel management.
Students develop competencies in tour operations, travel agency operations, ticketing and reservations, tourism geography, customer service, and travel industry regulations. The curriculum covers introduction to tours and travel, tourism geography, travel agency operations, ticketing and reservations, tour operations and guiding, customer service, travel industry regulations, and tours and travel project work. Practical skills are developed through case studies and booking system exercises.
Kenya's tourism industry is a major economic sector, with the country being a leading tourist destination in Africa. Tour operators, travel agencies, airlines, hotels, and tourism organisations require trained personnel for tours and travel operations. Kenya's diverse attractions including wildlife, beaches, and cultural heritage create sustained demand for travel professionals. The programme addresses the demand for foundational tours and travel training.
The programme combines classroom lectures with case studies, practical exercises, and booking system practice. Students study tourism geography, practise ticketing, develop tour packages, and learn travel agency operations. Teaching methods include lectures, case studies, group discussions, and project-based work. The programme emphasises practical tours and travel operations skills.
Graduates find employment as travel consultants, tour operations assistants, reservation agents, ticketing agents, or travel agency assistants in tour companies, travel agencies, airlines, and tourism organisations. The certificate also provides a pathway to diploma programmes in tourism and travel management.
This programme is ideal for KCSE graduates with an interest in tourism, travel, and hospitality, as well as individuals seeking careers in Kenya's vibrant tourism industry. The programme provides directly employable skills for the tours and travel sector.
- Duration
- 1 year
- Public, up to
- Ksh 67,189
- Private, up to
- Ksh 50,000
- Job market
- Moderate
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Practicalities
- Study mode
- Full-time, Part-time, Evening and Weekend
- Attachment
- 0 months
- Average class
- 25 students
- Award
- Certificate
What you study
10 subjects- Introduction to Tours and Travel
- Tourism Geography
- Travel Agency Operations
- Ticketing and Reservations
- Tour Operations and Guiding
- Customer Service in Tourism
- Travel Industry Regulations
- Tourism Marketing Basics
- Airline Operations
- Tours and Travel Project Work
Modules
8 in the programmeIntroduction to Tours and Travel
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to tours and travel covering the travel industry, tourism sectors, travel intermediaries, and the tours and travel industry in Kenya.
Tourism Geography
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Tourism geography covering tourist destinations, Kenya's tourism attractions, East African tourism, world tourism geography, and tourism circuits.
Travel Agency Operations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Travel agency operations covering travel agency management, travel products, agency operations, supplier relationships, and managing travel agency business.
Ticketing and Reservations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Ticketing and reservations covering airline ticketing, reservation systems, fare calculation, GDS basics, and booking flights, hotels, and travel services.
Tour Operations and Guiding
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Tour operations covering tour package development, itinerary planning, tour costing, tour management, and basics of tour guiding.
Customer Service in Tourism
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Customer service covering tourism customer service principles, handling customer enquiries, managing complaints, and delivering quality service in travel.
Travel Industry Regulations and Marketing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Travel industry regulations covering aviation regulations, tourism regulations, e-visa and passport requirements, and tourism marketing basics for travel businesses.
Tours and Travel Project and Capstone
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
A tours and travel project developing a tour package, travel agency business plan, or marketing proposal, demonstrating applied tours and travel competencies.
Specialisations
Tour Operations
Focus on tour package development, itinerary planning, tour costing, tour management, and tour guiding.
Travel Agency Management
Focus on travel agency operations, travel products, supplier management, and managing travel agency business.
Ticketing and Reservations
Focus on airline ticketing, reservation systems, GDS operations, fare calculation, and booking management.
A day as a student
A typical day combines morning lectures on tourism geography or travel operations with afternoon practical exercises and booking system practice. Students study tourism destinations, practise ticketing and reservations, develop tour packages, and learn travel agency operations. Group work involves creating tour itineraries and travel booking exercises. The programme emphasises practical tours and travel operations skills for the tourism industry.
The trade offs
In its favour
- Kenya's tourism industry is a major economic sector with diverse career opportunities.
- Provides directly employable skills with IATA professional certification pathway.
- Provides a pathway to diploma programmes in tourism and travel management.
Against it
- The programme is offered at only one university, limiting accessibility.
- Tourism is sensitive to economic downturns, security concerns, and global events.
- Entry-level positions may offer modest compensation, with better pay requiring experience and certification.
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 91 hospitality & tourism coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
TVET 67.2K/yr (educationnewshub.co.ke). Pvt: AITEC 33K, Kabarak 50K/yr (kabarak.ac.ke).
HELB loans and NGCDF bursaries are available for eligible Kenyan students. Kabarak University may offer institutional scholarships for qualifying students.
Funding options
HELB Loan
NGCDF Bursary
Scholarships
2 recordedHELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in certificate programmes at chartered universities
NGCDF Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective constituencies pursuing certificate-level studies
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
- KCSE mean grade
- D+
- Alternative entry
- KCSE D+ (Plus) or equivalent. Contact Kabarak University for specific entry requirements.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Written examination40% of the mark
Regular CATs evaluating understanding of tourism, travel operations, and ticketing concepts.
Practical Assignments and Case Studies
Project30% of the mark
Booking system exercises, tour package development, and case study analyses of travel scenarios.
End of Semester Examinations and Capstone Project
Project30% of the mark
Final examinations and a capstone tours and travel project demonstrating applied competencies.
Accreditation
Kabarak University is chartered by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme aligns with KATO and IATA industry standards.
Accredited by
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Kabarak University is chartered by CUE.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesTravel Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 60,000
Provides travel consultancy in travel agencies, advising clients on travel options, booking flights and accommodation, and arranging travel packages.
Tour Operations Assistant
Moderate demand
Supports tour operations in tour companies, assisting with itinerary planning, tour coordination, supplier management, and tour delivery.
Reservation Agent
Moderate demand
Handles reservations for airlines, hotels, or travel agencies, processing bookings, managing availability, and coordinating travel arrangements.
Ticketing Agent
Moderate demand
Issues tickets and handles ticketing operations for airlines or travel agencies, processing bookings, calculating fares, and managing ticket changes.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates find employment as travel consultants, tour operations assistants, and reservation agents in tour companies, travel agencies, and airlines, with opportunities for progression to diploma programmes.
Tools you will learn
Amadeus GDS
ToolPrimary
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Tours and travel is just about booking tickets.
Tours and travel covers tour operations, travel agency management, tourism geography, customer service, regulations, and marketing, not just ticketing.
Tourism jobs are just tour guides.
The tours and travel industry employs travel consultants, reservation agents, tour operators, ticketing agents, and travel agency managers.
A certificate in tours and travel has limited career value.
Kenya's tourism industry is a major employer, and the certificate provides a pathway to diploma programmes with IATA professional certification.
Tourism is seasonal with no stable jobs.
While tourism has seasonal variations, travel agencies, airlines, and tour operators provide year-round employment with career growth opportunities.
Related courses
Further reading
Fees and entry marks for Certificate in Tours and Travel are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.