Hospitality & Tourism

Diploma in Tour and Travel Management

The Diploma in Tour and Travel Management is a TVET CDACC Level 6 qualification that equips learners with skills to manage, operate, and innovate within the tourism and travel industry.

The curriculum covers fundamentals of tourism, travel operations and customer care, touristic history, tour guiding techniques, natural history of East African flora and fauna, tourism economics, tourism accounting, tourism geography, travel agency operations, tour operations, tourism marketing, ecotourism, tourism product development, tourism policy and planning, and principles.

The programme is accredited by TVET CDACC under the Tourism and Travel Management Level 6 qualification and examined by KNEC in some institutions.

Training combines classroom theory with practical exercises including holiday package design, booking system simulations, and field excursions to tourist destinations. Industrial attachment places students in tour companies, travel agencies, airlines, and tourism boards for real-world experience.

Graduates find employment in tour companies, travel agencies, airlines, hotels, national parks, county tourism offices, and the Kenya Tourism Board. Major employers include Kenya Airways, Magadi Soda Tour Company, various safari operators, and international travel agencies.

The programme suits KCSE graduates with a mean grade of C- who have an interest in tourism, travel, and customer service. It provides a progression pathway to degree programmes in Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, or Travel and Tourism.

Duration: 2-3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 88,200
Private, up to: Ksh 84,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

10 subjects

Fundamentals of Tourism
Travel Operations and Customer Care
Tour Guiding Techniques
Natural History of East African Flora and Fauna
Tourism Economics and Accounting
Tourism Geography
Travel Agency and Tour Operations
Tourism Marketing
Ecotourism and Tourism Product Development
Tourism Policy and Planning

Modules

12 in the programme

Touristic History
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Historical development of tourism in Kenya and East Africa, including for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Travel Operations and Customer Care
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Travel booking procedures, customer service excellence, and travel documentation
Fundamentals of Tourism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to tourism concepts, types of tourism, tourism systems for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Foreign Language (French, German, or Spanish)
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Conversational foreign language skills for serving international tourists for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Tour Guiding Techniques
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Guiding skills, interpretation techniques, group management, and safety for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Natural History of East African Flora and Fauna
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Identification and ecology of East African plants, animals, and ecosystems for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Tourism Economics and Accounting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Economic principles in tourism, tourism contribution to GDP, and tourism for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Tourism Geography
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Geographical distribution of tourist attractions, climate, and tourist for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Travel Agency and Tour Operations
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Travel agency management, tour packaging, itinerary design, and supplier for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Tourism Marketing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Marketing strategies for tourism products, digital marketing for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Industrial Attachment
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Three-month industry placement in a tour company, travel agency, or airline for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Ecotourism and Tourism Product Development
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Sustainable tourism practices, ecotourism principles, and developing new for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Tour Operations
Focuses on tour package design, itinerary planning, and safari operations management, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Travel Agency Management
Focuses on travel agency operations, booking systems, and airline ticketing, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Tourism Marketing
Focuses on destination marketing, digital tourism promotion, and tourism brand management, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism
Focuses on sustainable tourism practices, community-based tourism, and environmental conservation, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

A day as a student

A typical day begins at 8:00 AM with a theory session on tourism fundamentals or touristic history, followed by a practical session on booking systems or holiday package design. Afternoons often involve foreign language practice, field excursion planning, or tourism marketing workshops. Industrial attachment places students in tour companies, travel agencies, or airlines for hands-on experience in travel operations.

The trade offs

In its favour

Tourism is a top three foreign exchange earner for Kenya, creating strong employment demand
Foreign language skills give graduates a competitive edge in the international tourism market
Strong self-employment potential through establishing tour companies or travel agencies

Against it

Tourism sector is vulnerable to external shocks such as security concerns and global pandemics
Entry-level positions may involve irregular hours including weekends and public holidays

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 courses

Public67k to 88k

67k at Kabete National Polytechnic88k at Kenya Utalii College

Private36k to 84k

36k at AITEC College84k at Mount Kenya University

Annual 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

Utalii 88,200/yr (ghanadmission); TVET 67,189. AITEC 36K, MKU 84K/yr (mku.ac.ke).

HELB offers loans and bursaries for TVET students. Kenya Utalii College offers partial bursaries for students with strong KCSE performance. County government bursaries and NG-CDF funds are widely available.

Funding options

HELB TVET Loan and Bursary
County Government Bursaries
NG-CDF Constituency Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

NG-CDF Bursary
BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan
Constituency-based bursary for needy students
Kenya Utalii College Partial Bursary
BursaryKsh 50,000Kenyan
Students with strong KCSE performance and demonstrated financial need
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
All TVET students enrolled in KUCCPS-placed programmes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Certificate in Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality from a recognised institution, or equivalent qualification as determined by KNEC.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Internal assessments including theory tests, practical assignments, and project work
KNEC/TVET CDACC Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
National examinations at the end of each module covering theory and practical components
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during three-month industry placement

Accreditation

Accredited by TVET CDACC (Tourism and Travel Management Level 6) and regulated by TVETA and the Tourism Regulatory Authority of Kenya. Some institutions offer a KNEC-examined variant. Kenya Utalii College offers its own internationally recognised diploma.

Accredited by

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council
Curriculum and certificationRequired
Tourism and Travel Management Level 6
Kenya National Examinations Council
Examination
Some institutions offer KNEC-examined variant
Tourism Regulatory Authority of Kenya
Sector regulationRequired
Regulates tourism and hospitality training standards in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Tour Operator
High demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 60,000
Designs, packages, and manages tour itineraries for domestic and international tourists
Travel Agent
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 50,000
Books flights, accommodation, and travel services for clients, providing travel advice and support
Tourism Officer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 70,000
Works with county or national tourism boards to promote destinations and manage tourism initiatives
Tour Guide
High demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 55,000
Guides tourists through attractions, parks, and cultural sites, providing interpretation and information
Travel Agency Manager
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 120,000
Manages travel agency operations, staff, supplier relationships, and customer service standards

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are in high demand in Kenya's tourism sector, which is a key contributor to the national economy. Entry-level salaries range from KSH 25,000 to KSH 50,000 per month, with experienced tour operators and travel agency managers earning KSH 60,000 to KSH 150,000+ per month.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Social Media Platforms
Marketing
Digital marketing tools for promoting tourism products and destinations
QuickBooks
Accounting
Accounting software for tourism business financial management
Tour Plan Itinerary Software
SoftwarePrimary
Itinerary design and tour package costing software used by tour operators
Global Distribution Systems (GDS)
Booking systemsPrimary
Amadeus, Sabre, or Galileo booking systems for flight and hotel reservations

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A tour and travel diploma only leads to tour guide jobs
Graduates can pursue careers as tour operators, travel agency managers, tourism officers, tourism marketing executives, and airline ground staff, with progression to management and policy roles.
Tourism careers are seasonal and unstable in Kenya
While tourism has seasonal fluctuations, Kenya's diverse tourism products including safari, beach, business, and conference tourism create year-round employment opportunities. The sector is a top three foreign exchange earner for Kenya.