SITTTVL002 - Provide advice on international destinations

Unit code:SITTTVL002Study level:TAFE

Nominal hours

Location

Footscray Nicholson

Prerequisites

(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Co-requisites
(Corequisite units must be studied concurrently with this unit)

Overview

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to source and provide customer information and advice relating to international destinations and their features. It requires the ability to identify appropriate information sources and research destinations in order to develop and update a general destination knowledge base.
International destinations and their features can include any sold by a travel organisation. Travel operators, such as travel agents and tour wholesalers, can specialise in one international destination or cover multiple destinations.
The breadth and depth of destination knowledge required will vary according to the industry sector, workplace and job role. This unit is not about having an in-depth knowledge of every destination but focuses on the ability to collect and interpret destination information.The unit applies to frontline sales and operations personnel who operate with some level of independence and under limited supervision. This includes travel consultants, wholesale operations consultants, tour managers, and reservations sales agents.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment tasks will be designed to reinforce & extend knowledge and skill competence within set & controlled parameters in accordance with each units learning outcomes & performance criteria requirements, including the setting of work based practical application tasks designed to provide evidence of competence outcomes, within periodic and scheduled timelines.

Students will be expected to demonstrate the following required skills:

provide tailored information to meet the requests of at least three different customers of different customer types or demographics
for each of the above customers, provide current, relevant and accurate information on at least five different features of two different international tourism destinations
obtain above information by accessing at least three different information sources from the following:

computerised reservations systems (CRS)
global distribution systems (GDS)
international government tourism authority information systems
internet
organisation-designed information systems
principal or supplier information

complete above activities within commercial time constraints and deadlines determined by the customer or organisation.

Students will also be expected to demonstrate the following knowledge:

formal and informal research methods:

accessing and reading promotional information
accessing the internet
attending professional development activities
contact with other organisations
formal study
informal discussions with colleagues and customers
media

sources of information on regions and destinations and types of product offered
sources of information on current health and safety issues for international destinations:

government issued travel warning advice for Australian travellers
health advisory notices and vaccination information issued by local and international bodies
safety advisory information issued by police authorities and emergency service authorities

sources of information on regulatory issues for international destinations:

passport and visa requirements
travel restrictions for destinations

international destinations including coverage of all seven continents, and the major regions and destinations therein
features of international destinations:

areas of environmental, social or cultural significance or sensitivity
currency information
facilities for customers with special needs
local customs
local economy
local facilities
major gateways for and transport networks within the region and destination
airports
cruise ports
tourist attractions
unique regional features

sources of information for specific information relating to international travel destinations:

key information on geographical features of the destination
key information on cultural and related features of the destination
key information on socioeconomic features of the destination

formats and inclusions used to present information to customers, and styles that cater for those with special needs
different procedures for storing destination information.

Required reading

The qualified trainer and assessor will provide teaching and learning materials as required in the form of workbooks produced by Victoria University and/or via the Victoria University e-learning system.