Bachelor of Science in Travel Management

Bachelor of Science in Travel Management (BSTrM) is a four year degree program that covers various components related to the travel and tour industry, including tour and travel operations, events management, allied services, entertainment and recreation, tourism research and education and tourism planning and development. 

The BSTrM program concentrates on developing the planning and management skills of students in the fields of tourism and hospitality management. The program also trains students to be able to perform tasks in marketing, sales, itinerary planning, entrepreneurship and tour guiding.

BS in Travel Management is formerly known as BS Tourism and although the course name has been changed, there are still a number of schools who use BS in Tourism instead of BS in Travel Management. 

Subjects and Curriculum
The subjects in the BSTrM curriculum are divided into four main categories:

• General Education subjects
  English, Math, Filipino, Social Sciences and Humanities.
• Business Core
  Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, Basic Accounting, Basic Finance, Human Behavior in Organization, Business Communication, Management Information System.
• Tourism Core
  Principles of Tourism, Tourism Planning and Development, Total Quality Management, Culinary Arts and Sciences, Entrepreneurship and Business Planning, Events Management.
• Specialized Subjects
  • Required Major Subjects
    World Tourism Geography and Culture, Philippine Tourism Geography and Culture, International and Domestic Tour Planning, Packaging and Pricing Air, Sea and Land Travel Sales and Management, E-Commerce, the Internet and the Global Distribution Systems, Travel Management.
  • Free Professional Subjects
    Air, Sea and Land Travel Sales and Management, Travel Accounting, Travel Documentation, Tour Guiding and Escorting, Tourism Laws, Legal Responsibilities and Taxation, Corporate Travel Management, Product Development, Ecotourism, Foreign Language Proficiency.

The BSTrM program is taught to students through classroom lectures and hands on exercises. From time to time students will be allowed to observe how a travel/tour agency operates. Aside from this, students are exposed to field trips, educational talks and seminars. 

In the summer of the third year, a student must complete an On the Job training (OJT) in a recognized establishment of agency. 

BS in Travel Management vs BS Tourism Management
The BS in Travel Management and BS in Tourism Management are very much alike. In fact, these programs have the same policies and standards set by CHED. 

There is no difference as to the duration and the admission requirements for both courses. As for the curriculum, both programs share a set of common core. Under the general umbrella of Tourism, graduates of these programs possess a common set of core and specific competencies developed from the general education, business and tourism/hospitality subjects. The only difference in the curriculum is the required major subjects that a student has to take in his/her fourth year. 

As for the On the Job Training (OJT), the required number of hours for BS in Travel Management and BS in Tourism Management are the same; they both require 360 hours.

Is Travel Management a profession?
Travel Management is not a profession. Graduates of this program will most likely be employed in establishments and companies to work as Tourism information officers, Reservation officers, Ticketing officers, Tour coordinators, Tour guides and similar jobs. These careers are not considered professions because they do not require a specialized set of knowledge and skills, nor do they require a government certification.

What are the admission requirements for the BS in Travel Management program?
Requirements at each school may differ, but usually they only include the basic college admission requirements:

• Must be a high school graduate.
  Those who did not complete high school education may opt to first attend Alternative Learning System (ALS) and pass the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) to qualify for college. However, some universities only offer selected courses for PEPT passers
• College entrance exam: must pass the college entrance examination with a specified rating set by the school.
• Interview: must pass the interview conducted by the college dean/faculty.

What skills, traits and attitude will help you succeed in this course?

• Interpersonal skills – establishes and maintains positive mutual working relationships with superiors, workmates and clients
• Administrative skill – basic abilities in organization and planning, computing, staffing and scheduling
• Communication skills – has excellent written and oral communication skills; a strong command of the English language is important because your work will involve dealing with different kinds of people of different nationalities
• Memorization skills – there are lessons that need to be memorized such as certain landmarks, places, history, culture, languages and others
• Computer Literacy – most transactions are processed with the use of computers thus its essential to have knowledge of computer use and understand application programs as well as other technologies
• Basic Arithmetic and Mathematical skills – basic accounting and basic finance are integrated in the BSTrM curriculum therefore it’s essential to possess basic mathematical skills. In addition, while on duty you might be assigned in the accounting department of an establishment the reason why it’s important to have this skill.
• Love of nature, outdoors and adventure – since you will be exposed to different places or environments, cultures and people you need to love being in the outdoors and trying new things.
• Able to work under pressure

How difficult is BS in Travel Management?
BS in Travel Management is not a difficult course; it is rather easy, fun and interesting. The workload for this course is light compared to most courses. Students enjoy the later part of the program the most, because they are able to visit different destinations or tourist spots; during this time they are able to enjoy travelling while observing how resorts, hotels and travelling agencies operate.

How long does it take to complete the BS in Travel Management program in the Philippines?
The BS in Travel Management program takes four years to complete. The program may be completed in less than 4 years in schools that follow the trimestral curriculum.

On the Job Training (OJT)
A student of the BSTrM program is required to attend an on the job training (OJT) in a travel/tour company or agency. During the OJT, students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and practice their skills in actual settings. The on the job training program is done under the supervision of a faculty member as well as a designated authority in the agency. The number of hours required for the OJT is 360 hours.

Career opportunities for BS Travel Management graduates

• Entry and Mid-Level Level jobs
  • Local Tourism Officer – develops and promotes tourism in order to attract visitors and generate significant economic benefits for a particular region or site. They often work for local authorities, but may also work within other public sector agencies or private companies.
  • Travel Agent – converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
  • Tour Escort – escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.
  • Tour Coordinator – provides a variety of secretarial, clerical and receptionist services and coordinates group tours of a facility.
  • Staff of the Department of Tourism and other tourism-oriented institutions – oversees the operation of the Visitor Information Center through coordination of brochure purchases, production, mail-outs, tourism statistics.
  • Tourism information officer of local government units – provide consulting and advisory services to clients in the tourist industry in the planning, development and operation of small to moderate sized enterprises or attractions.
  • Documentation officer in travel agencies – maintains paperwork and important documents.
  • Reservation officer of travel agencies or tour operators – supervise performance of reservation staff implementing of policies and procedures under guidance of Front Office Manager
  • Ticketing officer of travel agencies or tour operators – sells tickets for transportation agencies, such as airlines, bus companies, railroads, and steamship lines: Plans route and computes ticket cost, using schedules, rate books, and computer terminals.
  • Office manager – manage budgets and financial/statistical records; liaising with travel partners, including airlines and hotels, to manage bookings and schedules, often one year in advance
  • Travel & Tour planner – help their clients make the best decisions about travel arrangements. They make suggestions on where to go, methods of transportation, car rentals, hotel accommodations, tours to take and attractions to see.
  • Flight Attendant – airline crew members who undergo specialized training to assist air passengers in their flight on-board
• Advanced Positions
• Require years of extensive experience and practice:
  • Tourism/Travel Consultant – cooperate with clients to determine their needs and advise them appropriate destination, modes of transportations, travel dates, costs and accommodations; provide relevant information, brochures and publications to travelers
  • Ticketing supervisor – directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers; responsible for the accuracy of ticket sales from programming to selling, cash control as well as taking exceptional care of guests purchasing tickets.
  • Tourism researchers – provide market research, analysis, planning and marketing strategies/services for tourism-related businesses
  • Destination specialist – organizes and plans luxury adventure travel around the world.
  • Provincial/Regional Tourism officer – head of tourism local government units in a province/region
  • Owner / Incorporator of Travel Agencies, Hotels, Resorts or other Lodging Accommodations and Restaurants
• Career Opportunities Abroad
• Filipinos are in demand abroad for many tourism-related jobs, including tour guides, ticketing attendants, agency clerks for tour companies and more. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), more overseas job opportunities await Filipinos this year especially in the tourism sector. Countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Macau, Australia and New Zealand are expected to open more job opportunities for the tourism industry.
• Salary Levels
• Two of the most common careers in Travel Management is working as a Reservation officer or Ticketing officer. 
  The monthly salary for a reservation officer depends on his/her years of experience: 
  • Fresh Grad / < 1 Year Experienced Employee: P 8,000 to P 12,000
  • 1-4 Years Experienced Employee: P9,000 to P15,000
  • Supervisor / 5 Years & Up Experienced Employee: P13,000 to P20,000
  A ticketing officer with 1 to 4 years of experience may earn a monthly salary of P 12,000 to P 17,000. (these stats were recorded in 2013)

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