What is IGCSE Travel & Tourism? Overview for Students

Every time someone books a flight, checks into a hotel, or visits a site of interest, they’re contributing to a major global industry: tourism.

If you’re considering learning more about this fascinating subject through IGCSE Travel & Tourism, it can be hard to find information that isn’t overly vague or promotional.

This article offers a detailed overview of the Cambridge syllabus: what you’ll learn, how you’ll be assessed, skills you’ll gain, and where this course could take you in the future. Equipped with this practical guide, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on whether the course is right for you – and, if it is, learn how to study it in the most effective way.

Key Takeaways

• The course provides you with an understanding of the nature of travel and tourism globally, nationally and locally

• You'll learn about concepts, models and theories used in the industry

• You’ll take one written paper on key terms and concepts, and another on managing and marketing destinations 

• It’s ideal if you’re interested in different travel destinations, cultures and marketing

Introduction to IGCSE Travel & Tourism

IGCSE Travel & Tourism combines business and geography elements to explore travel and tourism from multiple angles. It’s designed to help meet the need for skilled and knowledgeable individuals in tourism. It is therefore a practical subject that equips you with the skills and knowledge needed in a rapidly diversifying industry.

What Do You Learn in IGCSE Travel & Tourism?

IGCSE Travel & Tourism consists of five topics:

1. Introduction to the main travel and tourism definitions and concepts

2. Global tourism

3. Travel and tourism organisations

4. Customer service

5. Destination marketing

These topics centre on core themes, including the positive and negative impacts of tourism, features of different travel destinations, and marketing strategies used in the travel industry.

For more information on what the course involves, refer to our page on IGCSE Travel & Tourism Topics, as well as the official Cambridge syllabus (opens in a new tab).

How is IGCSE Travel & Tourism Assessed?

IGCSE Travel & Tourism consists of two papers. Both papers test the following Assessment Objectives (AOs):

AO1: Knowledge and understanding (30% of the IGCSE)

AO2: Application (30% of the IGCSE)

AO3: Analysis (25% of the IGCSE)

AO4: Evaluation (15% of the IGCSE)

The table below summarises key details:

Paper 1 tests your understanding of the terms and concepts central to travel and tourism. Past paper questions include ‘state the term used to describe all the different types of business travel’ (1 mark, 2025), or ‘state three tourism organisations involved in the promotion of tourism’ (3 marks, 2024).

Paper 2 tests your understanding of the way destinations are managed and marketed. Past paper questions include ‘state three causes of water shortages in Bali’ (3 marks, 2025), or ‘explain one advantage and one disadvantage of using face-to-face interviews for market research’ (4 marks, 2024).

Skills You'll Gain From the Course

With its focus on a real-world, dynamic industry, IGCSE Travel & Tourism develops a range of valuable, transferable skills. Here are just some of them, and where you might expect to use each one:

• Interpretation and Analysis

  • Market research

  • Travel and tourism issues

  • Competing travel and tourism organisations

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills

  • Explaining the nature, sustainability, management and marketing of travel and tourism

  • Working with local communities to involve them in decision-making

  • Handling customer enquiries

• Evaluation

  • Assessing the impact of tourism on different destinations

  • Making data-driven decisions

  • Judging the success of marketing campaigns

Who Should Take IGCSE Travel & Tourism?

Consider taking Travel & Tourism if you’re interested in the following:

• Business

• Geography

• Travel

• Different cultures

• Environmental issues and sustainability

• Data handling and analysis

• Careers in tourism, hospitality, marketing or customer service

How to Succeed in IGCSE Travel & Tourism

Use a variety of revision strategies

Employ different techniques to revise the topics you need for the two exams. Active learning (opens in a new tab) methods work especially well for Travel and Tourism. Consider organising a debate (opens in a new tab) with your classmates based on relevant questions like ‘does tourism ultimately do more harm than good?’, and work through past paper questions (opens in a new tab) to familiarise yourself with the exam format.

Refer to real-world examples

Since your exam will test you on your knowledge of real-life destinations, it’s important to refer to case studies in your revision. Categorising the destinations you revise into different types, e.g. beach, rural and urban, will also help you to stay on top of the content.

Stay current

Tourism changes fast, especially post-pandemic. Regularly reading news about tourism (opens in a new tab) trends and following tourism-related stories will keep your knowledge fresh, helping you to bring up relevant information in the exam.

What Can You Do With IGCSE Travel & Tourism?

Alongside teaching with real-life, transferable skills, IGCSE Travel & Tourism opens several pathways – here are just some:

• Further Study

  • A Level Geography and Business

  • BTECs in Travel & Tourism or Hospitality

  • University degrees, such as Tourism & Travel Management or Hospitality Management

• Careers

  • Tour guide

  • Travel agent

  • Hotel manager

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IGCSE Travel & Tourism a hard subject?

Not particularly. Like most IGCSEs, as long as you understand the key concepts and have an interest in the subject, it should be manageable.

Do I need to travel to study this subject?

No, not at all. Though you’ll study real-world destinations, you don’t need to visit them to do well in the course.

What resources are best for revising IGCSE Travel & Tourism?

Both the official Cambridge syllabus (opens in a new tab) and our full topic list are a great starting point. Once you know what you need to revise, the Cambridge Travel & Tourism coursebook (opens in a new tab) and past paper questions (opens in a new tab) will also be very helpful revision resources.

Does this subject count towards university entry?

Absolutely! IGCSE Travel & Tourism is seen as a legitimate subject. Admissions officers particularly value it if you're applying for tourism, hospitality, geography, or business-related degrees.

Final Thoughts

IGCSE Travel & Tourism is a fantastic subject for exploring the world around you. It offers a practical blend of geography and business to teach you about an exciting and ever-changing industry.

If you're curious about other cultures, interested in how businesses operate, and keen to develop skills relevant to every workplace, Travel & Tourism is worth serious consideration.

References

• Active Learning (opens in a new tab)

• A Level Business

• A Level Geography

• BBC News: Tourism (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge IGCSE Travel & Tourism (0471) Past Paper Questions (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge IGCSE Travel & Tourism (0471) Specification (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge Travel & Tourism Coursebook (opens in a new tab)

• Debate: An Approach to Teaching and Learning (opens in a new tab)

• How to Prepare for IGCSEs: Revision Strategies That Work

• IGCSE Travel & Tourism Topics by Exam Board: Full List