IGCSE Travel & Tourism Topics By Exam Board: Full List

Key Takeaways

• Knowing your exam board’s syllabus is essential for focused and effective revision, as it ensures you study the topics that will actually be assessed.

• The Cambridge IGCSE Travel & Tourism syllabus (0471) is structured into five main topic areas: definitions and concepts, global tourism, travel and tourism organisations, customer service, and destination marketing.

• Using the topic list to build a revision timetable, prioritise weaker areas, and match topics to past paper questions makes study more efficient and helps improve exam performance.

• Regularly referring to syllabus references and official materials allows for deeper understanding, ensuring you can apply knowledge confidently in exam scenarios.

Why It’s Important to Know Your Exam Board’s Topics

Knowing exactly what topics your exam board covers is essential for effective revision. This is because different exam boards structure their syllabuses differently, meaning some topics appear on one board but not the other. 

If you revise using the wrong list of topics, you could spend time on material that won’t be examined, while missing out on topics that will cost you marks. Understanding your board’s specific requirements helps you focus your study, plan revision efficiently, and go into exams confident that you’re covering everything that matters.

Cambridge IGCSE Travel & Tourism Topics (0471)

While many exam boards offer different qualifications in Travel & Tourism, Cambridge is currently the only major exam board offering an IGCSE in the subject. 

Its syllabus is structured into five main areas, each covering a range of essential subtopics. These five areas are tested on both Paper 1 and Paper 2:

• Paper 1 – This is a written paper lasting 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 80 marks. You will answer four compulsory questions, each worth 20 marks. The paper tests your understanding of the key terms and concepts in travel and tourism. You will be given a short piece of stimulus material for context, but you need to draw on your own knowledge and understanding to answer the questions effectively.

• Paper 2 - This is a written paper lasting 2 hours and is worth 80 marks. It tests your understanding of how destinations are managed and marketed. Each question includes a piece of stimulus material giving details of a destination or organisation. You need to use your knowledge and understanding of destination management and marketing strategies and apply these to the context provided in the questions.

Topic Area 1 - Introduction to the main travel and tourism definitions and concepts

This area introduces the main travel and tourism definitions and concepts that you need to know and understand. You should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the different types of tourists, types of destinations, and the main reasons why people travel. 

Understanding these definitions and concepts is essential, as they form the foundation for the rest of the course and will be referred to throughout all other topics.

You need to know:

1. The main types of tourism.

2. The main reasons why people travel.

3. What sustainable travel and tourism is.

4. The characteristics of travel and tourism.

5. The different types of tourists.

6. The different types of destinations.

Topic Area 2 - Global tourism

This area focuses on the demand for and appeal of destinations, as well as the different impacts of travel and tourism. You should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the features that attract different types of tourists and understand the positive and negative effects of tourism on communities and countries. 

You need to know:

1. The scale of travel and tourism (including a. the factors affecting tourism demand and how they are managed and b. the reasons for the growth of sustainable tourism).

2. The features of destinations and their appeal to different types of tourists.

3. The role of organisations involved in the development and management of destinations (including a. national, regional and local organisations involved, b. management activities of these organisations and c. services provided by these organisations).

4. The factors affecting tourism development and management.

5. How to manage destinations sustainably (including a. how to protect the natural and built environment, b. how to combat climate change through encouraging and enabling responsible tourism, c. how to empower local and indigenous communities and d. how to support social enterprise development).

6. The economic, environmental and sociocultural impacts of travel and tourism including their positive and negative impacts.

Topic Area 3 - Travel and tourism organisations

This area is all about the organisations that make travel and tourism possible. You should be able to demonstrate knowledge of what different organisations do, how they work together, and how transport and infrastructure support tourism. 

You need to know:

1. The role of tourism organisations, their sustainable practices, the products and services they provide and their appeal (including a. travel agents, b. tour operators, c. accommodation providers, d. food and drink providers, e. visitor attractions and f. ancillary service providers)

2.  The ways travel and tourism organisations work together.

3.  The different types of transport and their appeal.

4.  The different sustainable developments within travel and transport.

5.  The domestic and international travel and transport infrastructure.

Topic Area 4 - Customer service

Good customer service is a key part of tourism. You should be able to demonstrate knowledge of why customer service matters, how it is delivered, and the skills you need to perform well in this area.

You need to know:

1. The importance of customer service.

2. How to deliver customer service.

3. The provision of customer service for different types of tourists.

4. The skills required when working in the travel and tourism industry.

Topic Area 5 - Destination marketing

This area focuses on how tourism organisations attract visitors. You should be able to demonstrate knowledge of marketing strategies, how research is used, and how organisations target the right audiences.

You need to know:

1. The importance of marketing to travel and tourism organisations.

2. The factors affecting marketing.

3. The marketing mix (including a. product, b. promotion, c. price and d. place).

4. About market research and analysis (including a. types of market research, b. market analysis tools and c. reasons for market research). 

5. About market segmentation and targeting (including a. different market segments and b. development of product/service mix to target different market segments). 

How to Use This IGCSE Travel & Tourism Topic List for Revision

Using the complete topic list effectively can make your revision more focused and efficient. This section will tell you how you can get the most out of it.

Build a revision timetable

Break the topic list into smaller, manageable sections and assign specific times to study each one. For example, you could dedicate one session to ‘Global Tourism’ and another to ‘Customer Service’. 

Spreading your revision across several weeks ensures that you cover every area and prevents last-minute cramming. A timetable also helps you balance study with breaks, making revision less overwhelming and more productive.

For step-by-step guidance on building your own revision timetable, take a look at the Save My Exams article How to Create an IGCSE Revision Timetable. It offers practical tips on structuring your study plan, staying organised, and keeping your workload manageable throughout the revision period.

Prioritise weaker areas

Not all topics will feel equally easy. Use the list to identify the areas you find most challenging and allocate extra time to these first. 

For instance, if you struggle with ‘Managing Destinations Sustainably’, focus on it early so you have time to practise, review, and ask for help if needed. Strengthening your weaker areas can have a big impact on your overall exam performance.

Match topics to past paper questions

Go through past papers and highlight which questions relate to each topic. This helps you see how examiners test your knowledge and gives you a clear idea of the types of answers expected. 

Practising with real questions also builds exam confidence, improves timing, and helps you apply theory to practical scenarios.

For further guidance, take a look at our article on How to Use Past Papers Effectively for Exam Revision. It offers practical strategies for getting the most out of past papers, including when to start using them, how to review mark schemes effectively, and how to track your progress over time. 

Using these techniques alongside your topic notes will make your revision more focused and exam-ready.

Use syllabus references for deeper study

Many topics include syllabus references, which can guide you to more detailed information and examples. Use these to explore concepts in depth, such as looking at case studies of sustainable tourism or marketing campaigns for destinations. This deeper understanding not only strengthens your answers but also helps you think critically, rather than just memorising facts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between Cambridge Travel & Tourism 0471 and 7096?

Cambridge Travel & Tourism 0471 is the IGCSE syllabus, while 7096 is the O Level syllabus. 0471 is aimed at the international IGCSE curriculum, and 7096 is part of the O Level framework. 

Both cover very similar content, so the topics and assessment style are largely the same, but the name of the qualification is different. Students should always check which syllabus their school or exam centre is following to ensure they revise the correct material.

Where Can I Find the Official Syllabus?

The latest Cambridge Travel & Tourism IGCSE syllabus can be found on the Cambridge Assessment International Education website. Here is the direct link for easy access:

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

This includes the full syllabus documents, examiner reports, and specimen papers to help with revision.

Do I Have to Complete Coursework for IGCSE Travel & Tourism?

No. As of 2024, the Cambridge IGCSE Travel & Tourism syllabus no longer includes a coursework component. All assessment is now through written examinations (Paper 1 and Paper 2). This means students only need to focus on preparing for the exam papers and do not need to submit coursework or projects.

Final Thoughts

Knowing exactly what topics are included in your exam board’s syllabus is the first step towards focused and effective revision. By using a detailed topic list, you can plan your study in a structured way, prioritise areas where you need extra practice, and ensure that you are covering everything that will be assessed in the exams.

Regularly checking your syllabus and referring back to this guide can help you stay on track and avoid spending time on material that won’t appear on your papers. Combining this with past paper practice, revision timetables, and targeted study of weaker areas will give you the confidence to approach your exams with a clear plan and a strong understanding of all key concepts.

Remember, effective revision is not just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Knowing your syllabus inside out allows you to focus on what matters most, making your preparation more efficient and helping you achieve the best possible results.

References:

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

Cambridge O Level Travel & Tourism 7096 (opens in a new tab)