Advanced Diploma in Tourism Strategic Planning
Course Overview
The Advanced Diploma in Tourism Strategic Planning is a 12 to 15 month UK Level 5-equivalent programme preparing senior practitioners to lead multi-stakeholder tourism strategic planning cycles across destination management organisations, regional tourism boards, tour operator groups and cultural attraction networks. Delivered by LSTITM in London, the programme is aligned with study standards referenced by the Tourism Society, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), giving experienced practitioners a credible senior-operational qualification in strategic planning practice.
By graduation, learners can lead a strategic planning cycle from environmental scan through to programme sign-off, coordinate a cross-departmental stakeholder consultation, prepare board-facing strategy briefings and manage a small portfolio of strategic programmes through their delivery year. Learners also develop the calm judgement to keep strategy conversations grounded in evidence when partner politics, funding pressures or peak-season fatigue would otherwise fragment them.
The programme is structured around live UK destination and tourism operator strategy scenarios rather than abstract theory, and every assessment output mirrors a document a senior planner might genuinely be asked to produce, from an environmental scan to a board-facing strategic decision paper.
Beyond technical planning content, the programme develops the senior interpersonal habits that separate a planner a board wants to promote from one who stays at head-of-team, from how to steward a difficult stakeholder conversation gracefully through to how to write a strategic paper that a chair can read once and act on. These behaviours are practised on live cases across every workshop rather than described in a theory chapter, and they are the same habits interviewers at head-of-planning level probe for during senior recruitment.
Key Features
- UK Level 5-equivalent Advanced Diploma structured across 12 to 15 months of senior study
- Content aligned with Tourism Society, CMI, CIM and WTTC-referenced strategic planning practice
- Coverage of environmental scanning, stakeholder consultation and board-facing briefings
- Blended delivery through on-campus, online and distance routes for senior practitioners
- Assessment through strategy cycles, consultation records and board decision papers
- Focus on keeping strategy conversations grounded in evidence under real partner pressure
- Clear articulation into the LSTITM Higher Diploma and Bachelor top-up routes
What You Will Learn
- Lead a tourism strategic planning cycle from environmental scan to programme sign-off
- Coordinate a cross-departmental stakeholder consultation with clear session outputs
- Prepare board-facing strategy briefings that support confident decision making
- Manage a small portfolio of strategic programmes through the delivery year
- Keep strategy conversations grounded in evidence during partner or funding stress
- Interpret sector-wide policy shifts into local operational implications
- Coach a junior planner through their first environmental scan cycle
- Prepare a senior post-cycle strategic review for board sign-off
Who This Course Is For
- Senior tourism practitioners moving into strategic planning leadership
- Career changers with senior planning, policy or consultancy backgrounds
- International senior practitioners preparing for UK-facing strategy roles
- Destination coordinators progressing into head-of-planning positions
- Tour operator senior managers moving into group-level strategy work
Career Pathways
- Head of Tourism Development (senior operational)
- Regional Tourism Director (associate level)
- Tourism Strategy Consultant
- Destination Manager (senior)
- Tourism Programme Director (associate)
- Tourism Board Coordinator (senior)
- Tourism Business Analyst (senior)
The LSTITM careers service supports Advanced Diploma graduates with senior-operational CV work, interview practice for head-of-planning conversations and introductions to London and regional destination organisations, tourism boards, tour operator groups and consultancy partners recruiting for senior strategic planners. Advanced Diploma graduates leave with a strategy cycle portfolio and board-facing decision papers they can talk through with confidence at interview.
Entry Requirements
- A completed LSTITM Diploma or equivalent Level 4 qualification
- Alternatively, 2+ years of relevant tourism or travel-industry experience with a statement of purpose
- IELTS 6.0 or equivalent English proficiency for international applicants
- Two academic or professional references
- Access to a computer and reliable internet for online delivery
Why Study at LSTITM
LSTITM is the London School of Tourism and International Travel Management, a specialist division of Harold International College of London focused on the destination, business, systems and strategic disciplines that shape modern global tourism. Every LSTITM programme is aligned with recognised UK tourism and marketing bodies including the Tourism Society, ITT, ABTA, the Chartered Institute of Marketing and UKHospitality, and every route feeds cleanly into the next stage of study.
Our curriculum is written by former destination directors, tourism strategy consultants and marketing leaders, delivered across on-campus, online and distance-learning routes to fit senior professionals and international candidates alike. Strategic planning tutors bring board-level and destination-level cycle experience to every workshop, giving learners grounded senior practitioner guidance rather than academic templates.
Apply for Advanced Diploma in Tourism Strategic Planning
Ready to progress into supervisory and strategic tourism practice with a UK Level 5-equivalent Advanced Diploma aligned with senior sector standards? Progress into supervisory and strategic tourism practice with the LSTITM Advanced Diploma in Tourism Strategic Planning and articulate cleanly into the Higher Diploma or Bachelor top-up with a working strategic cycle portfolio already on your record. Enrol Now
