Diploma in Tourism Economics
Course Overview
The Diploma in Tourism Economics is a UK Level 4-equivalent qualification of 9 to 12 months designed for practitioners moving into visitor economy analysis, tourism board coordination and destination policy support. It is aligned with the analytical benchmarks referenced by the Tourism Society, WTTC and CIM.
By the close of the Diploma, learners can compile a full destination economic impact brief, coordinate a small research project, present findings to a supervisor and manage a section of a tourism board or consultancy workstream.
Practitioners work through structured briefing writing, supervised dataset critiques and small-group presentation sessions, building the habits needed to move confidently into a working tourism board or consultancy analyst team.
Practitioners undertake a rolling case study across the Diploma, gradually building a portfolio of applied briefs on real destinations of interest to them, so the final assessment reflects their chosen career track.
Diploma candidates present their applied briefings in tutor-led studios, receiving structured written feedback that they can quote in interviews for tourism board and consultancy analyst roles across the UK region.
Key Features
- Practitioner-level immersion in tourism economics and visitor economy modelling
- References to Tourism Society, WTTC, CIM and CMI conventions
- Delivered online, on-campus in London and by distance learning
- Assessment through impact briefs, dataset critiques and structured presentations
- Applied use of UK visitor economy dashboards and OECD tourism statistics
- Progression into LSTITM Advanced Diploma routes for senior operational study
- Careers-service support with tourism boards, DMOs and consultancy partners
- Live monthly briefing clinics with feedback from tourism policy tutors
- Structured practice on tourism satellite accounts and multiplier models
What You Will Learn
- How to compile a destination economic impact assessment
- Practitioner use of multipliers, leakage and displacement models
- How to critique a published tourism economics report
- Design of visitor spend surveys and structured feedback sampling
- How to compare regional tourism policies and their measurable outcomes
- Practitioner reading of tourism satellite accounts
- How to present tourism economics findings to a non-technical audience
- How ethics, referencing and citation shape credible policy documents
- How to structure a two-page destination impact brief for a policy client
- How to sense-check a headline visitor economy figure against multiple sources
- How to write a clear ministerial briefing on tourism receipts trends
- How to prepare an evidence pack for a tourism investment case
Who This Course Is For
- LSTITM Certificate holders progressing into practitioner tourism economics
- Tourism board coordinators seeking a UK Level 4-equivalent Diploma
- Career changers moving from finance or admin into visitor-economy analysis
- International applicants aiming at destination policy or consultancy careers
- Consultancy assistants targeting analyst roles in tourism firms
- Public sector staff moving into visitor economy impact analysis
- Junior economists targeting a tourism specialisation route
Career Pathways
- Tourism Business Analyst
- Tourism Development Officer
- Tourism Research Analyst
- Tourism Board Coordinator
- Sustainable Tourism Officer
- Tourism Product Manager
- Tourism Policy Officer
- Impact Assessment Officer
- Tourism Data Analyst
The LSTITM careers team supports Diploma learners with CV coaching, interview practice and introductions to tourism boards, destination management organisations and consultancy partners across the London region.
Careers coaching includes portfolio pieces such as short applied briefs learners can share with recruiters, and mock interviews tuned to tourism board and destination consultancy hiring cycles in London and the wider UK.
Recent Diploma cohorts have moved into visitor economy analyst positions at London tourism boards, destination consultancy graduate programmes and regional local authority tourism teams.
Entry Requirements
- Age 18+ with completed secondary education (A-Levels, IB, or overseas equivalent)
- An LSTITM Certificate or comparable tourism qualification (preferred, not required)
- IELTS 5.5 or equivalent English proficiency for international applicants
- Short statement of interest describing your career direction in tourism
- Access to a computer and reliable internet for online delivery
Practitioners on the Diploma in Tourism Economics receive year-round access to LSTITM's applied-briefing template library and an active peer forum where working analysts trade approaches for reading complex UK visitor economy releases.
Why Study at LSTITM
LSTITM is the London School of Tourism and International Travel Management, a division of Harold International College of London specialising in destination, business, systems and strategic tourism disciplines. Every route is aligned with recognised UK bodies including the Tourism Society, WTTC, ITT, CIM, CMI and UKHospitality.
The Diploma in Tourism Economics is delivered by tutors drawn from tourism consultancy, destination research and policy leadership, backed by an active careers service from enrolment onwards.
The Diploma in Tourism Economics articulates cleanly into the LSTITM Advanced Diploma routes and Bachelor top-ups, giving learners a clear path into senior operational tourism analyst and policy roles.
Diploma students also join a growing community of applied tourism analysts across the LSTITM Bachelor and Master's cohorts, sharing techniques and peer-reviewing each other's briefs across the academic year.
Apply for Diploma in Tourism Economics
The Diploma in Tourism Economics is a credible practitioner route into UK visitor economy work in London. Applications open on a rolling basis across all delivery modes. Take the next step into professional tourism practice. Enrol Now.
