Diploma in Tourism International Relations
Course Overview
The Diploma in Tourism International Relations is a UK Level 4-equivalent qualification running 9 to 12 months that trains practitioners in bilateral tourism cooperation, source-market diplomacy and international destination promotion. It is aligned with the Tourism Society, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and British Chambers of Commerce reference standards.
By graduation, students can coordinate international relations tasks for a tourism board, brief inbound trade missions and support cross-border partnership programmes at practitioner level.
Assessment on the Diploma in Tourism International Relations combines coursework, applied case-studies and a structured international relations portfolio drawn from live LSTITM sector briefs. Two of the tasks are set by working tourism board international teams so outputs reflect current UK practice, and the final portfolio is reviewed by industry mentors before graduation.
Key Features
- Delivered on-campus in London, online and via distance learning
- Curriculum aligned with Tourism Society, WTTC and British Chambers references
- UK Level 4-equivalent Diploma with clean articulation into Advanced Diploma routes
- Live workshops on inbound trade missions and bilateral programmes
- Case studies from UK tourism board international partnerships
- Introduction to visa, air-service and export-tourism instruments
- Career service for tourism board and DMO international roles
- Two live sector briefs drawn from LSTITM tourism board partners
- International relations portfolio reviewed by industry mentors before graduation
What You Will Learn
- Tourism international relations vocabulary and stakeholder mapping
- Source-market diplomacy for inbound and outbound tourism
- Bilateral tourism cooperation programmes and their instruments
- Inbound trade mission and roadshow coordination at practitioner level
- Foundation air-service, visa and open-skies awareness
- Cross-border marketing partnerships between DMOs
- Cultural intelligence and international protocol basics
- Reporting and briefing for senior tourism policy stakeholders
- Practitioner project management for inbound trade missions and roadshows
- Meeting facilitation for cross-border partnership working groups
- Introductory budget literacy for international programme delivery
Who This Course Is For
- Certificate holders moving into tourism board international roles
- Marketing or research assistants pivoting into international tourism briefs
- International learners targeting UK inbound tourism careers
- Career changers with generalist policy or diplomatic experience
- Aspiring DMO international relations coordinators
Career Pathways
- Tourism Board Coordinator
- Tourism Development Officer
- Tourism Policy Support Officer
- International Development Assistant
- Tourism Programme Coordinator
- Global Tourism Coordinator
- Tourism Research Officer
LSTITM's careers service supports Diploma candidates with sector introductions to London tourism boards, embassies and international trade partners, plus CV coaching for international relations roles.
Diploma in Tourism International Relations learners also benefit from a monthly trade-mission briefing hosted by working tourism board international teams. Learners see how bilateral programmes are staffed, briefed and reported, and distance-learning cohorts receive template documents used inside real inbound trade missions. Past cohorts consistently identify this feature as the moment when international relations moved from academic study to a career path they could imagine themselves entering.
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 international relations direction
- Access to a computer and reliable internet for online delivery
Applicants who narrowly miss the IELTS 5.5 threshold can take LSTITM's pre-sessional English support before joining the Diploma in Tourism International Relations, and international applicants receive a personal admissions reply within three working days. Candidates without formal qualifications but with three years of public administration, embassy or trade experience are welcome to apply through the recognised prior learning route.
Why Study at LSTITM
LSTITM is the London School of Tourism and International Travel Management, a specialist division of Harold International College of London. Every LSTITM programme is aligned with the Tourism Society, ITT, ABTA, CIM and UKHospitality reference frameworks.
Our curriculum is written by former destination directors, policy leads and international programme managers, and delivered across three flexible modes with dedicated career support for every learner.
Diploma in Tourism International Relations students are matched with a working international relations practitioner as their personal mentor for the year. Mentors join termly check-ins, review portfolio outputs and often introduce learners into their own tourism board and embassy networks, giving Diploma graduates a warm route into their first international relations coordinator role.
Apply for Diploma in Tourism International Relations
Applications are open now for the next intake of the Diploma in Tourism International Relations. Take the next step into professional tourism practice and secure an international-relations UK Level 4-equivalent Diploma. Rolling intakes are open across on-campus, online and distance-learning modes so applicants can pick the delivery route that best fits their work and study commitments. Applications are reviewed on a first-come basis, the LSTITM admissions team responds within three working days, and applicants who want to talk through their international relations interests with an admissions officer before applying can book a short one-to-one call directly through the LSTITM enquiry form. Applicants coming from public administration or embassy backgrounds are particularly welcome. Enrol Now.
