Higher Diploma in Tourism International Relations
Course Overview
The Higher Diploma in Tourism International Relations is a 15 to 18-month LSTITM programme built as the articulation route between senior tourism supervisors and department-head international-relations responsibilities. Sitting inside the Tourism Business, Marketing and Operations department, the Higher Diploma is aligned with references from CIM, the Tourism Society, ITT and the British Chambers of Commerce.
By graduation you will be able to manage bilateral and multilateral tourism relationships, brief senior executives on external engagement, coordinate international delegations, and act as the primary interface with foreign tourism boards, chambers and trade associations. You will also complete a supervised senior project on a real bilateral relationship of your choice and defend the resulting engagement plan and briefing pack in a tutor-led review at end-point assessment.
The Higher Diploma places heavy weight on the human side of tourism international relations: hospitality protocols, delegation etiquette, timing, tone and the careful management of face and reputation. Graduates leave able to represent an employer credibly at trade shows, roadshows and government-to-government events without missing a beat.
Key Features
- Articulation-focused Higher Diploma bridging Level 5 to honours-level international practice
- Alignment with CIM, Tourism Society, ITT and British Chambers of Commerce references
- Case studies from UK inbound and outbound tourism relationships
- Coaching on delegation planning, bilateral protocol and briefings
- Introduction to trade shows, roadshows and tourism-diplomacy channels
- Guest sessions from international-relations leads at UK tourism boards
What You Will Learn
- Manage bilateral and multilateral tourism relationships at supervisor+ level
- Coordinate international delegations, visits and trade-show programmes
- Brief senior executives on political and economic factors in target markets
- Manage protocol, invitations and public-facing communications
- Track international tourism policy, sanctions and consumer-market shifts
- Follow ethical, safeguarding and inclusion standards on international work
- Present international-relations plans to board and steering committees
- Coach advanced-diploma staff through international routines and controls
Who This Course Is For
- Advanced Diploma graduates targeting international-relations roles
- DMO and tourism-board staff progressing to department-head level
- Consultancy partners specialising in international tourism engagement
- International applicants with 3+ years of tourism supervisory experience
Career Pathways
- Tourism Business Development Manager on international partnerships
- Brand Manager (Travel) on international campaigns
- Tourism Marketing Manager on international engagement
- Tourism Communications Manager on international press and PR
- Tourism Consultant on international-relations briefs
- Tourism Category Manager on international product portfolios
LSTITM's careers service supports Higher Diploma graduates with CV coaching, LinkedIn optimisation and warm introductions to UK tourism boards, international consultancies and destination-marketing agencies. Graduates progressing into an LSTITM honours top-up degree continue to benefit from careers coaching and are frequently placed into head-of-international relations positions at tourism boards, chain operators and inbound destination organisations serving major source markets. Assessment on the Higher Diploma in international relations uses a supervised bilateral-relationship project, a delegation-plan submission and a defended briefing pack, giving graduates managerial-workplace-ready evidence for honours and executive progression. Optional deep-dive masterclasses cover cultural etiquette across major source markets, ambassador-office liaison and inbound-tourism diplomacy for national tourism organisations. Students also present short work-in-progress talks each term to build senior-audience presentation craft alongside international-relations technique for progression conversations, external delegation events and future executive interviews inside UK tourism organisations.
Entry Requirements
- A completed Advanced Diploma or equivalent Level 5 tourism qualification
- Alternatively, 3+ years of supervisory tourism or international-engagement experience with a portfolio statement
- IELTS 6.0 or equivalent English proficiency for international applicants
- Two academic or professional references
- Interview with the LSTITM admissions team
Why Study at LSTITM
LSTITM is Harold International College of London's specialist tourism division, delivering destination, business, systems and strategic tourism programmes. Every LSTITM route is aligned with recognised UK bodies including the Tourism Society, ITT, ABTA, CIM, CMI and UKHospitality.
Higher Diploma students are taught by former international-relations leads and industry consultants, and every route is supported by dedicated LSTITM careers coaching plus warm introductions to UK tourism boards and consultancies.
International-relations Higher Diploma candidates on the LSTITM route benefit from a rotating panel of practitioner sessions covering region-specific etiquette, protocol and negotiation. Feedback from graduates consistently notes that this applied grounding is what makes them able to represent an organisation abroad without a long apprenticeship period. Alumni-in-residence sessions add another peer-perspective layer, connecting current cohorts with recent Higher Diploma graduates now leading bilateral tourism relationships at UK national tourism bodies, inbound destination organisations and chain tour operators.
Apply for Higher Diploma in Tourism International Relations
Applications for the Higher Diploma in Tourism International Relations are reviewed on a rolling basis and successful graduates articulate cleanly into LSTITM top-up honours routes. The LSTITM admissions team welcomes short pre-application interviews so international-relations candidates can plan modules around live delegation, trade-show and inbound-visit schedules. International candidates receive additional guidance on visa, English-language evidence and payment routes tailored to their country of residence, and admissions interviews can be arranged in multiple time zones. Complete your operational-to-managerial articulation with LSTITM by submitting your online application today. Enrol Now
