Virginia's Travel & Tourism pathway develops expertise in travel services, tourism marketing, destination management, and tourism operations—preparing students for careers in Virginia's significant tourism industry.
Students study travel industry operations, destination marketing, tourism services, travel planning, hospitality, and customer service. They learn tourism through partnerships with tourism organizations and travel companies.
Graduates work as travel consultants, tour operators, tourism coordinators, hotel reservation agents, or destination marketing specialists. Virginia's major tourism destinations create employment. Advanced students pursue tourism management and hospitality programs.
Travel & Tourism at a Glance
4
Courses
8
Credentials
4
Career Paths
State Standards & Framework
Virginia's travel and tourism standards address travel industry operations, destination marketing, customer service, and tourism management. Standards reflect current tourism industry practices.
Students demonstrate competency through tourism marketing projects and travel service assessments. The state integrates tourism systems and customer service.
Typical Course Sequence
| Course |
|---|
| Travel and Tourism Fundamentals |
| Destination Marketing and Planning |
| Travel Services and Operations |
| Tourism Management and Customer Service |
Industry Certifications & Credentials
- ✓Hospitality Tourism Specialist (HTS)
- ✓Guest Service Gold - Tourism
- ✓First Aid/CPR/AED
- ✓National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
- ✓ServSafe Food Handler
- ✓ServSafe Manager
- ✓ProStart Certificate of Achievement - Year 1
- ✓ProStart Certificate of Achievement - Year 2
Career Opportunities
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Growth projections from BLS Employment Projections (2023-2033). Cost-of-living adjustment uses BEA Regional Price Parities (2023). Entry-level salaries reflect the 25th percentile; experienced salaries reflect the median.
Tour Operator
ExperiencedSalary range: $35,170 - $46,400
Destination Marketing Manager
ExperiencedSalary range: $134,990 - $223,850
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Students intern at tourism organizations, travel agencies, visitor centers, and tourism businesses throughout Virginia.
Career & Technical Student Organization
Students in this pathway can participate in DECA, gaining leadership experience and competing in career-related events.
How Sage Helps Virginia CTE Programs
AI-Powered Curriculum
Generate standards-aligned lesson plans in minutes, not months
Virginia Standards Built In
Pre-loaded with Virginia's CTE standards and frameworks
Teacher Customization
Teachers personalize content while maintaining standards alignment
Ongoing Updates
Curriculum stays current as Virginia standards and industry needs evolve
Ready to Build Travel & Tourism Programs at Scale?
See how Sage can help you create standards-aligned curriculum for Travel & Tourism in Virginia.