Travel Designer (Travel Consultant): Reference scheme
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Scheme C) Unregulated profession
The reference scheme is based on the 'modelSkills Cycle' and is in line with the 'Tourism, Arts, Heritage Competence Framework (TAH-CF)'. the TAH-CF is defined in accordance with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2009/C 155/02 (ECVET) and the APNR (Non-Regulated Professional Activities) scheme adopted by UNI for the technical standardization of unregulated professions.”
The scheme is made available to all stakeholders in the cultural tourism supply chain in order to collect comments and useful elements to improve its contents. All interested parties are invited to improve the scheme by sending their contributions to info@aiptoc.it
Description
PTU15: Travel Designer (Travel Consultant) (V Level EQF)
The Travel Designer deals with tourist consultancy in order to create tourist itineraries and tailor-made trips for individual tourists or companies.
In summary, the Travel Designer deals with:
- Discover places and services related to tourism
- Know and identify the techniques for organizing tourist packages best suited to customer needs
- Define and implement tourist itineraries
- Manage relationships with structures, air carriers and insurance companies if necessary;
A Travel Designer is not necessarily a Travel Agent.
Professional figures similar to Travel Designers: Travel Planner, Travel Organizer
Where he works
- Tour Operators, Travel Agencies
- Own in the capacity of Consultant or Industry Expert
Similar professional figures:
Specific tasks and skills
- T1: Analyze the Reference Context
- Identify and analyze sector regulations
- Identify and analyze stakeholders (who are the interested parties: internal/external)
- T2: Research and Consulting on Customized Itineraries
- Evaluation of Accommodations, Activities and Itineraries Experiences
- Propose customized itineraries on a large scale.
- T3: Overall Planning
- Planning main activities
- Booking and Logistics Management
- T4: Networking and Collaboration with Suppliers
- Collaborate with Suppliers
- Maintain relationships with other local operators in destinations.
- T5: Customer Service and Continuous Improvement
- Ensure customer satisfaction and handle any complaints.
- Collect feedback from guests and use it to continuously improve tourism services.
Insight note 1: Clarification of terms
The terms “Travel Designer” and “Travel Consultant” essentially refer to the same professional figure, although the term “Travel Designer” may evoke a slightly more creative and tailored image of the service offered. Both designations emphasize the personalized approach to travel planning and design, highlighting the ability to create personalized offers for customers, based on their interests, desires and budget.
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Travel Designer (or Travel Designer): This term emphasizes the aspect of design and tailor-made creation of travel experiences. It suggests an almost artistic approach in composing unique itineraries that reflect customers' specific preferences. He is a figure who goes beyond simple logistical organization, working to realize the customer's "dream trip", taking care of every detail to make it special.
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Travel Consultant: This term also emphasizes personalization and expert advice, but can be perceived as slightly broader, including both the planning of tailor-made trips and the provision of advice based on in-depth knowledge of the tourism sector. The travel consultant offers personalized recommendations, assistance and support at all stages of the trip, from planning to implementation.
Both roles focus on quality service, providing expert advice based on in-depth destination research. The choice between the two terms may depend on personal preference, marketing or the emphasis you want to place on your unique approach to the travel industry. In both cases, the final goal is to make the customer's travel experience perfectly aligned with his expectations.
Insights note 2: Distinction between Travel Designer (or Travel Consultant) and Travel Local Expert
The distinction between Travel Designer (or Travel Consultant) and Travel Local Expert It mainly concerns their role, their specific skills and the way they interact with travellers, as well as the approach each one adopts in creating tourist experiences.
- Travel Designer (Travel Consultant): The Travel Designer is a figure specialized in planning and creating customized travel itineraries. He or she works primarily with clients to understand their interests, expectations and travel needs, building tailor-made experiences that go beyond standard tourist packages. The Travel Designer, therefore, is a figure who knows the destinations in depth but is also capable of managing various aspects of the trip, often without being physically present in the places he or she suggests.
- Travel Local Expert: The Travel Local Expert, as the name suggests, is a guide or an expert consultant who operates directly in the territory of the destination and who has an in-depth knowledge of the place where he lives or works. Usually, he is a local person or someone who has developed a strong local experience, and who is able to propose genuine experiences rooted in the culture and traditions of the place.
In short, while the Travel Designer has a global vision and focuses on creating unique and thematic trips for their clients, the Travel Local Expert is specialized in a specific place and offers authentic first-hand experiences, interacting directly with travelers on the spot. Both figures are essential for experiential tourism, and often work in synergy: the Travel Designer designs the itinerary and the Local Expert enhances the experience directly in the field.
Standards of Reference
- European Qualification Framework (EQF)
- Recommendation 2009 / C 155/02 (European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training - ECVET)
- Law 4/2013 relating to non-regulated professions
Profile Evaluation Criteria
To certify the possession of skills, it is proposed to take into consideration methodologies that take into account the following aspects in a non-mutually exclusive manner, i.e. possibly in combination with each other:
- Qualifications awarded in the academic field (Formal Learning)
- Specific Training (Non-Formal Learning)
- Work or Professional Experience (Informal Learning)
Work or professional experience can be demonstrated through various tools including:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Professional portfolio
- Objective placement on the market (awards, regional, national or international recognition)
- Publications (scientific or editorial)
Requirements for access to the professional figure
Since the professional figure is not organized in an order or college, the requirements may vary based on the relevant Professional Association or other criteria established by the individual interested parties. Below are the requirements adopted by AIPTOC - Italian Association of Tourism Professionals and Cultural Operators.
Detailed reference diagram: Travel Designer (SP/TAH-CF/PTU15)
- Having attended specific training courses for the professional figure in question organized / recognized by Universities, Regions or Associations of professionals established pursuant to law 4/2013 and recognized by the MISE and at least six months, even non-continuous, of proven work or professional experience in the reference sector
Or
- Having attended a specific training course whose contents are explained by UNI standards, where existing, as long as they are consistent with the skill in question and at least 6 months of work or professional experience in the reference sector
Or
- Three-year degree and at least two years, even if not continuous, of proven work or professional experience in the reference sector
Or
- Second grade secondary school diploma and at least five years, even if not continuous, with proven work or professional experience in the relevant sector
Or
- Have one of the following qualifications: Technical Director of a Travel and Tourism Agency, Travel Agent, Cultural Heritage Interpreter, Destination Manager or Tourism Manager (in its various specialties)
Or
- Be included in the Registers of Professional Associations established pursuant to Law 4/2013 and recognized by the MISE as long as they refer to the competence in question
- Be included in Registers of Certified Professionals based on specific UNI standards, where existing, as long as they are consistent with the expertise in question
Skills, Knowledge and Autonomy and Responsibility (Skills)
Note: The competences necessary for a profession, which include skills and knowledge, constitute a dynamic whole. These may vary depending on specific territorial contexts and are subject to changes over time due to factors such as technological evolution or other sectoral developments. Therefore, the examples of skills and knowledge presented here are to be considered purely indicative and not exhaustive, and will be subjected to constant revisions and updates.
T1: Analyze the Reference Context
Activity T1.1 Identify and analyze sector regulations
Ability
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- SQ1: Analysis skills
- SP1: Identify and evaluate the applicability of the rules for the protection and use of the Cultural and Landscape Heritage
- SP4: Identify and evaluate the applicability of the Tourism Legislation
- SP22: Identify and evaluate the applicability of Sector Policies
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Additional required knowledge:
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- KS39: The legislation for the protection and use of Cultural Heritage
- KS47: The legislation on privacy and the tourism sector
- KS48: The European Regulation 2016/679
- KS52: Consumer protection legislation
- KS232 Regulations for the Protection of Cultural Heritage
- KTN12: The protection and supervisory bodies
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Activity T1.2 Identify and analyze stakeholders (who are the interested parties: internal/external)
Ability
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- SQ1: Analysis skills
- SP24: Identify the Strategic Stakeholders
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Additional required knowledge:
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- KS27: Local tourism systems
- KS28: Institutions and tourism promotion
- KS92: Supervisory and protection bodies
- KS420: Tourism Sector Structures
- KS421: OTA Online Travel Agencies
- KTN12: The protection and supervisory bodies
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T2: Research and Consulting on Customized Itineraries
Activity T2.1: Evaluation of Accommodation, Activities and Tourist Itineraries
Ability
- SQ1: Analysis skills
- SQ2: Synthesis ability.
- SP35: Analyzing and interpreting market trends
- SP92: Applying Research Techniques and Methodologies in the Tourism Sector
- ST11: Use information search tools
Find and Evaluate Accommodations and Destinations
Additional required knowledge:
- KS128: Research Methodologies
- KS420: Tourism Sector Structures
- KS23: Tourist Destinations
- KS180: Characteristics of the Tourist Offers
- KS181: Evaluation of Tourist Offers
- KS422: The Tourist Market
- KT5: Basic IT and telematic tools
- KS194: Local cultural endogenous attractions
- KS195: Territorial natural endogenous attractions
- KS196: Induced territorial attractions
Activity T2.2: Propose customized itineraries on a large scale.
Ability
- SQ2: Synthesis ability.
- SQ5: Planning skills
- SQ10: Analyze user/beneficiary requirements
- SP138: Know how to use organizational techniques and methodologies for the creation of Tourist Itineraries
- SP111: Ability to relate and inform in relation to the context of Tourist Itineraries
- ST1: Ability to communicate also in relation to the different characteristics, typologies and expectations of users/beneficiaries
Additional required knowledge:
- KQ2: Quality Management - Factors, indicators and standards of quality in services
- KQ22: Quality Management - Factors (dimensions) and quality indicators
- KQ33: Quality Management - Stakeholder Requirements Analysis
- KQ7: Quality Management - Planning and monitoring of the service
- KS101: Basic IT and Telematics
- KS105: Communication styles and effective communication
- KT26: Needs analysis methods and tools
- KT31: Design and Planning of Tourist Itineraries
- KT6: IT tools for online communication and research
- KS200: Theories and techniques for drafting an itinerary
T3: Overall Planning
Ability
- SQ5: Planning skills
- SQ6: Programming skills
- SP139: Reservation Management
Additional required knowledge:
- KQ7: Planning
- KS1: Logistics
- KS35: Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)
- KS171: Tourist Planning
- KT31: Design and Planning of Tourist Itineraries
- KS423: The Reservation System
T4: Networking and Collaboration with Suppliers
Ability
- SP133: Networking and Collaboration (establish and maintain productive relationships with stakeholders)
- SP134: Mediation and Negotiation (mediate between different needs and expectations, balancing the interests of different interested parties.
- ST2: Group management skills
- ST3: Conflict management skills
Additional required knowledge:
- KS411: Networking Strategies
- KT1: Communication
- KT2: Group management techniques
- KT3: Conflict Management Techniques
- KS420: Tourism Sector Structures
- KS177: Negotiation techniques
T5: Customer Service and Continuous Improvement
Ability
- SQ14: Propose process changes to facilitate and rationalize improvements
- SQ16: Evaluate and analyze individual processes to identify corrective and improvement actions
- SQ20: Apply monitoring methodologies and techniques
- SQ21: Apply Customer Satisfaction methodologies and techniques
- SQ22: Monitor and Evaluate the provision of services
Additional required knowledge:
- KQ13: Quality Management - Monitoring and measurement of processes and services
- KQ14: Quality Management - The Management of Non-Conformities and Corrective Actions
- KQ15: Quality Management - Evaluation of the quality of services
- KQ35: Quality Management - Continuous Improvement
VI Level. EQF
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