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Studies & Degrees in English for Tourism Business

English for tourism is English taught for the jobs of the travel and hospitality sector: hotel reception, restaurants and bars, travel agencies, tour guiding, transport and events. It is a form of English for specific purposes. The grammar is the same as in a general course, but the vocabulary and the practice situations come from the workplace.

The reason for studying it is simple. UN Tourism estimates that 1.52 billion international tourists were recorded worldwide in 2025, and English is the usual working language between staff and guests who do not share a mother tongue. Spain alone received close to 96.8 million international tourists in 2025, the highest figure in the series of the national statistics institute (INE), and in December 2025 the United Kingdom was the main country of residence of those visitors.

What students learn

Courses are built around the conversations that staff have with guests and with other companies:

  • Taking and changing reservations and checking guests in and out
  • Describing rooms, facilities, dishes and ingredients
  • Giving directions and recommending trips and cultural visits
  • Handling complaints and requests politely
  • Looking after business travellers and groups
  • Writing emails to guests, agencies and suppliers

The right course depends on the job. A waiter needs to explain a menu and its ingredients. A restaurant or hotel manager also needs to negotiate with suppliers and agencies and to write formal messages, which requires a higher level. Before booking, check that the course covers the area of the sector that matters to you.

Qualifications and levels

  • Short courses at language schools. English for tourism is normally a short course without an official qualification; the school gives its own certificate. The NW Academy of English in Derry, Northern Ireland, offers English for Specific Purposes courses that include English for Hospitality and tailors them for groups and individuals. Its tailored programmes have 15 hours of lessons per week, run all year, last a minimum of one week, accept all levels from the age of 16 and combine classes with technical visits to local companies.
  • English plus work placement. The same school combines 1 to 4 weeks of English classes with a work placement in a local company, with tourism (hotel and catering) among the placement areas. The programme is aimed at students in higher education and vocational training.
  • In-company training. Languages4Life in Barcelona designs courses for companies with vocabulary and real cases from the client's sector, in individual or group classes, in person, online or hybrid.
  • Vocational training (FP) in Spain. English is part of the official tourism qualifications. The higher-level cycles (grado superior) of Técnico Superior en Guía, Información y Asistencias Turísticas and Técnico Superior en Gestión de Alojamientos Turísticos each last 2,000 hours and include the module Inglés Profesional as well as a second foreign language.

Levels are described with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), a six-point scale from A1 for beginners to C2.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists seven active schools for English for tourism: four in the United Kingdom, two in Spain and one in Germany. They include the NW Academy of English in Derry, Languages4Life in Barcelona and Sprachschule 24 in Tübingen, a language school that teaches on site at client companies.

For a course in the United Kingdom, GOV.UK states (checked in October 2026) that a Standard Visitor can study for up to 6 months at an accredited institution, including English language courses. English courses of more than 6 and up to 11 months need a Short-term study visa, and holders of that visa cannot work, which includes work experience and work placements. Ask the school which immigration route applies before booking a programme with a placement.

Careers

English for tourism is not a profession in itself. It supports jobs such as receptionist, waiter, travel agent, tour guide, reservations agent, event staff and hotel or restaurant manager. In Spain, TodoFP, the vocational training portal of the Ministry of Education, presents the grado superior in Guía, Información y Asistencias Turísticas as the qualification for those who want to work as a tourist guide. A language course adds to such a qualification; it does not replace it.

Frequently asked questions

Is English for tourism an official qualification?

No. It is normally a short course with a certificate from the school. In Spain, professional English is a module inside official vocational qualifications in tourism, which last 2,000 hours.

What level of English do I need to start?

It depends on the school. The tailored programmes of the NW Academy of English accept all levels. Jobs that involve negotiation and formal writing require a higher level than front-line service.

How long does a course last?

Courses are short. At the NW Academy of English the minimum is one week, and the programme with a work placement includes 1 to 4 weeks of classes.

Can I combine an English course with work experience in the UK?

Some schools offer programmes with a placement, but visa rules limit this: the Short-term study visa does not allow work experience or work placements. Check the conditions for your nationality with the school.