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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate knowledge of North America as a Tourist destination 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
7954  Demonstrate knowledge of North America as a Tourist destination 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Hospitality,Tourism,Travel, Leisure and Gaming 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 11 - Services Hospitality, Tourism, Travel, Gaming and Leisure 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  18 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2009-11-03  2011-07-31  SAQA 0160/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2012-07-31   2015-07-31  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The learner should be able to advise both business and leisure customers on all aspects of travel within North America. He/she should be able to structure a trip according to the customers needs and budget and make bookings and obtain the documentation necessary for travel. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
The following unit standards are assumed to have been achieved prior to the assessment of this unit standard:TS04: Book and issue documentation for land travel and accommodation.TS05: Book and issue documentation for point-to-point air travel. 

UNIT STANDARD OUTCOME HEADER 
Demonstrated KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING: 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Demonstrated KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING: 
OUTCOME NOTES 
1. Explain how to identify the location of the countries and describe the IATA codes of all major cities and gateways into these countries, using a map. (Range of countries: North America: Continental USA, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada)

2. Describe the method to source a comprehensive set of current airfares, routes to and within the regions and the operating airlines (including charter companies).

3. Describe the method to source types of land arrangements within the regions specified (tours, safaris, car-hire, rail services and different types of accommodation).

4. Describe how to interpret car-hire terminology, and explain restrictions on cross-border rentals and the conditions attached.

5. Explain how to identify the locations of major tourist regions, and describe and source the physical features, attractions, special events (including festivals) and tourist facilities

.6. Explain the use of booking sources such as hotel chains, GDS and tour operators to make the booking. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Demonstrated KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING: 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
1.Explain how to identify the location of the countries and describe the IATA codes of all major cities and gateways into these countries, using a map. (Range of countries: North America: Continental USA, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada)

2. Describe the method to source a comprehensive set of current airfares, routes to and within the regions and the operating airlines (including charter companies).

3. Describe the method to source types of land arrangements within the regions specified (tours, safaris, car-hire, rail services and different types of accommodation).

4. Describe how to interpret car-hire terminology, and explain restrictions on cross-border rentals and the conditions attached.

5. Explain how to identify the locations of major tourist regions, and describe and source the physical features, attractions, special events (including festivals) and tourist facilities

.6. Explain the use of booking sources such as hotel chains, GDS and tour operators to make the booking. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Demonstrated ability to make DECISIONS about practice and ACT accordingly: 
OUTCOME NOTES 
7. Access and interpret health and safety factors, current political situations, current information and the climatic conditions within the regions and advise clients accordingly

. Explain the impact on the customer's specific arrangements.

8. Source and interpret information regarding foreign currency within the countries, and explain applicable regulations and restrictions to clients.

9. Source and interpret the procedure and requirements for visa applications.

10. Apply for visa and re-entry permits according to the customer's routing, adhering to requirements and procedure.

11. Compare and analyse different packages and decide which package to offer to satisfy customer's needs, taking into account specific requirements and budget.

12. Compare specific differences between the countries, including fares, packages, accommodation options and tourist facilities available to assist the customer in making a choice.

13. Select appropriate transport services (bearing in mind the conditions of third-world local transport), using applicable timetables (rail, bus, etc) to meet the needs and preferences of customers.

14. Process the booking, give confirmation and issue the documentation according to the specific principal's or tour operator's regulations.

15. Keep an up-to-date record (Booking Card) of the client's personal information, and details of all current reservations, changes to reservations, confirmations, reference numbers, fares and tariffs quoted, passport details, visas applied for/returned and travel insurance policies 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Demonstrated ability to make DECISIONS about practice and ACT accordingly: 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
7. Access and interpret health and safety factors, current political situations, current information and the climatic conditions within the regions and advise clients accordingly. Explain the impact on the customer's specific arrangements.

8. Source and interpret information regarding foreign currency within the countries, and explain applicable regulations and restrictions to clients.

9. Source and interpret the procedure and requirements for visa applications.

10. Apply for visa and re-entry permits according to the customer's routing, adhering to requirements and procedure.

11. Compare and analyse different packages and decide which package to offer to satisfy customer's needs, taking into account specific requirements and budget.

12. Compare specific differences between the countries, including fares, packages, accommodation options and tourist facilities available to assist the customer in making a choice.

13. Select appropriate transport services (bearing in mind the conditions of third-world local transport), using applicable timetables (rail, bus, etc) to meet the needs and preferences of customers.

14. Process the booking, give confirmation and issue the documentation according to the specific principal's or tour operator's regulations.

15. Keep an up-to-date record (Booking Card) of the client's personal information, and details of all current reservations, changes to reservations, confirmations, reference numbers, fares and tariffs quoted, passport details, visas applied for/returned and travel insurance policies 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Demonstrated ability to learn from our actions and to ADAPT PERFORMANCE 
OUTCOME NOTES 
16. Given a request from a customer, develop an itinerary, using the information sourced

17. Given a booking to a destination where the customer could be running a safety or security risk, obtain advice on the situation on behalf of the customer or arrange alternatives

.18. Given a schedule change or a change of the customer's itinerary, incorporate this change with minimum disruptions to the original itinerary 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Demonstrated ability to learn from our actions and to ADAPT PERFORMANCE 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
16. Given a request from a customer, develop an itinerary, using the information sourced

17. Given a booking to a destination where the customer could be running a safety or security risk, obtain advice on the situation on behalf of the customer or arrange alternatives.

18. Given a schedule change or a change of the customer's itinerary, incorporate this change with minimum disruptions to the original itinerary 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be registered with the FE/HE Registrar.

3. Any institution wishing to receive skill development grants must be accredited with the relevant ETQA. Such an institution will also be registered with the relevant SETA.

4. Moderation of assessment will be done by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
Embedded knowledge and Critical cross-field outcomes have been included within the specific outcomes category. This has been done as it was deemed necessary to ensure holistic assessment occurred.

The specific outcomes can be applied in a range of contexts.

Many of the outcomes have been written in such a way that competence must be demonstrated in the context as opposed to in isolation from a context.

The specific outcomes are comparable to outcomes used internationally.

We therefore structured outcomes using the format noun + verb + condition (modifying phrase)

Specific outcomes have been split into three categoriesa) knowledge and understanding (what the learner must know and understand)b) decision-making and acting (what the learner must do)c) adapting performance ( including reflexive competence)In many instances there are more than six specific outcomes, as the inclusion of critical cross-field outcomes and embedded knowledge has increased the number of specific outcomes.

If competencies are to be clustered in a meaningful way, then these unit standards cannot be split. 


UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
1. Arrange or create an environment in which the learner can be fairly assessed against the Outcomes. ?

This unit standard should be assessed in the work place only.?

This unit standard may be assessed in conjunction with Develop an Itinerary TS26.

2. Evaluate the learner's ability to meet the outcomes. ?

This unit standard can be assessed by using a combination of case studies, written tests, observation and discussion with the candidate.

3. Provide specific feedback to the learner on assessments and the learner's ability to meet the outcomes

.4. Complete the declaration of competence and inform the appropriate ETQA once the learner has demonstrated the ability to meet all the outcomes.

5. Counsel the learner on future assessments, necessary learning and further qualifications. 

UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
1. Essential embedded knowledge is dealt with under the specific outcomes section where "demonstrated KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING" is required

.2. Range statements are included with specific outcomes as necessary.

3. The following critical cross-field outcomes are covered in this unit standard under the specific outcomes section.

They are not assessed directly, but are assessed holistically through the outcomes as indicated.?

Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems?

Remain receptive and responsive to current trends and developments.?

Collect, analyse and critically evaluate information.

1. The grouping of the areas is not strictly according to IATA regions, but according to the way the areas are marketed.

Where necessary and practical, the unit standard includes more than one area. 

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
  ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Elective  14122   National Diploma: Retail Travel  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2012-06-30  CATHSSETA 
Elective  14118   National Diploma: Wholesale Travel  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2012-06-30  CATHSSETA 


PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
 
NONE 



All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.