Associate degree Tourism Management course summary
How does this associate degree prepare you for a career in the tourism industry. Check the full programme below.
The programme for Tourism Management
With this Tourism Management associate degree, you'll learn to develop, produce and market tourism experiences, looking at aspects such as storytelling, guest experiences and innovation. Right from the start, you'll work on real projects for tourism organisations in Northern Netherlands, so you can develop your talent, professional skills and competencies and be career-ready on graduation.
You'll explore subjects such as:
You'll develop the following skills:
What’s the difference between an associate degree and a bachelor?
An associate degree focuses on practical application in the tourism industry. From day one, you work on real projects, internships and close collaboration with the field. You learn how to contribute to the development and delivery of tourism experiences, with a strong emphasis on operational work, coordination and hands-on execution.
A bachelor builds on this foundation and combines practical experience with analysis and development. You work on real-life challenges in tourism, using research, data and industry insights to understand destinations, organisations and visitor behaviour. This prepares you to develop innovative and sustainable solutions, with a broader focus on strategy, destination development and long-term impact.
Each academic year is divided into two semesters, each with its own topic.
Semester 1 – discover: what is the tourism landscape?
Semester 2 – experience: who am I in the tourism landscape?
In the first year, you dive straight into the world of tourism. You explore the different organisations, roles and activities within this dynamic industry and meet the people working in it. You'll visit a wide range of organisations, including tour operators, destination management organisations and accommodation providers, helping you quickly discover where your interests lie.
You work on real projects for tourism business in the north of the Netherlands. One project might involve helping a hospitality company on the island of Terschelling with the development of sustainable activities to the development of an international trip taking in tourism hotspots. You'll organise excursions, develop new experiences and learn how to reach different target groups with appropriate online content. In all these projects, the focus lies on creating a positive and sustainable impact on destinations.
Along the way, you'll develop your skills, knowledge and professional strengths, while discovering what matters to you as a future tourism professional.
You'll also go on a field trip to a European destination, broadening your horizons and gaining inspiration in an international context. You are responsible for part of the trip yourself, giving you practical experience you'll also get to enjoy.
Each academic year is divided into two semesters, each with its own topic.
Semester 3 – create: where can I make the difference?
Semester 4 – connect: where do I belong?
In your second year, you deepen your knowledge of the tourism industry and choose a direction that matches your interests. You'll work om a team developing impactful projects that tackle current challenges from the professional field. This means you get to apply everything you learned in your first year in practice.
During your graduation project, you can specialise further. For example:
Organising excursions or trips
Creating an optimal client experience for an accommodation
Working on a challenge in destination marketing
You develop a practical end-product for a real business that can actually be used in the field.
To complete your studies, you’ll do a 20-week internship, either in the Netherlands or abroad. This is where you put everything you know into practice, discover where your strengths lie, gain valuable experience and take the next step towards your future in tourism.
Practical approach of Tourism Management (AD)
We aim to help you put theory into practice as quickly as possible. Through our educational concept, Design-Based Education (DBE), you work in small teams of students, teachers, researchers and industry professionals. You tackle current, real-life issues developing and adapting your visions and ideas to form a solid solution.
Check out our field trip to Slovenia!
Is this the degree for you?
If you're confident this degree is the one for you, then why not apply online straightaway? Or pick one of the other options to help you take the next step.
