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Why would anyone want to or need to study Tourism Management nowadays? Well, according to Ian Yeoman, Professor of Disruption, Innovation and New Phenomena at NHL Stenden, because tourism isn’t just an industry, it’s THE industry. And studying tourism management not only opens the doors to a myriad of careers, but it’s good for the economy, for culture and for the planet. Here are the 3 reasons why you need to study Tourism Management.
1. Tourism has a mission
Tourism is like a storyteller. It brings to life the culture, traditions, history and future of a place. It shows off crafts, nature, architecture, industry and people. From fine dining in a prison where the apprentice chefs are inmates to an interactive tour of a chocolate factory that sparks images of Willy Wonka, every corner of business and society somehow ties back to tourism. Which means a Tourism Management degree isn’t just a degree, it’s a means for addressing challenges in society on a local and global scale.
2. Tourism landscapes the future
Climate change is of course one of the challenges the industry faces. Tourists now have to think about how viable a destination is, consider whether it’s too hot, too dry, too wet or if there’s a risk of forest fires, for instance. And there’s the ecological footprint to consider. The coastal town of Rovinj in Croatia transformed its tourism to better manage its ecosystem. It upgraded its accommodation and created more meaningful experiences for tourists that play in on the town’s traditions and culture, whilst also upping its game in terms of sustainability and eco-friendly business practices. It’s created a win-win situation for both the industry and the environment.
3. Tourism has every possible career
With artificial intelligence playing an increasingly greater role in tourism, humanoid robot experiences will become central features in our tourism experiences. Like in theme parks where the magic of Disney will combine with fantasy tourism. It means traditional roles in tourism like tour guides and room attendants will coexist with emerging careers such as AI ethics advisors, avatar relationship managers and augmented reality journey planners. The list of jobs at companies such as Disney and booking.com is already huge, but it’s growing further. Every aspect of business is covered from religious advisors and sustainability experts to food developers and marketing managers, from financial analysts and operations managers to data analysts and call centre managers. You name it, you can be it.
Your ticket to your future
Tourism management is about change, action, leadership and responsibility. When you study tourism management you develop your own kitemark of how you see the industry. And you find out where your heart lies. Studying tourism management at NHL Stenden means developing your core skills and finding your particular specialism, like working on community-based tourism, a destination in transition, gastronomy, hotel operations management, hunger solutions, outdoor leadership or business development. The bachelor’s in tourism management isn’t just a degree: it’s your ticket to a world of innovation, sustainability and high-tech brilliance.
Find out more about the tourism management programme and watch Ian Yeoman’s TEDtalk on the future of tourism.
