Tourism Management course overview

Semester 1: Unpacking Tourism

In the first semester the focus lies on analysing a travel destination of choice in the Netherlands. You look at the destination from different perspectives of tourism and create an overview of the destination’s main stakeholders. By examining the destination and the stakeholders in a new way, you get to understand the basic principles of tourism. You forecast the future of the destination on the basis of an extensive trend analysis that not only considers trends and developments but also sustainability.

Semester 2: Innovations and Marketing

In the second semester, you and your project team develop an innovative product for a tourism client. You put yourself in the shoes of the target group and draw up the customer journey. You then create a unique and meaningful experience to meet their needs, for instance using innovative tools such as virtual reality or a personalised app. You will also consider how your idea will contribute to the sustainable development of the industry. You then develop a clear marketing strategy for placing the product innovation on the market and draw up a creative and effective online marketing campaign.

You also work on your personal development with guidance from your coach.

Field trips:

During your studies, you can also opt to join the field trips to various European tourism destinations, including in Germany and Slovenia. The field trips give you the chance to really understand the experiences as a consumer but also recognise the theory in place through your role as tourism specialist.

Subjects:

• Research
• Communications
• Tourism Economics
• English
• Intercultural Communication

Study load: 16 contact hours, 24 self study hours | 60 ECTS per year

Semester 1: Rethinking Tourism Destinations

In the first semester, you will further explore how travel destinations are organised and learn how to look at them from a different perspective. Travel destinations are managed just the same as a business or organisation and dedicated Destination Management Organisations (DMO) look at questions such as how a destination can continue to be attractive for local residents and tourists, how you protect the sustainable management of the environment and local culture, how you deal with growing numbers of tourists, and what opportunities there are for future development. Your project team will be linked to a DMO as you investigate potential tourism developments, developing different scenarios for the destination.

Semester 2: Managing Talents and Satisfaction

Creating attractive tourism services and collaborating and managing an organisation are important elements of this semester. You and your fellow students will develop a short trip that you will then get to experience yourself. You will also learn how to find and train the right people for a position and develop their commitment to the company. 

Elective: You also have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge for an extra language. You can pick Spanish beginners, intermediate or German. 

Field trips:

Besides this second language, you go on field trips to various destinations. This deepens your cultural understanding and develops your grasp of tourism theory and concepts.

Subjects:

• Scenario planning
• Financial management
• Management skills
• Quantitative research methods
• HRM and strategy
• second foreign language
• Managing Tour Operations

Study load: 16 contact hours, 24 self study hours | 60 ECTS per year

Semester 1: Tourism Research & strategic management 

(Module Tourism Research Project & Strategic Management)

This semester focuses on strategic management and working with professionals from other tourism organisations. You will develop your own vision of the field and you will be challenged to apply the knowledge you’ve gained so as to develop innovative sustainable solutions. You will also study subjects such as research, strategic management, trend analysis and scenario planning.

Semester 2: Minor subject (option to study abroad)

Study load: 16 contact hours, 24 self study hours | 60 ECTS per year

Internship and graduation project

The fourth and final year of your course is where you get to put into practice everything you have learned so far. You will complete a 7-month or 30-week internship anywhere in the world, and write your dissertation to prove your academic capabilities in analysing and translating industry-related problems and presenting feasible solutions. Our students currently have internships at companies such as TUI, Lufthansa, Stuttgart Airport, Norwegian Cruise Line and Bizz Travel.

You can choose to write your graduation project on a subject relevant to your internship company, for your own business start-up or on a subject of your own choice. Whatever you choose, you can assured of coaching and guidance from your personal student advisor.

60 ECTS per year