Tourism Management course summary
How does this degree prepare you for a career in the tourism industry? Check the full programme below.
The programme for Tourism Management
The Tourism Management degree combines theory and practice, and you work on current issues in the tourism industry. You learn how tourism experiences are designed, how destinations work and how organisations respond to the needs of visitors and other stakeholders.
Through the projects for clients, you get to explore subjects such as consumer behaviour, marketing, destination management, sustainability and strategy in tourism. You also learn how to use research, data and digital tools to develop well-founded and future-focused solutions.
The minor subject and international opportunities mean you can further specialise in a particular area. In your final year, you bring your knowledge and skills together with a paid internship and graduation project. You'll research an industry-related problem and translate your findings into feasible solutions. This not only gives you the opportunity to invest in your personal development but also offers an excellent chance of employment after graduating.
You'll study the following subjects:
Semester 1: Shaping tourism experience
Welcome to the world of travel. In the first semester, you learn about the tourism industry, the organisations within it and the various target groups. Working with your project group, you learn how to develop a meaningful tourism experience that adds value for visitors, organisations and destinations. You also start your own fictional tourism company as a team. In addition, you start building a foundation in professional communication skills, such as effective collaboration, storytelling and presentation techniques.
Semester 2: Exploring places in tourism
In the second semester, you work on a project for a tourism destination in Europe. You explore all the stakeholders involved in making a stay for tourists possible and discover the challenges that come with it. You work in a team to develop impactful solutions to help the destination further develop towards a more sustainable future. Throughout the programme, you are closely guided by your study coach and pro-actively work on your personal development so that you can discover how you want to position yourself within the industry. You also take part in tourism events, networking opportunities and real-life projects that support your professional growth. In addition, you can join international study trips that enable you to experience destinations and tourism experiences from the perspective of a tourism professional.
Semester 1: Marketing tourism destinations
In this semester, you develop a sustainable tourism product for a real client from the industry. You analyse consumer behaviour, destination positioning, and the interests of different stakeholders to create responsible marketing strategies. You advise stakeholders on how to successfully bring tourism products to the market, balancing economic, social, and environmental interests.
Semester 2: Rethinking tourism destinations
You explore an international tourism destination and discover how different stakeholders work together. You analyse dilemmas and conflicting interests within tourism networks and use data and digital tools to gain insights. Using scenario planning, you explore future developments and provide strategic recommendations for sustainable, future-proof destination development. During an organised study trip, you visit the destination and experience it first-hand.
Semester 1: Leading strategic destination change
In the first semester of year 3, you explore organisational and destination challenges from a strategic perspective. Using research, digital tools, and sustainability principles, you develop feasible and responsible solutions. You take on the role of a change manager, setting up projects that create long-term value for all stakeholders within tourism systems.
Semester 2: Minor subject (with an option to study abroad)
In the third year, you specialise further by choosing two minors. The Tourism Management programme offers several specialisations both on campus in the Netherlands or at one of the NHL Stenden Grand Tour locations in South Africa, Bali or Thailand. You can also choose from minors offered by other courses and universities of applied sciences via an Exchange programme – this is all part of broadening your academic skills.
Read more about the options available and where you can take your minors in the section below on minors and specialisations.
Internship and graduation project
In the final year, you put everything you have learned into practice. You complete a 10-month internship in the Netherlands or abroad, and then finish with a design project. This final assignment showcases your academic capabilities in analysing industry-related problems and translating your insights into clear problem statements and feasible solutions. Our students currently have internships at companies such as TUI, Lufthansa, Stuttgart Airport, Norwegian Cruise Line and Bizz Travel.
Featured project: The tourist destinations of tomorrow
In the Rothaarsteig project for Sauerland Tourismus e.V., students developed a gamified app that encourages sustainable behavior.
Specialisations in Tourism Management
In your third year of Tourism Management, you get to specialise by taking 2 minor subjects. These are elective subjects that enable you to focus on a particular topic or expand your knowledge through an additional subject. You can choose a minor offered by the Tourism Management programme or by other courses and universities of applied sciences.
Tourism Management offers the following minors:
Heritage Management (Leeuwarden)
You research the tourism possibilities for a natural or cultural heritage site, focusing on the maintenance and protection of the destination.
Outdoor Leadership in Adventure Tourism (Bali and Leeuwarden)
You learn what it takes to be an entrepreneur in the outdoor branch. From setting up a business to being a manager and identifying opportunities and challenges. The focus is on sustainable tourism.
Destinations in Transition (Aruba)
Become a pioneer in sustainable tourism! Learn how to encourage transitions in tourism and have impact on a quickly evolving industry. This programme offers a unique opportunity to dive into the culture and nature of Aruba while working on a more sustainable future for global destinations.
Inside Italy: Co-creating Experience (Italy)
With its focus on People, Enrichment and Wellbeing, this minor allows students to join in Tuscany’s effort to build resilient communities that breathe new life into the region.
Other minors offered by NHL Stenden include Event Management, Media Innovation in Tourism, Cruise Management as well as the options offered on Grand Tour.
International study trips
Studying Tourism Management at NHL Stenden Hogeschool is not restricted to the classroom. In fact, we believe it’s more important to experience the industry through the eyes of the consumer, understand theory from a specialist’s perspective, and receive feedback straight from the professional field. That’s why we take you on study trips.
During the study trips, you get to apply your knowledge and continue to develop your skills. They are an essential part of the programme but their costs are not included in the tuition fees.
In years 1 and 2, you travel to inspiring European destinations, both within and outside the Netherlands. During these trips, you experience tourism in practice and view it from a professional perspective. At the same time, you actively build your network. As a student, you can also contribute to organising these trips by joining the study trip committee.
Course Catalogue
Practical approach of Tourism Management
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.
Ellen van der Spoel, Tourism Management work field coordinator
Jorinda Ballering, Lecturer Tourism Management
Joana's internship at AVIAREPS Tourism in Munich
Panna's Grand Tour in Bali
Carlotta's Grand Tour in Bangkok
Podcast
Check out the Tourism Management podcasts and meet students, staff and alumni. Hear what they have to say about the degree and where it’s taken them.
Discover 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.
