Tourism Management

Our Tourism Management degree focuses on sustainable tourism. You learn all about the cultural and environmental impact of tourism, as well as about the economic interests that come into play. You then explore how you can use commercial services in developing destinations while appreciating and protecting local traditions and environments.

The programme covers a range of aspects of tourism, from concept development to sustainability, from management information systems to forecasting and trend analysis. You’ll also develop insights into organisational cultures, marketing plan and strategic decision-making as well as expand your knowledge of different languages and develop your intercultural communication skills. You’ll also develop your personal skills and intercultural awareness, so that you become adept on a personal and professional level. 

It takes your passion for tourism way beyond sunshine, beaches and palm trees. It raises your awareness of the opportunities to responsibly and sustainably continue to explore the world. With sustainable tourism, you take into full account the current and future economic, social and environmental impact of tourism. You address the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. For us, this means being all-inclusive. It’s a new interpretation. A concept that responds to changing trends in tourism.

Our tourism management programme is leading with its focus on sustainable tourism. It means you study the effect tourism has on the local culture and the environment as well as explore the economic interests that play a role. And as the programme also covers policy-making with respect to sustainable tourism and responsible tourism, you gain a better understanding of the processes and the factors involved. You then use this understanding to make well-grounded decisions as a professional in tourism management. With the Tourism Management programme, you get to experience the industry through the eyes of a consumer, understand the theory through the eyes of a specialist and receive feedback directly from the field. It makes the programme so much more than its inspiring guest lectures, excursions and international field trips.

Specialisations

You can take these minors in the Netherlands or at one of our partner locations in South Africa, Thailand or Indonesia (we call this the Grand Tour). You can also choose from minors offered by other degree programmes and universities of applied sciences – this is all part of broadening your academic skills.

• Heritage Experience Management(Leeuwarden). Focusing on the management of natural and cultural heritage, you research the tourism possibilities for a particular heritage site. Working for local companies, students develop, for instance, an app or experience related to the heritage site.
• Outdoor Leadership and Adventure(Leeuwarden, Bali). Focusing on planning and guiding outdoor activities, you learn what it takes to be an entrepreneur in the industry, from setting up a business to being a manager. And you learn to understand and develop sustainable products and innovative strategies.
• Destinations in Transition(Aruba). Imagine being a pioneer in shaping a sustainable, innovative future for island destinations. This minor is designed to empower future leaders in regenerative tourism development.
• Tourism Geography & Planning (Leeuwarden). This pre-master programme consists of two minors and a dissertation and is offered in cooperation with the University of Groningen (RUG). Tourism Management graduates can then enrol straight onto the Cultural Geography Master programme at the RUG.

Kastu feedback about the program after the visit

• NHL has super great NOTIZ Hotel (4*) ran by students.
• NHL has super great restaurant with the highest quality food - Restaurant Wannee (led by former Michelin Star Chef Albert Kooy).
• All around campus NHL have places where students work (Canteen (with great food and huge selection of meals), Student Café, Coffee bar, Conference and events).
• Mostly it's one week of lectures and one week of practical work in one of the universities places (cafes, restaurant, hotel and other), the students get the ability to work in several different places during their studies.
• Each of these places are run by students who are supervised by professionals. Each year students are given more responsibility (Year 1: Operational; Year 2: Supervisor; Year 3: Manager; Year 4: Internship).