Tourism Management MA - Courses | University of Westminster, London

Tourism is an increasingly important part of our lives, and the tourism industry is one of the few global industries forecast to grow in the long term. Managing this rapidly growing industry to meet visitors' demands in a sustainable way is exciting and challenging.

This long-established course will give you the knowledge, analytical abilities and skills you need to make a career as a tourism professional.

Annual student feedback for this course is very positive, with teaching, staff contact and course content receiving particular praise. This reflects the teaching team's efforts to provide a valuable and effective course as well as a supportive, friendly and stimulating environment for your studies. 

Members of the teaching team have published academic texts used by students of tourism at many UK universities. You'll benefit from access to these texts and the insights of these authors.

Furthermore, staff teaching on the course are active researchers, and their teaching is informed by both their own research and their engagement with industry.  

You'll learn about the nature and characteristics of tourism and explore how it can be marketed, managed and planned, examining cases from around the world. Your management and entrepreneurial skills will be developed to assist you in finding employment in many different parts of this dynamic and growing industry.

A range of option modules allows you to focus on your particular interests, and to explore the links between the different aspects of tourism. A dissertation gives you the chance to apply your learning to develop in-depth, specialist knowledge of a tourism topic of your choice. 

Top reasons to study with us

• Central London location – You'll study in the heart of London, one of the world's leading tourism destinations, with access to an extraordinary range of major tourist attractions and tourism-based businesses 

• Learn from experts – You'll be taught by a teaching team with specialist knowledge in tourism and related disciplines, who are also active researchers. Visiting industry speakers also bring additional expertise and industry experience to the course

• Site visits and field trips – Site visits, incorporated into your studies, allow you to explore a wide variety of aspects of the tourism industry. A residential field trip to a UK destination is also offered to enhance your knowledge and understanding

Course climate action statement

This course will promote understanding essential to accelerate climate action in the tourism and events sector. We will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and practical responses to help mitigate the risks of ecological and social disruptions, and to share your learning when entering employment. 

Course structure

The following modules are indicative of what you'll study on this course.

You'll be able to choose three option modules, a selection of which are listed below. Please note that we cannot guarantee all option modules will run each year, as availability will depend on demand.

Careers

Graduates of this course have gone on to establish careers in a wide variety of fields around the world, including national and regional tourism organisations, marketing roles with transport organisations such as airlines and tourism destinations, and working for companies specialising in business tourism.

Excellent career prospects

Pursuing a Master's in Tourism Management opens up diverse and exciting career opportunities across various sectors.

These include hotel and resort management, travel consultancy, destination marketing and management, public relations, tourism operations and travel agencies, government and public sector roles, technology and innovation in tourism, international organizations and NGOs, and the cruise industry, in addition to academic and research opportunities.

This course will equip you with crucial employability skills such as communication, leadership and management, cultural awareness, adaptability, and problem-solving.

Industry links

We have a well-established network of professional local and international links to help you prepare for a career managing tourism experiences and events.

Employers around the world

The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.

Job roles

This course will prepare you for roles such as:

• Hotel and Resort Management

  • Resort Operations Manager

  • Guest Relations Manager

• Travel Consultancy

  • Travel Consultant

  • Tour Package Designer

• Destination Marketing and Management

  • Tourism Development Manager

  • Public Relations Specialist

• Tourism Operations and Travel Agencies

  • Tour Operator

  • Travel Planner

• Government and Public Sector Roles

  • Visitor Economy Policy Advisor

  • Community Development Officer

• Technology and Innovation in Tourism

  • Travel Technology Specialist

  • E-commerce Manager for Travel

  • Virtual Tour Developer

• International Organizations and NGOs

  • Tourism Development Consultant

  • Sustainable Tourism Coordinator

• Academic and Research Opportunities

  • Tourism Researcher

  • Academic Advisor for Tourism Programs

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have gone on to work at:

• Airlines (e.g., British Airways, Emirates)

• Booking agencies (e.g., Expedia, Booking.com)

• Destination marketing organisations (e.g., VisitBritain, VisitCornwall)

• Global hotel companies (e.g., Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt)

• Independent travel agents

• Travel Tech Companies (e.g., TripAdvisor, Airbnb)

• Tour operators (e.g., TUI Group, Intrepid Travel)

• International Organizations (e.g., UNWTO, World Travel & Tourism Council)

• Cruise Lines (e.g., Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line)

• Government Departments and Boards

• Universities, Research Institutes

Guest speakers

You'll also learn from guest speakers who bring additional expertise and industry experience to the course. Previous speakers have come from the following organisations:

• VisitBritain

• London & Partners

• Destination Management/ Marketing Organisations

• Local Government Association (LGA)

• Camden Council and Westminster City Council

• London Neighborhoods Forums