Tourism Management

Tourism is one of the world's largest industries and significantly impacts New Zealand's economy – we need experts to steer that growth.

Why study Tourism Management?

Tourism Management is available as a postgraduate subject only.

Employers are looking for skillful, business-savvy managers who can plan, control, make strategic decisions, and understand the legal requirements for this sector - and that's where you come in.

Learn how to design and deliver memorable travel experiences
Build practical knowledge in areas such as service management, designing operational systems, business strategy, leading teams of staff, and managing financial resources.
Gain skills in destination marketing, event management, and inter-cultural communication.

Career Opportunities

Adventure tourism operator
Business entrepreneur/owner
Events manager
Gaming management
Hotel/resort/cruise ship manager
National or regional tourism planner/promoter
Operations manager
Outdoor leisure manager
Policy advisor / analyst (eg.government)
Tourism consultant
Tourism operations manager
Travel and Tourism Operator

Waikato Management School

Hamilton

Study Tourism Management in these qualifications

Course content

The rapid growth of domestic and international tourism and migration has led to an increasing demand for graduates who have a thorough understanding of tourism in its wider social, cultural, economic and political contexts.

Tourism and hospitality is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing export industries, and it can take your career to new places.

The industry encompasses hotels/resorts, cruise ships, sport and leisure operators, restaurants, cafes, bars, theme parks, entertainment, arts and cultural attractions, special events, and much more.

The study of tourism involves predicting the future – working out what people want from their leisure and travel pursuits, and how those wants are delivered and managed. You'll study the structure of different tourism organisations, aspects of hospitality and leisure, and the environmental and economic impacts of tourism operations.

Learn from the best

You'll study at Waikato Management School, which is in the top 1% of all business schools globally, thanks to our Triple Crown Accreditation from EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB.

Waikato is recognised as a global leader in the field of Tourism Management. We have such a strong international reputation that the United Nations asked us to host New Zealand's first-ever Tourism Monitoring Observatory in 2017.

This means our academics are now part of a global network of research centres examining the benefits and impacts of sustainable tourism on the natural, social and built environments. Learn more here.

Waikato also hosts the China-New Zealand Research Unit, which offers opportunities for Chinese students to conduct doctoral and masters degree research with some of the top scholars in both New Zealand and China.