MSc Sustainable Tourism Development & Management

University of East London

The MSc Sustainable Tourism Development & Management builds on existing expertise and knowledge in the fields of sustainable tourism, tourism entrepreneurship and innovation, political economy of tourism, cultural and heritage tourism management, destination marketing and strategic tourism management. It is an innovative future-looking postgraduate course designed to provide you with a an in-depth understanding of global tourism business activity and its relationship to destination economies. You’ll also be prepared for the enormous challenges facing tourism managers, entrepreneurs policy-makers and indeed, tourists themselves, as we deal with the legacy of the pandemic, 'future-proof' tourism destinations and business against coming crises. This Masters draws upon the research expertise, knowledge and experience of the global tourism industries area as well as engagement with a range of diverse practitioners. It combines rigorous academic ideas with problem-solving and practical skills to equip postgraduate students with industry-based knowledge and competences to enable them to excel in the globalised business environment in which the contemporary tourism business and the industry operate.

What You'll Learn

This course engages with some of the most pressing issues of the day needed to rebuild, restructure and transform tourism commerce and destinations in line with new and innovative business models aligned with principles of sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals. Many destinations have already moved to address various crises and rethink the organisation and structure of their tourism industries along new and innovative sustainable models. It is vital therefore that we produce high calibre graduates and environmental-attuned 'conscious' tourism entrepreneurs that are prepared to address these challenges and help shape the tourism industries of the future.

Your Future Career

The course responds to the growing demand for highly trained professionals in the tourism industries in the UK and worldwide. The increasingly professionalised and globalised nature of these industries means that employers are looking for management/leadership graduates with an academically informed understanding of these sectors as well as the critical and analytical skills needed to reflect upon and solve a range of management-related problems. Through a combination of academic rigour with practical engagement with innovative industry partners and applied research, this course will equip students with the knowledge, strategic vision and competences to take a leading role in their chosen workplace. As one of the world's largest industries, tourism contributes to 7 per cent of global exports and sustains over 300 million jobs. It constitutes a major global force for economic development and intercultural exchange while in many low-income and small island developing states it comprises the single largest export sector.