Top 5 Tourism Management Courses

According to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), cultural and heritage tourism is increasing by an unprecedented 15 percent per year. Professionals who complete post-secondary Tourism Management courses are hired by organizations, companies, major hotel chains, museums and municipal governments such as Festival and Events Ontario, Heritage Toronto, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, (Ontario), Parks Canada, Town of Markham and more.

At Centennial College’s Tourism Management – Cultural and Heritage Tourism program, students obtain a measured application of fundamentals and training culminating in valid industry experience opportunities that equip learners to contribute to the tourism sector as it retools for an emergent transformation. Here are five crucial Tourism Management Programs at Centennial College will put students ahead of their competition.

Ontario Cultural & Heritage Tourism Product: This Tourism Management course focuses on the fact that Ontario records more international visitors than any other Canadian province or territory. As such, students investigate how the geographic makeup of the province influenced its historical development, the consequence of which has contributed to engaging tourism experiences. Students also gain insight into what Ontario has to offer from a cultural and heritage perspective by delving into a region-by-region exploration of Ontario's tourism assets — from world-class accommodation and urban experiences to wilderness adventures.

Managing Cultural and Heritage Facilities: In order to protect, maintain and program arts, cultural and heritage organizations, it takes dedicated staff and volunteers, as well as massive support from the private and public sectors. Through research, class discussions and projects, lectures from faculty and visiting professionals, and site visits to local organizations, in this hospitality management course, students identify best practices in managing arts, cultural and heritage facilities. They also deconstruct a local heritage organization using its real life practices and challenges to generate new revenue in order to promote financial stability.

Cross-Cultural Behavior in Tourism: Assisting students in understanding tourist behaviour in a cross-cultural context is the basis of this Tourism Management course. Elements of values, norms and rules and their effect on tourists’ behavior, holiday expectations, experiences, satisfaction and consequently repeat visitation are examined. The course also allows students to see how cultural differences influence tourist holiday perceptions and satisfaction and provides an in-depth analysis of five Asian cultures in comparison with European, American and Australian cultures.

Tour Planning and Management: This aspect of the Tourism Management Programs at Centennial College teaches students about sales incentives used by various companies to increase sales volume. Creating unique, memorable and more than positive experiences requires excellent costing, planning and management skills as well as imagination — all skills taught in this Tourism Management course and Tourism Management program.

Festival Management: In this Tourism Management course, students examine the multidisciplinary nature of this profession as well as the unique skill set required of career aspirants to this field.

To apply for the program and attend any of these Tourism Management courses students are required to have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Also required is a compulsory English 12C or U skills assessment, or equivalent.