mba in travel and tourism in canada

Tourism & Leisure degrees

Tourism and Leisure degrees teach students to manage products and services related to activities like travelling for pleasure, personal recreation, and various social events. Tourism studies make sure you’ll know how to treat your clients during their hotel stay or when visiting the best tourist sites. Tourism degrees cover areas of Management Science, Business Administration, Marketing, and Hospitality.

Information about Tourism & Leisure Degrees

Tourism and leisure includes all the economic and social activities associated with travelling experiences, recreation and the enjoyment of free time. Professionals in the field have the responsibility to maximize their clients’ leisure experience, either through direct contact, or by efficiently managing the logistics and personnel involved in the leisure resorts or activities. They work in tourism and the travel industry, in organising various events or in sports and health centres.

Tourism and leisure professionals have a good understanding of sales principles, excellent communication skills and usually speak more than one foreign language. Most are also trained in events, hospitality or sports management, and even in business administration.

Combining the art of relaxation with the competencies needed to manage the tourist industry, tourism is a popular applied science profession. Typically, academic degrees in tourism, hospitality and leisure offer in depth management understanding, implementation strategies and even different languages. Examples of study programmes include: international tourism management and consultancy, attractions and theme parks management and leisure and event planning.

Some of the most popular careers in tourism and leisure include job titles such as travel agent, fitness instructor, hotel and resort staff or tour guide; opportunities stretch as far as restaurant management or transportation professional. A career in tourism requires people-oriented skills above any task related technical competencies.

What to expect from a career in the Travel and Tourism Industry

The travel and tourism industry is growing exponentially, which makes an education from travel and tourism programs at Ontario colleges a hot commodity. You can take your skills in a number of directions, from management and administration to outdoor adventure and more.

If you’re interested in a global career with plenty of exciting career opportunities, here’s what you need to know.

Travel and Tourism Courses

While overview programs are plentiful, there are also a number of specialty options in Ontario college travel and tourism programs, including (but not limited to):

Business / Management. Risk management, finance and business skills, along with an overview of the industry and the latest tourism software, prepare students for management roles in all areas of hospitality.
Services. Specializing in one area of the industry – such as flight services or guest relations – or acting as travel counsellor in all areas. Students receive an overview of the travel industry along with targeted knowledge in their chosen area.
Specialties. Examining how one specific feature of a destination can influences tourism – for example, event planning or culinary culture. Again, students learn overall tourism industry skills along with their particular area.
Ecotourism. Giving travel and tourism a back-to-nature spin. Students practice the various activities in nature tourism while learning leadership, rescue training, camping skills and nature identification.

General Travel and Tourism Program Requirements

Most travel and tourism programs require an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, including a grade 12 English credit. However, because of the diverse program spectrum, be sure to check individual requirements for each.

Most programs include field study so students can practice hands-on training in their area of choice. One of the highlights of travel and tourism programs is that global travel opportunities exist as part of the curriculum or as optional experiences.

Travel and Tourism Jobs and Salaries

Travel and tourism graduates can expect to find careers in the hotel, resort, entertainment and travel industry, holding management, service tour guide and travel planning positions.

Graduates typically see lower starting salaries, between $23,000 and $28,000 per year, but salaries will likely increase with experience. Because of the diversity in the field, salaries for those with experience can be anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 or more per year.

Ontario Colleges Offering Travel and Tourism Programs

Use the left-column navigation to refine your search by College, Program Availability, Program Start Date and more, or see the table below for a complete list of travel and tourism programs at Ontario colleges.

More Information

PROGRAM SEARCH Filter by:Filtered by Tourism / TravelCollegeCampusProgram LengthStart DateCredentialLanguage of InstructionProgram AvailabilityProgram LevelProgram TypeProgram DeliveryHighly CompetitiveResults: 1 – 20 of 110Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management (Honours) (6225X03F)

College Learners