Online Tourism Degree Programs

Why consider an online tourism degree?

The Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) reports that the tourism and travel industry generates about $1.3 trillion a year in economic activity in the United States. Related areas are hospitality management degree and culinary arts degree programs. As more people use the Internet to do research on travel and vacation sports, the number of global travelers has also increased. In addition, air travel and cruises have become more affordable over the years. As a trained professional you would be responsible for making sure that all elements of travelers' experiences are rewarding and satisfactory from arranging accommodation, transportation, reservations for activities and meals, etc. While most companies train their staff for their specific positions associate and bachelor degrees in tourism and travel provide students with the formal training to be successful in the career.

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Search for an Online Degree in Tourism and Travel

Selected Online Tourism Degree Programs

• BBA: Hospitality and Tourism Management
• MBA: Hospitality and Tourism Management

Kaplan University

• Associate of Applied Science: Global Travel and Hospitality Management
• Certificate: Global Travel and Hospitality Management

University of Phoenix

• AA in Hospitality, Travel, and Tourism
• BS in Business/Hospitality Management

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Hospitality and Tourism
• MBA with Concentration in Hospitality and Tourism

• BA / Business Administration - Hospitality Management
• BA / Organizational Management - Hospitality Management

• Bachelor's - Culinary Management
• Bachelor's - Culinary Management
• Bachelor's - Hotel and Restaurant Management

• Business Administration with an emphasis in Tourism Management

Penn Foster Career School

• Travel/Tourism Specialist
• Hospitality management

Tourism and Travel Education and Training

There are many areas of study in an online tourism degree program that you can specialize in. For example hospitality management, spa and aroma therapy and spa, tourism, and travel. Students take a variety of hospitality and tourism courses. These courses include business management, information technology, finance, accounting, and interpersonal communications. The courses are geared towards teaching students skills such as management, organizational skills, customer relations skills, etc.

Classes in an online tourism degree include legal issues, destination marketing, special events management, human resources, and human relations. Elective courses often vary by specialization and students can selected from courses in service contracts, food and beverage cost controls, hotel finances, sanitation and, convention management, managing resorts, culinary arts, room and housekeeping management, and laundry and linens management.

Depending on the specialization online tourism courses may include:

• Hospitality and Travel
• Business Administration
• Culinary Arts
• Hospitality Management
• Leadership and Management
• Travel and Tourism

Travel and Tourism Careers

To succeed in the tourism and travel industry, a branch of hospitality management one must enjoy working with people, have good organizational skills, have good problem-solving skills and be detail oriented. Options for working in tourism and travel include working as a hotel manager, travel agent, tour guide, activities director, etc.

Many professionals work in top resorts, cruise companies and cruise ships, travel agencies, health clubs, tour companies, airlines, etc. Depending on the specific industry, responsibilities may include arranging travel, greeting clients, checking in guests or travelers, managing hotel bookings, administering spa treatments, etc. Many of the positions with an online tourism degree are available in food service, hotels and lodging, conventions, destination services management, casinos, travel and tourism, financial management, recreation industries, etc.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The hospitality and tourism industry represents the second largest employer in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that about 15% of tourism and hospitality professionals are self-employed. The median annual income ranges from about $25,000 and $39,000, depending on the specific career one selects.

With a campus or online tourism degree, those in supervisory and management can make anywhere from $40,000 to $72,000 year, with median salaries of about $43,000. Most tourism and travel companies offer great benefits and perks for example travel benefits, tips, meeting many people from all over the world, etc. Many people with Hospitality and Travel degrees go on to management positions or chose to start their own companies.