Hospitality & Tourism

Bachelor of Arts in Tourism

The Bachelor of Arts in Tourism is a programme that provides comprehensive study of tourism management, policy and development. Offered at multiple Kenyan universities, the programme prepares graduates for careers in Kenya's tourism industry.

The curriculum covers tourism management, tourism economics, tourism policy, tourism planning, tourism marketing, hospitality management, tour operations, travel agency management, ecotourism, wildlife tourism, cultural tourism, sustainable tourism, tourism geography, destination management, event management, research methods, and a research project. Students develop both tourism management and analytical skills.

The programme is designed to produce graduates who can manage tourism operations and contribute to tourism development. The programme addresses Kenya's position as a leading tourism destination in East Africa.

Graduates are prepared for careers as tourism officers, tour operators, travel agents, hotel managers, tourism marketers, destination managers, event coordinators, tourism consultants, park managers, research officers, tourism educators and hospitality managers. They work in tourism boards, hotels, tour companies, travel agencies, national parks, airlines, government, NGOs and research institutions.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with C+ in English or Geography.

Prospective students should have strong analytical skills, a commitment to continuous learning, and an interest in contributing to Kenya's socio-economic development. The programme provides a solid foundation for further postgraduate study and professional advancement in related fields.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 204,000
Private, up to: Ksh 121,300
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Tourism Management
Tourism Economics
Tourism Marketing
Hospitality Management
Tour Operations
Ecotourism
Wildlife Tourism
Cultural Tourism
Sustainable Tourism
Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Tourism Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Managing tourism operations. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...
Tourism Economics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Economics of tourism. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...
Tourism Marketing
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Marketing tourism. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exami...
Hospitality Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Managing hospitality. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...
Tour Operations
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Operating tours. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examina...
Ecotourism
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Sustainable tourism. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exa...
Wildlife Tourism
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Wildlife-based tourism. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ...
Cultural Tourism
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Cultural tourism. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examin...
Sustainable Tourism
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Sustainability in tourism. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semest...
Research Methods
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Research methodology. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...

Specialisations

Ecotourism
Focus on sustainable tourism. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Tour Operations
Focus on tour operations. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Destination Management
Focus on destinations. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Hospitality Management
Focus on hospitality. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on tourism, studying tourism management, researching tourism economics, studying marketing, analysing ecotourism, researching cultural tourism, studying hospitality, participating in field trips, studying sustainable tourism, and engaging with current tourism industry trends. Students undertake industrial attachment.

The trade offs

In its favour

Tourism is a major contributor to Kenya's economy
Diverse career options across the tourism value chain
Combines management with sustainability and culture

Against it

Tourism is vulnerable to economic and security crises
Work may involve irregular hours and seasonal demand
Starting salaries may be modest in some roles
May require foreign language skills for advancement

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 91 hospitality & tourism courses

Public189k to 204k

189k at University of Nairobi204k at Kenyatta University

Private121k to 121k

121k at Zetech University121k at Zetech University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU Hosp&Tourism 204K, UoN 189K/yr. Zetech 60.65K/sem=121.3K/yr. USIU unverified.

Government scholarships under the new funding model cover 53-82% of tuition for needy students in public universities. HELB provides loans up to KSh 60,000 per year.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited undergraduate programmes at recognised institutions
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
ScholarshipKenyan
Needy students placed by KUCCPS in public universities, assessed through Means Testing Instrument
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
Kenya Utalii College Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Students admitted to tourism and hospitality programmes at Kenya Utalii College
Tourism Training Revolution Fund
BursaryKenyan
Students pursuing tourism and hospitality training

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in English or Geography. KACE with two principal passes. Diploma in tourism, hospitality or related field from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular tests, field reports, projects, presentations and class participation
End of Semester Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Final written examinations covering all semester content
Industrial Attachment and Research Project
Practical30% of the mark
Industrial attachment and tourism research project

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires KCSE C+ with C+ in English or Geography.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Hotel Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages hotel operations
Tourism Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages tourism programmes
Tourism Consultant
Low demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 350,000
Provides tourism consultancy
Tour Operator
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 400,000
Operates tours
Destination Manager
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages tourism destinations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as tourism officers, tour operators, hotel managers and destination managers in tourism boards, hotels and tour companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office
ProductivityPrimary
Productivity suite for reports, presentations, and tourism business documentation.
Amadeus
Reservation systemsPrimary
Global distribution system for travel booking and reservation management.
Sabre
Reservation systems
Travel reservation and booking platform used by travel agencies.
Google Analytics
Analytics
Web analytics for measuring tourism website and digital marketing performance.
Salesforce
Crm
Customer relationship management platform for tourism client management.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Tourism is just about travelling.
The programme covers tourism economics, policy, planning, marketing, sustainability and management.
There are no jobs in tourism.
Tourism is a major contributor to Kenya's economy, creating diverse career opportunities.
Tourism is just hospitality.
Tourism includes ecotourism, wildlife tourism, cultural tourism, destination management and policy.
Tourism is declining.
While affected by crises, tourism recovers and continues to grow with new niches like ecotourism.