Hospitality & Tourism

Bachelor of Arts in Travel and Tourism

The Bachelor of Arts in Travel and Tourism is a programme that prepares students for careers in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry from a multidisciplinary perspective. Offered at the University of Nairobi in conjunction with Utalii College through the Faculty of Arts, the programme blends theory-oriented courses with practice-oriented ones drawn from social sciences and humanities.

The curriculum covers tourism theory, travel and tour operations, tourism geography, hospitality management, tourism marketing, destination management, tourism economics, tourism policy and planning, cultural tourism, wildlife tourism, sustainable tourism, event management, research methods, project management, business communication, entrepreneurship and industrial attachment. Students develop both tourism industry knowledge and analytical skills from a social science perspective.

Kenya's tourism sector is a major contributor to the national economy, requiring professionals who understand the industry from both operational and socio-cultural perspectives. The programme responds to the need for graduates who can navigate the increasingly sophisticated world of tourism and travel, combining practical industry skills with critical thinking and cultural awareness.

The programme is delivered through lectures, face-to-face and online sessions, practical training at Utalii College, field visits to tourism destinations, industrial attachment and a research project. Students gain hands-on experience in hospitality operations, tour management, reservation systems and customer service through practical training at Utalii College and attachment at tourism establishments.

Graduates pursue careers as tourism officers, travel managers, tour operators, destination managers, tourism marketing officers, hospitality managers, tourism researchers, tourism policy analysts and tourism entrepreneurs in travel agencies, tour companies, hotels, tourism boards, government ministries, NGOs and hospitality establishments. They can also pursue postgraduate study in tourism, hospitality or business administration.

Prospective students should have strong interpersonal skills, an interest in travel and culture, and a commitment to the tourism industry. The programme is suitable for students passionate about tourism development, cultural heritage and destination management.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 285,002
Private, up to: Ksh 562,775
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Tourism Theory and Travel Operations
Tourism Geography and Destination Management
Hospitality Management and Customer Service
Tourism Marketing and Promotion
Cultural and Wildlife Tourism
Tourism Economics and Policy
Sustainable Tourism Development
Event Management
Research Methods in Tourism
Entrepreneurship and Project Management

Modules

10 in the programme

Introduction to Tourism and Travel Industry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduces the tourism industry, its structure, history, stakeholders, tourism systems, types of tourism and the role of tourism in economic development.
Tourism Geography
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers world tourism geography, tourist attractions, climate and tourism, destination characteristics and the geography of Kenyan tourism.
Travel and Tour Operations
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers travel agency operations, tour package design, itinerary planning, reservation systems, transport logistics and tour management.
Hospitality Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers hotel operations, food and beverage management, front office operations, housekeeping management and customer service excellence, with practical training at Utalii College.
Tourism Marketing and Promotion
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers tourism marketing principles, market segmentation, destination branding, digital marketing for tourism, promotional strategies and sales techniques.
Cultural and Wildlife Tourism
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers cultural tourism, heritage interpretation, community-based tourism, wildlife tourism, conservation and the role of national parks and reserves in tourism.
Tourism Economics and Policy
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers tourism economic impact, tourism demand and supply, tourism contribution to GDP, tourism policy frameworks, tourism planning and regulatory frameworks.
Sustainable Tourism and Event Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers sustainable tourism principles, ecotourism, environmental impact of tourism, event planning and management, conference tourism and exhibition management.
Research Methods and Entrepreneurship in Tourism
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methodology, data collection and analysis, entrepreneurship in tourism, business plan development and tourism enterprise management.
Research Project in Travel and Tourism
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
An independent research project on a travel, tourism or hospitality topic, assessed through a written dissertation and oral presentation.

Specialisations

Cultural and Heritage Tourism
Focuses on cultural tourism, heritage management, community-based tourism and cultural interpretation for careers in cultural tourism development.
Wildlife and Eco-Tourism
Specialises in wildlife tourism, ecotourism, conservation tourism and sustainable tourism for careers with conservation organisations and eco-lodges.
Hospitality Management
Focuses on hotel and restaurant operations, food and beverage management and hospitality service for careers in the hospitality industry.
Tourism Policy and Planning
Specialises in tourism policy, destination planning, tourism economics and development for careers in government and tourism boards.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on tourism theory or tourism geography at the Faculty of Arts, followed by a practical session at Utalii College on hospitality operations or reservation systems. Afternoon sessions may include a field visit to a tourism attraction, a group project developing a tourism marketing plan, or a seminar on cultural tourism and heritage interpretation. Students also work on research assignments analysing tourism trends and destination development.

The trade offs

In its favour

The programme is offered in conjunction with Utalii College, combining academic rigour with industry-recognised practical hospitality training.
The multidisciplinary approach from social sciences and humanities provides critical thinking and cultural awareness skills valued in tourism careers.
UoN's strong reputation and industry connections provide good networking and career opportunities in Kenya's tourism sector.

Against it

The tourism industry is vulnerable to external shocks including political instability, health crises and economic downturns.
The programme is offered under Module II (self-sponsored), which means higher fees than government-sponsored programmes.

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

Public204k to 285k

204k at Kenyatta University285k at University of Nairobi

Private563k to 563k

563k at Strathmore University563k at Strathmore 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

UoN Travel&Tourism 285K, KU 204K/yr. Strathmore ~562.8K/yr. Kabarak unverified.

Students can access HELB loans. Some tourism companies offer internship opportunities for travel and tourism students.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised universities

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C plain plus Diploma from a recognised institution. KACE with at least two Principal passes. Other relevant qualifications accepted by UoN Senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering tourism fundamentals, geography and industry structure.
Practical Training Assessment
Practicum40% of the mark
Assessment of practical training at Utalii College including hospitality operations, reservation systems and customer service.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment at a travel agency, tour company, hotel or tourism establishment.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
A final-year research project on a travel, tourism or hospitality topic, assessed through a written dissertation and oral presentation.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered by UoN's Faculty of Arts in conjunction with Utalii College.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered by UoN's Faculty of Arts in conjunction with Utalii College.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Tourism Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 170,000
Develops and implements tourism programmes, promotes destinations, supports tourism enterprises and coordinates tourism activities for government and tourism boards.
Travel Manager
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages travel agency operations, oversees bookings and reservations, coordinates with suppliers and ensures customer satisfaction.
Hospitality Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages hotel or restaurant operations, oversees staff, ensures service quality and manages hospitality business performance.
Tourism Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 300,000
Starts and operates tourism businesses including travel agencies, tour companies, eco-lodges, cultural tourism ventures and event management companies.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as tourism officers, travel managers and hospitality managers in travel agencies, tour companies, hotels, tourism boards and government ministries across Kenya.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A BA in Travel and Tourism is less valuable than a BSc in Tourism Management.
The BA programme approaches tourism from a multidisciplinary social science perspective, providing critical thinking and cultural awareness skills that complement practical tourism operations, making graduates equally competitive.
The programme is just about visiting tourist sites.
The programme covers tourism theory, economics, policy, marketing, hospitality management, sustainable development and research, preparing graduates for professional and managerial roles in the tourism industry.
Tourism graduates can only work as tour guides.
Graduates work as tourism officers, destination managers, hospitality managers, tourism policy analysts, marketing officers and entrepreneurs across government, private sector and development organisations.
The Utalii College component makes it a diploma, not a degree.
The programme is a full Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nairobi, with Utalii College providing specialised practical hospitality and tourism training as part of the partnership.