Hospitality & Tourism

Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management

The Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management is a programme that provides comprehensive training in tourism operations, destination management and tourism enterprise management. Offered at Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Moi University, Mount Kenya University, Technical University of Mombasa, Pwani University and other institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers in tourism, hospitality and destination management.

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

Kenya's tourism sector, one of the largest contributors to GDP, creates strong demand for tourism management graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, field visits, industrial attachment and research projects.

Graduates are prepared for careers as tourism managers, tour operators, travel agency managers, destination managers, tourism marketing officers, tourism consultants, event managers, tourism researchers, lodge managers and tourism entrepreneurs. They work in tour companies, hotels, lodges, Kenya Tourism Board, county governments, NGOs, research institutions and as entrepreneurs.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Geography or English, and any other two subjects. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

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 152,700
Private, up to: Ksh 152,000
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: 45 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Tourism Management
Tourism Economics
Destination Management
Tour Operations
Travel Agency Management
Tourism Marketing
Hospitality Management
Event Management
Sustainable Tourism
Tourism Policy and Planning

Modules

10 in the programme

Tourism Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Tourism management principles. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-se...
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...
Destination Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Destination planning. 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 13 creditsCore
Tour planning and operations. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-sem...
Travel Agency Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Travel agency operations. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semeste...
Tourism Marketing
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Tourism marketing. 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 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Hospitality operations. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ...
Sustainable Tourism
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Sustainable tourism practices. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-se...
Tourism Policy and Planning
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Tourism policy. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examinat...
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final year research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...

Specialisations

Tour Operations
Tour planning. 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
Destination planning. 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.
Sustainable Tourism
Ecotourism. 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.
Tourism Marketing
Tourism marketing. 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 tourism management lectures, studying tourism economics, researching destinations, learning tour operations, studying tourism marketing, planning events, researching sustainable tourism, visiting tourism sites, and working on tourism research projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Tourism is a major contributor to Kenya's GDP
Diverse career paths in tour operations, hospitality and marketing
Entrepreneurial opportunities in tourism

Against it

Tourism is vulnerable to security and economic shocks
Some roles involve seasonal work
Entry-level positions may have modest salaries

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

Public149k to 153k

149k at University of Nairobi153k at Kenyatta University

Private115k to 152k

115k at Mount Kenya University152k at Kenya Methodist 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 152.7K/yr, UoN ~149K/yr. KeMU 152K/yr (KUCCPS). MKU 115K/yr (mku.ac.ke).

HELB loans and government scholarships under the new funding model are available. Tourism companies may offer internships.

Funding options

HELB Loan
County Bursaries
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)

Scholarships

5 recorded

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
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
Kenyan students from participating counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
KUCCPS-placed students

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 Geography or English, and any other two subjects. Diploma in tourism, hospitality, travel and tour operations or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

Geography or English
C+
Any other subject
C+
Any other subject
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

End of Semester Examinations
Written examination50% of the mark
End of semester written exams
Field Visits and Practicals
Practicum10% of the mark
Tourism site visits and attachment
Research Project
Project10% of the mark
Final year research project
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests and assignments

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at KU, UoN, Moi, MKU, TUM, Pwani and other institutions. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Geography or English, and any other two subjects. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

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

Tourism Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 400,000
Tourism business
Tourism Marketing Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Tourism marketing
Tourism Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 300,000
Tourism management
Tour Operator
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 280,000
Tour operations
Destination Manager
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 320,000
Destination management

Graduate outcomes

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

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Sabre GDS
Reservation systemPrimary
Global distribution system for travel bookings
Amadeus GDS
Reservation systemPrimary
Global distribution system for travel and tourism
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet
Tourism data analysis and business planning
Google Analytics
Digital marketing
Digital marketing analytics for tourism businesses
SPSS
Statistical analysis
Tourism research and visitor statistics analysis
ArcGIS
Gis
Tourism destination mapping and spatial analysis

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Tourism management is just about travelling.
The programme covers economics, marketing, policy, planning, sustainability and enterprise management.
There are no tourism jobs in Kenya.
Tourism is a major contributor to Kenya's GDP with diverse career opportunities.
Tourism is only about wildlife safaris.
The programme covers cultural tourism, ecotourism, events, conferences and beach tourism.
Tourism management is an easy course.
The programme requires business acumen, analytical skills and industry knowledge.