Hospitality & Tourism

Bachelor of Travel and Tour Operations Management

The Bachelor of Travel and Tour Operations Management is a programme that prepares students for careers in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Offered at the University of Eldoret through the School of Business, Economics and Management Sciences, the programme equips graduates with skills in travel operations, tour management, tourism marketing and destination management.

The curriculum covers travel agency management, tour operations, tourism marketing, destination management, travel geography, transport systems, hospitality management, customer service, tourism economics, tourism policy and planning, event management, sustainable tourism, e-tourism and digital marketing, tourism research methods, entrepreneurship, business communication, financial management, human resource management and project management. Students develop both operational tourism skills and business management competencies.

Kenya's tourism sector is a major contributor to the national economy, and the travel and tour operations segment plays a critical role in facilitating domestic and international tourism. The programme responds to the need for professionals who can manage travel agencies, tour operations and destination marketing in a competitive and rapidly evolving tourism landscape.

The programme is delivered through lectures, case studies, field visits to tourism destinations and travel companies, industrial attachment and a research project. Students gain hands-on experience in itinerary planning, reservation systems, tour guiding, customer service and tourism marketing through field visits and attachment at travel agencies, tour companies, hotels and tourism boards.

Graduates pursue careers as travel managers, tour operators, destination managers, tourism marketing officers, travel consultants, event managers, reservation officers, tourism development officers and tourism entrepreneurs in travel agencies, tour companies, hotels, airlines, tourism boards, county governments and hospitality establishments. They can also pursue postgraduate study in tourism management, hospitality or business administration.

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

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 240,635
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: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Travel Agency and Tour Operations Management
Tourism Marketing and Digital Marketing
Destination Management and Travel Geography
Transport Systems and Travel Logistics
Hospitality Management and Customer Service
Tourism Economics and Policy
Sustainable Tourism Development
Event Management
E-Tourism and Reservation Systems
Entrepreneurship and Business Management

Modules

10 in the programme

Introduction to Travel and Tourism Industry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduces the travel and tourism industry, its structure, stakeholders, history, tourism systems, types of tourism and the role of tourism in economic development.
Travel Geography and Destination Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers world travel geography, tourist attractions, destination characteristics, destination management organisations, destination branding and destination lifecycle.
Travel Agency and Tour Operations Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers travel agency operations, tour package design, itinerary planning, pricing, supplier management, booking systems and tour operations logistics.
Tourism Marketing and Digital Marketing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers tourism marketing principles, market segmentation, digital marketing strategies, social media for tourism, content marketing and online booking platforms.
Transport Systems and Travel Logistics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers transport modes in tourism, airline operations, road transport, rail and water transport, transport pricing, travel logistics and intermodal transport.
Hospitality Management and Customer Service
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers hospitality operations, hotel management, food and beverage service, customer service excellence, service quality and complaint handling.
Sustainable Tourism and Tourism Policy
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers sustainable tourism principles, ecotourism, community-based tourism, tourism policy frameworks, tourism planning and environmental impact of tourism.
Event Management and E-Tourism
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers event planning and management, conference and exhibition management, e-tourism, online travel agencies, reservation systems and digital transformation in tourism.
Entrepreneurship and Tourism Business Management
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers entrepreneurship in tourism, business plan development, financial management, human resource management, strategic management and tourism enterprise operations.
Research Project in Travel and Tour Operations
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
An independent research project on a travel, tourism or hospitality topic, assessed through a written dissertation and oral presentation.

Specialisations

Tour Operations and Itinerary Design
Focuses on tour package development, itinerary planning, supplier management and tour operations logistics for careers in tour companies.
Travel Agency Management
Specialises in travel agency operations, reservation systems, corporate travel management and travel consulting for careers in travel agencies.
Tourism Marketing and Destination Management
Focuses on tourism marketing, destination branding, digital marketing and destination management for careers in tourism boards and marketing.
Sustainable and Eco-Tourism
Specialises in sustainable tourism, ecotourism, community-based tourism and environmental conservation for careers in sustainable tourism development.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on tourism marketing or destination management, followed by a case study discussion on travel agency operations or tour itinerary planning. Afternoon sessions may include a field visit to a local tourism attraction, a practical session on reservation systems and e-tourism platforms, or a group project developing a tour package for a target market. Students also work on marketing assignments promoting tourism destinations.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's tourism sector is a major economic driver, with diverse career opportunities in travel, tours, hospitality and destination management.
The programme combines tourism operations with business management, providing entrepreneurial skills for starting travel and tour businesses.
Graduates can work in diverse settings including travel agencies, tour companies, airlines, hotels, tourism boards and international tourism organisations.

Against it

The tourism industry is vulnerable to external shocks including political instability, health crises and economic downturns, affecting job stability.
Entry-level positions in travel and tour operations may have relatively low salaries, with career growth requiring experience and additional qualifications.

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 241k

204k at Moi University241k at Kisii 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

Moi 204K/yr, Kisii 240,635/yr (KUCCPS). MKU 115K/yr, KeMU 152K/yr (KUCCPS).

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: Diploma holders with credit and above in Tourism Management, Travel and Tour Operations Management or Hotel and Hospitality Management from a recognised institution enter in 2nd year. HND holders may join 3rd year.

Geography or Business Studies
C
English or Kiswahili
C

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, travel geography and industry structure.
Case Studies and Field Visit Reports
Practicum40% of the mark
Assessment of case study analyses, field visit reports to tourism destinations and travel company operations exercises.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment at a travel agency, tour company, hotel or tourism board.
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 at the University of Eldoret's School of Business, Economics and Management Sciences.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at the University of Eldoret's School of Business, Economics and Management Sciences.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Tour Operator
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Designs, packages and manages tour operations including itinerary planning, supplier coordination, pricing and customer service for tour companies.
Travel Agency Manager
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages travel agency operations including bookings, customer service, supplier relations, staff management and business development.
Tourism Marketing Officer
Moderate demandKsh 48,000 to Ksh 170,000
Develops and implements tourism marketing strategies, promotes destinations and attractions, and manages digital marketing campaigns for tourism boards and companies.
Destination Manager
Low demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 190,000
Manages tourism destinations, coordinates stakeholder activities, develops destination products and implements sustainable tourism practices.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as travel managers, tour operators and tourism marketing officers in travel agencies, tour companies, hotels and tourism boards across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Travel and tour operations is just about being a tour guide.
The profession encompasses travel agency management, tour package design, destination marketing, transport logistics, event management and tourism business operations, requiring both business and tourism expertise.
Tourism degrees lead to low-paying jobs with no career growth.
Kenya's tourism sector offers diverse career paths from travel agency management to destination marketing, tourism policy and hospitality entrepreneurship, with opportunities for advancement and international careers.
The programme is only for people who want to work in safari companies.
Graduates work in airlines, hotels, event management companies, tourism boards, county governments, cruise lines, online travel agencies and international tourism organisations.
Tourism is a dying industry with no future.
Kenya's tourism sector continues to grow and diversify, with emerging segments including eco-tourism, cultural tourism, sports tourism and digital travel platforms creating new opportunities.