20 December 2024 Sustainable Tourism degree designed for changing industry

It’s not easy making tourism more sustainable, Dr Gebeyaw Degarege says.

Much has changed since Covid-19. The industry is moving to sustainable and regenerative models, but that’s easier said than done. Employers are demanding graduates with the knowledge to make it happen.

Marketing, economics, psychology, social sciences and an understanding of our environment are all necessary. “It’s a very tricky thing to do,” he says.

Dr Degarege is the coordinator of the Bachelor of Sustainable Tourism programme. It’s tailored to what the industry needs now.

The programme places the issue of sustainability in a broader context. “We see tourism as a societal and environmental exercise, as well as economic.”

“It’s about making the sector more sustainable, while making sure tourists are still getting the best experience possible.”

Lincoln University’s Bachelor of Sustainable Tourism is New Zealand’s only dedicated sustainable tourism degree. Similar qualifications are becoming more popular around the world, with equivalent studies being taught in Europe and the USA.

The programme was developed in consultation with members of the industry to ensure students get the skills they need. A big part of it is the practical work component, which provides them with real experience valued by employers.   

Students will graduate ready to start their career in a huge range of tourism roles. They’ll know how to apply their skills regardless of where they end up.

Students gain a grounding in tourism studies in their first year. They also spread out into environment, economics, policy and have the option to study other relevant areas of interest.

Their second and third years explore more specialised subjects. Students learn tourist behaviour and how sustainable tourism systems function.

“We need to understand the psychology of tourists and know how to make them environmentally informed and proactive. They need to be societally respectful, but still happy and satisfied.

“In the past all these discussions and programmes were informed by economics, but that’s not how the industry operates anymore.”

That change has driven a demand for well-trained graduates. Most businesses are looking for people with sustainability backgrounds when hiring.

The Bachelor of Sustainable Tourism offers space for students to study an additional major, allowing them to specialise and further increase their employability.

Sound like a career in tourism could be for you? Check out our Bachelor of Sustainable Tourism here.

Thinking about studying an additional major? Contact us to talk about your options.