Bachelor of Tourism and Event Management

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Tourism Management at Western

This program combines tourism, event management, social science, business and marketing subjects to prepare graduates for professional roles in tourism, events, and the visitor economy. Students can choose from a suite of majors, including: environmental management, event and festival management, heritage, marketing, place management, planning, sport and sustainability.

The program has been developed with industry to ensure students develop the skills and knowledge desired by employers. Students complete fieldwork, engage with industry and government stakeholders, and are provided with opportunities for international fieldtrips and placements. A final-year professional placement allows students to gain further industry experience and provides a stepping-stone into employment.

Learn from the Best

The Bachelor of Tourism and Event Management is taught by experienced and knowledgeable staff who possess a wide range of expertise in the tourism and event sectors. The teaching team are recognised internationally for the quality of their research and teaching. They pride themselves on taking a student-centred approach to learning and teaching and enjoy working with students to achieve their ambitions.

The Bachelor of Tourism and Event Management has been co-designed with Australian and International partners. These partners include Destination NSW, the Australia Federation of Travel Agents, Accommodation Association, City of Parramatta, Powerhouse Museum, Greater Sydney Commission and National Rugby League. Our industry and government partners regularly join classes to share their knowledge in guest lectures and discussions.

Why study Tourism Management?

Program structure

The program structure is outlined in our handbook. Here you can view all of the subjects you will be studying.

This major combines social science, business and public relation subjects to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to organise and manage festivals and events. Students will learn about the social and cultural significance of festivals and events, and the roles and responsibilities of a variety of stakeholders. The major also explores the important role festivals and events play in tourism and visitor economies. Students who choose to complete the Visitor Economy Professional Placement subject will complete a work placement with a festival/event organiser, providing a stepping-stone to employment.

In a highly mobile world (migration, tourism, media and communications, travel and transport) and in contemporary life where the preservation of historical and natural environments present as one of the major challenges facing all societies, heritage has become a touchstone for social and cultural identity, our understanding of modernity, peace and development, our senses of citizenship, custodianship and community. At the same time heritage places have become significant tourist destinations and so in a world of flows and networks, the heritage-tourism relationship is a critical one. In the 21st century it is impossible to disentangle the two. This major introduces contemporary heritage issues and provides an in-depth understanding of tourism as a social phenomenon. It enables a critical examination of the relationship between heritage and tourism in number of settings within Australia (including Indigenous Australia) and internationally.

Contemporary marketing uses strategies and technologies to create significant customer relationships and brand experiences. Through an in-depth understanding of the marketing field including the challenges of global forces, new technologies and changing customer demographics, students develop practical skills that contribute to improving organisational performance. The major is based on industry expectations and students work on industry-based projects and case studies equipping them to take on roles across numerous organisations including in digital marketing, campaign strategies, business and data analytics. This major satisfies the educational requirements for recognition as a Certified Practising Marketer and eligibility for student membership of the Australian Marketing Institute and The Research Society.

This unique major combines subjects from tourism, heritage and planning to prepare students for careers in place management. Place managers use collaborative approaches to design and develop a wide diversity of spaces and places, including precincts, destinations, towns, cities, parks, and many more. In this major, students will develop the skills and knowledge to manage places sustainably in a variety of contexts. This includes the ability to balance competing community, cultural, ecological and economic interests. Students who complete the major will be well positioned to apply for a growing number of place management positions with government and consultancies.

This major brings together sport, event and tourism management subjects to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to organise and manage sport and recreation events. Students will also learn about the social and cultural significance of sport, tourism and sporting events, and their unique role in the visitor economy.

This major combines subjects from the social and environmental sciences to prepare students for careers that ensure tourism, leisure and recreation activities take place in a sustainable way. The natural environment is a key component of leisure, recreation, and tourism experiences, especially in Australia. However, these activities can have significant ecological impacts. In this major, students will learn how to identify, assess, and manage these environmental impacts. The major will also look at how the visitor economy can contribute toward ecological conservation, and addressing major global issues such as climate change, deforestation, poverty, inequality and pollution.

In a highly mobile world (migration, tourism, media and communications, travel and transport) and in contemporary life where the preservation of historical and natural environments present as one of the major challenges facing all societies, heritage has become a touchstone for social and cultural identity, our understanding of modernity, peace and development, our senses of citizenship, custodianship and community. At the same time heritage places have become significant tourist destinations and so in a world of flows and networks, the heritage-tourism relationship is a critical one. In the 21st century it is impossible to disentangle the two. This minor introduces contemporary heritage issues and provides an in-depth understanding of tourism as a social phenomenon. It enables a critical examination of the relationship between heritage and tourism in number of settings within Australia (including Indigenous Australia) and internationally.

This minor provides students with knowledge and skills to work in professional roles in the tourism, heritage and visitor economy sectors. There is a particularly strong focus on sustainable and innovative approaches to travel and tourism. Students will have the opportunity to complete field trips, work on applied projects and learn directly from industry and government experts. The minor also provides a pathway to the Master of Sustainable Tourism and Heritage, allowing students to complete the master program in one additional year of study.

The marketing minor provides students with a grounding in the practice of marketing and its application to any type of organisation. In this minor, students can extend that knowledge into more specialised aspects or marketing such as brand and product development, promotion, strategic marketing and marketing analytics. Students gain communications and analytic skills in assessing and developing key elements of a marketing strategy. There are practical industry-related activities helping students compile a business portfolio for presentation to potential employers.

Fees and delivery

Fees: Varies depending on subjects selected. View available subjects in our handbook

For further information on University fees, please visit Fees and University Costs.

Delivery: On Campus

Fees: AUD $34,944*

Delivery: On campus 

 

 

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"I am impressed with the amazing facilities and program options at WSU, particularly for tourism students with overseas study options."

— Danielle Hazell . Bachelor of Tourism Management.

Industry Placements

Bachelor of Tourism and Event Management students complete an industry placement (internship) in their final year. There is also an option to complete this placement overseas. The university has partnerships with a wide variety of tourism, event and visitor economy to help set them on the path to rewarding careers.

Fieldtrips, Industry Engagement and International Study Trips

The Bachelor of Tourism and Event Management provides many opportunities for applied learning to ensure students develop the practical skills and networks required to secure a job. Throughout the program students engage with industry and government experts and complete fieldtrips across Sydney. There are also opportunities for international study trips.

Celebrating 30 years of Tourism at Western

Western Sydney University has been training tourism, event and visitor economy practitioners for over 30 years. Our graduates are making exciting contributions to these sectors across the globe.

As a Bachelor of Tourism and Event Management student at Western Sydney University you will become a member of an alumni community that is helping to shape tourism, event and visitor economy futures.

Sydney Zoo Scholarship - Tourism and Events Management

TAFE NSW Pathways

The Bachelor of Tourism and Event Management has formalised tertiary pathways through established agreements between TAFE NSW and Western Sydney University. These pathways offer students direct entry from an eligible TAFE NSW Diploma or Advanced Diploma and credit transfer which means that the Bachelor of Tourism and Event Management can be completed in a shorter amount of time.

Find out more about our TAFE Pathways.


Master of Sustainable Tourism and Heritage

Western Sydney University also offers a Master of Sustainable Tourism and Heritage.

Apply now and start your unlimited journey.

*The tuition fees quoted above are the fees for the normal full-time study load of the program (80 credit points) per annum. International students will be subject to a variable fee regime; i.e. enrolled students will be required to pay fees during their program based on the approved fee for each calendar year. Fee changes (if any) will occur at 1 January each calendar year. Students who extend their program past the normal finish date of the program will be required to pay additional fees based on the prevailing fee level. Western Sydney University is a multi-campus institution. The University reserves the right to alter the location of its programs between campuses and other locations as necessary. Students should be aware of the possibility of change of location for the whole or part of programs for which they enrol and should plan for the need to travel between Western Sydney campuses.