Online Tourism Course Descriptions

Distance education courses in tourism are readily available as both standalone classes and as part of larger undergraduate- and graduate-level programs. Some colleges and universities include an internship component in tourism curricula; however, most other tourism courses are offered entirely online.

Overview of Online Tourism Courses

Online tourism courses are geared toward men and women who hope to work in the tourism, parks and recreation or recreational sports industries. These distance education classes are often included in associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs with majors such as recreation, sport and tourism or hospitality and tourism management.
Additionally, some courses - such as tourism development - target civic leaders and development professionals who are seeking to bring more tourism dollars to their local communities. Such tourism courses generally are offered on their own, but might also be included in graduate certificate programs.

Course Requirements

Most online tourism programs require that students have a high-speed Internet connection and access to downloadable software such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Flash Player, Apple QuickTime Player and Microsoft Windows Media Player. Most courses also utilize Microsoft Office. Other requirements might include sound and video cards, a CD or DVD player, speakers, a headset or microphone and a Web camera.

List of Online Tourism Courses

Tourism Development Course

This introductory course teaches students to identify tourism opportunities among the cultural, historical and natural resources in their communities. Students learn to develop and manage tourism destinations, in addition to exploring issues like customer service, market research and pricing. They also examine various marketing options, including online advertising and regional packaging.

Tourism Personnel Management Course

Through this course, which is offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, students learn to recruit and select employees suited to the leisure service industry. They also explore how to train, motivate and evaluate personnel. Other topics of study might include wage administration and leadership cultivation.

Tourism Research Course

This graduate-level course introduces students to various ways of conducting and evaluating research that can be applied to leisure services. Students learn about data collection and analysis, in addition to exploring experimental methods and techniques for designing surveys.

Event Management Course

Students in this tourism course, which is typically taken in the third or fourth year of a bachelor's degree program, learn to plan meetings, conferences and other events related to business, entertainment and sports. They explore the ins and outs of selecting event sites, negotiating contracts and choosing suppliers. Students also learn to budget for and promote large-scale events.

Hospitality Marketing Course

Also taken in the third or fourth year of bachelor's studies, this tourism class teaches students to develop effective marketing strategies. In addition to learning to interact with clients, students examine the importance of marketing analysis and blitz planning. They also typically study public relations, advertising and promotion strategies.