The postgraduate Diploma in Tourism Management in the School of Management Studies at the University of Cape Town recognises that rapid global change is increasing demands for highly skilled managers in the tourism industry.

The Diploma in Tourism Management programme, which is the first and only such programme in South Africa, has been designed to prepare students for a career in the ever-changing tourism industry. The course affords students the opportunity the build upon previous undergraduate qualifications and experience by expanding knowledge in key academic fields such as marketing, business, and information technology. Former students of the Diploma in Tourism Management programme occupy positions of seniority in both public and private sectors in South Africa and overseas.

The Diploma in Tourism Management programme is vocational and provides generally educated graduates with a combination of general business management skills and specialised knowledge of the tourism industry. The postgraduate diploma in tourism management meets the educational requirements of future managers and executives.

Diploma in Tourism Management programme content

The Diploma in Tourism Management programme attracts graduates from a wide variety of undergraduate faculties and universities. Learning is focused on acquiring both general and specific skills. The first semester is spent acquiring a solid grounding in good business practice (finance, marketing and corporate finance) while exploring the industry of tourism. During the second half of the year, the focus is on courses that have been developed specifically for the tourism industry, such as marketing research methods, responsible tourism, events management, information systems management, and financial controls for the tourism industry. Students also attend a course in communications and career development.

During the second semester, students are also required to take an elective in one of the following specialist modules:

• Hospitality Management
• Transport for Tourism

A six-week internship programme is a core feature of the Diploma in Tourism Management, which has been developed with key players in the industry in South Africa. Students have been posted at tourism departments in local government through to working in marketing departments of large private tourism organisations.

The successful completion of a 250 hour long internship with an organisation affiliated to the diploma is required in addition to successful completion of the coursework as a requirement for the award of the diploma. The elective and internship that each student selects should be focused on the same area.

Tourism Management careers

Successful graduates have been successful in gaining employment in both public and private sectors in South Africa and overseas. Many now occupy positions of seniority, including senior officials with national and local tourism organisations such as the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), executives and managers with airlines, hotels, tour operations, NGOs (such as Open Africa) and visitor attractions and in education.