MS in Travel Industry Management

Travel and tourism make up the world's leading industry. Its projected growth is expected to create increasing investment and employment opportunities in the United States and abroad, for both the travel industry and its supporting industries. In Hawaii, the travel industry will likely remain the major economic sector, continuing to generate directly and indirectly over one-third of all jobs for the future. Fifteen to 20 percent of these jobs are expected to be management positions.

To meet the growing demand for leadership and management expertise in the travel industry, the School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) offers a graduate program leading to the MS. Established initially as a program in 1959 and granted school status in 1966, the school is one of the most respected programs worldwide in the study of hotel, restaurant, tourism and transportation management. In 1991, the school was accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA). The school has also earned the TedQual (Total Education Quality) certification from the World Tourism Organization. The school works closely with the business community; the federal, state and local government agencies; as well as various local, national, and international organizations active in the travel industry. Examples of such organizations include the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

The mission of the school is to develop and disseminate travel and tourism concepts, knowledge and skills through excellence and leadership in research, training, outreach and service contributing to economic, social and environmental sustainability as well as supporting and enriching the host culture. Founded on the overall mission, the objectives of the school include the following:

Instruction — to provide high quality education to current and future professionals at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Research — to conduct conceptual and applied research relevant to the travel industry field.
Service — to be the leading center for information resources and continuing and professional education serving the state and the Asia-Pacific region.

The Master of Science degree program in travel industry management is designed to provide a specialized education through coursework and research, which enable students to master a broad and sophisticated set of interdisciplinary skills and knowledge. Students develop analytical abilities and the critical thinking skills necessary for careers in the travel and tourism industry. The MS degree is a broader preparation for graduates to take the first step into leadership roles. Given the program's focus, students are expected to engage in understanding and execution of rigorous research activities, which could also lead to further advanced education.

The program prepares students for advanced careers and leadership roles across the spectrum of the travel industry, including tourism, hospitality and transportation management, as well as areas integrating the entire industry such as information technology, finance, marketing, policy and planning. Students may explore specific topics of interest, including sustainable tourism, eco-tourism, electronic commerce, social and cultural aspects of travel and tourism, among many others. In addition, the program's strong emphasis and its faculty's expertise in the Asia-Pacific region enable students to focus on travel and tourism topics in this particular region. The program's students come from many countries, with strong representation from Asia as well as North America and Hawaii.

Hawaii's year-round tropical climate and scenic beauty attract millions of visitors each year. The close proximity of many premier hotels and resorts, restaurants, major airlines and tourism-related organizations offers students unique opportunities to observe and participate in the various aspects of travel industry management. Few other university settings offer such an ideal laboratory for studying travel industry management.

In addition to Hawaii's travel industry environment, students benefit from a curriculum that offers an international perspective. The global importance of tourism and the increasingly interdependent nature of economic, environmental and political systems require a fundamental and multidisciplinary understanding of international issues. With the multidisciplinary curriculum, the outstanding faculty and the success and importance of tourism as the leading industry in Hawaii, the MS program provides students with a unique educational environment and experience