Career Advancement in Tourism: BA (Honours) in International Tourism and Hospitality Management (Top-Up) | TMC Academy Singapore

With the anticipated growth in the Singaporean hospitality and tourism sector in 2025, the year ahead is an exciting time to boost your career with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Tourism and Hospitality Management (Top-Up) through TMC Academy.

Tourism within the Asian region is exploding, and experts predict a recovery that will surpass the pre-COVID era. However, the typical tourist in 2025 will vastly differ from 2019.

How the BA(Honours) in International Tourism & Hospitality Management prepares you for Tourism and the expectations of tourists in 2025

Current-day travellers are seeking more purposeful, authentic, and personalised experiences. The BA (Honours) in International Tourism and Hospitality Management is a modern, relevant degree that assists students in providing tourists with the customer experiences they seek. These experiences can be seen in four areas.

Tourism that provides diverse and personalised experiences

People are looking for experiential travel and cultural immersion rather than simply wanting to check off destinations in record time. As a result, many travellers take their time and value experiences that boost their health and increase their relaxation as part of their overall experiences. The increased emphasis on health and relaxation is evidenced by their interest in hyper-localized resorts focused on families, yoga, health or spirituality.

Cruising is also rapidly growing, allowing tourists to take their time and enjoy different regions. Cruise revenue in Asia is anticipated to grow at an annual rate of 20%.

Tourism that gives different hotel experiences

Tourists are no longer content with simply booking into a chain hotel where they stay. They are expecting hotels to provide a customer experience. For example, Marina Bay Sands, a luxury resort in Singapore, has tie-ins with MasterCard, Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board, which allows the brand to offer experiences like fly-and-stay deals built around culinary festivals and a Lunar New Year dragon drone show.

Tourism that integrates human experiences with technology

Tourists increasingly demand digital excellence when travelling, particularly as this is how people prefer to book and pay for their trips.

Many hotels in Singapore are introducing new technologies for customers that allow them to tailor their experiences and differentiate the hotel from other hotels. For example, Marriott and IHG are incorporating GenAI technology into their membership programs, suggesting travel itineraries, dining options, and shopping centres to clients.

Tourism that focuses on regenerative travel prioritising people, the planet and progress

Younger and more affluent tourists are aware of tourism's impact on the planet, particularly on local communities, culture, and the environment. People want to travel more sustainably and stay in places committed to reducing waste, preserving, and giving back to the community.

Singapore has adapted quickly to the changing demands and requirements of tourists.

How Singapore has adapted to the changing demands of tourism

Sustainability in the Tourism industry

Singapore is the first country to be certified as a sustainable destination by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. By 2025, the goal is for 60% of hotel rooms to achieve sustainability certification through the Global Sustainable Tourism Council – Accredited Certification Body. Another goal is for hotels to reduce emissions by 2030 to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Pan Pacific Orchard is one hotel that exemplifies this trend by incorporating eco-friendly technologies and designs featuring greenery and energy-efficient systems.

Technological Integration in Tourism

The adoption of contactless technologies is increasingly prevalent in Singapore’s hospitality and tourism sector. For example, AI-powered chatbots, virtual reality tours, and mobile check-in/check-out processes enhance guests' convenience and operational efficiency.

Tourist Market Maturation and Hotel Rate Management

As the sector caters to more tourists, the tourism and hospitality industry is maturing and growing. An example is the recent opening of QT Hotels & Resorts in 2024 in the historic

Eastern Extension Telegraph Building.

As the tourism market matures, the sector will need to develop ways of balancing growth and demand within the industry and having a robust workforce that is skilled and efficient in providing guest experiences.

Guest-centric experiences for tourists

Guest-centric experiences can be explained in the diagram below taken from The Future of Hospitality: 4 Key Insights for Asia’s Travel Boom | Prophet

Such experiences benefit the guests and, equally importantly, the hotel.

The tourism industry and hotels are looking for trained staff who are skilled at providing guest-centric experiences. This is why the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Tourism and Hospitality Management through TMC Academy is crucial for a successful career in the tourism industry.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) International Tourism & Hospitality Management (Top-Up)

This degree, awarded by the University of Northampton, provides students with the strategic and operational expertise required to manage tourism and hospitality successfully in Singapore or internationally.

The programme incorporates an extensive range of management concepts related to tourism and hospitality, including guest behaviour, strategic and project planning, people development and leadership, sustainability, and operational and tactical responses to common business problems.

This degree produces qualified, enthusiastic, and forward-thinking graduates who have sound academic and practical experience in management in the tourism and hospitality industries and can exceed employers' expectations.

Core Modules of the International Tourism & Hospitality Management Degree

The core modules a student will study are:

• Research Project

• Tourism & Hospitality Business Consultancy

• International Destination Management for Tourism & Hospitality

• Achieve Your Potential

• Leading and Developing Tourism and Hospitality Teams

• Consumer Behaviour in Tourism & Hospitality

In studying these modules, students will develop both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills across a range of areas, including:

a. Strategic Management

• Understanding strategic planning and management for tourism and hospitality businesses.

• The ability to analyse internal and external environments to develop competitive strategies that will benefit the tourism and hospitality businesses.

b. International Tourism and Hospitality

• Develop insights into the global tourism and hospitality market.

• Examine and understand cross-cultural and international trends within the sector.

c. Sustainability and Ethics in Tourism

• Understanding the principles of sustainable tourism development.

• Ethical challenges and practices in managing tourism and hospitality enterprises.

Business and Management Skills

a. Leadership and Teamwork

• Developing leadership skills to manage teams in diverse and multicultural settings.

b. Marketing for Tourism and Hospitality

• Develop effective marketing strategies tailored to the tourism and hospitality sector.

• Understand and explore digital marketing, branding, and consumer behaviour.

c. Financial and Revenue Management

• Understanding financial reporting, budgeting, and resource allocation.

• Revenue management principles in hospitality, such as pricing strategies.

Specialised Areas in Tourism and Hospitality

a. Event Management

• Planning, organising, and executing events in tourism and hospitality.

b. Customer Experience Management

• Techniques for managing guest relations and enhancing customer satisfaction.

c. Hospitality Operations

• Understand and be able to manage day-to-day operations in hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other service-oriented facilities.

Research and Professional Development

a. Research Methods

• Developing skills to conduct academic and industry research.

• Preparing a project on a tourism or hospitality topic.

b. Professional Development

• Develop effective industry-relevant soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability.

Industry Trends and Innovations

• Learning about the latest technologies (e.g., AI, automation) in tourism and hospitality.

• Understanding emerging trends like sustainable travel, wellness tourism, and digital transformation.

Graduates of this degree program typically:

• Have the skills to manage and lead in global tourism and hospitality settings.

• Understand the importance of sustainability, cultural diversity, and ethical practices in the industry.

• Are prepared for roles such as hotel managers, event coordinators, travel consultants, or entrepreneurs.

Given the development of tourism in Singapore and the creative innovations occurring to ensure the continued growth of the sector, 2025 is an exciting year to commence and complete this Top-Up Degree, which will open the door to many opportunities within the tourism industry.

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