Your love for travel and adventure can bring you to greater heights. Pack your bags and get ready to fly out for that tourism degree! Here, we will be looking at some of the best countries to study tourism management.
Tourism remains one of the world’s major service industries. It covers the management of hotels, restaurants, attractions, natural and cultural sites, events, transportation, and destination experiences. As countries work to attract visitors and improve traveler experiences, industry professionals with a global perspective are in demand. An international degree in tourism management can provide skills and experience that traditional programs and internships may not offer on their own.
Top Countries to Study Tourism Management
1. Netherlands
The glorious landscapes and rustic shops of the Netherlands are a dream come true for many international students. Amsterdam and its many bridges attract visitors from around the world, while the country’s canal towns, coastal areas, museums, cycling culture, and historic cities give tourism students many practical case studies. The Netherlands is compact, highly connected, and internationally oriented, making it a strong country for students interested in destination management, sustainable tourism, and hospitality.
European countries are known for the quality of education they provide, and the Netherlands is home to respected universities of applied sciences and private higher education institutions with tourism-related programs. In the tourism field, Tio Business School and HZ University of Applied Sciences are among the options worth considering.
Tio’s International Tourism Management bachelor’s program can be completed in three or four years, with a two-year Associate degree option. The program is offered in English and Dutch, has a strong practical focus, includes a 20-week internship, and is developed with input from industry organizations. For 2026–2027, Tio lists tuition at €24,500 per year, plus a €95 one-time enrollment fee. Students who need a Dutch student visa should also check Tio’s separate non-EU package fee.
2. Thailand
Thailand is not always the first destination that comes to mind for study abroad students, but it offers experiences that differ greatly from a typical European study abroad program. Thailand welcomed more than 35 million international visitors in 2024, showing the strength of the country’s tourism industry. Strategically placed in the center of Southeast Asia, it is also a convenient travel hub for visiting neighboring countries or planning an itinerary around Thailand’s jungles, beaches, temples, and rice fields. Students can also enjoy local food, milk tea, and inexpensive coffee during study breaks.
Thailand’s tourism industry is attractive because it increasingly connects tourism with sustainability, wellness, hospitality, and event management. Tourism management students can learn about these areas firsthand in Thai universities. Bangkok University offers a Bachelor of Arts in International Tourism and Hospitality Management. Its current program information highlights tour design and sales, internships, eTourism, and MICE industry management. For the 2026 academic year, Bangkok University lists first-semester tuition at 80,630 THB and estimated total tuition at 592,430 THB, with fees subject to change. Students can also consider the Master of Management in International Tourism and Hospitality Management at Mahidol University International College, which is offered part-time on weekends.
3. New Zealand
New Zealand is among the first places in the world to greet a new day, and its landscapes make it especially appealing for tourism students. From kiwi birds and sheep farms to mountains, beaches, geothermal areas, and Māori cultural experiences, New Zealand offers a rich outdoor learning environment. The Lord of the Rings films were also filmed in New Zealand, and screen tourism continues to be part of the country’s travel appeal.
Tourism remains one of New Zealand’s major export sectors, which makes New Zealand one of the best countries to study tourism management. With internationally recognized degree programs, students can prepare for careers in tourism and related fields at institutions such as Victoria University of Wellington, University of Waikato, and Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
For example, AUT’s current undergraduate tourism option is the Bachelor of Arts in Global Tourism. The program focuses on sustainable and ethical tourism, includes workplace experience in the final semester, and holds UN Tourism TedQual Certification. AUT also offers a Master of International Tourism Management for students who want a graduate-level pathway. Students should check AUT’s current tuition page before applying, as fees vary by program, year, and course load.
4. United States of America
The United States is one of the world’s largest travel economies and a major destination for international visitors, business events, national parks, theme parks, city tourism, and cultural attractions. The country is also a leading figure in research and development, the sciences, arts, and humanities. The U.S. is one of the best countries to study tourism management if you are interested in learning in a large and varied tourism market. With many universities and business organizations, students can develop interpersonal skills and professional connections that support their future careers.
Travel and tourism make a major contribution to the U.S. economy. The National Travel and Tourism Office forecasted 70.6 million inbound visitors for 2026, while U.S. Travel Association projections placed total travel spending at about $1.37 trillion in 2026. Studying tourism management in a frequently visited country like the U.S. can help students understand how large-scale destinations, hotels, attractions, and events are managed.
Universities such as Arizona State University (ASU) and Purdue University provide tourism and hospitality-related programs for international students. ASU offers a Bachelor of Science in Tourism Development and Management through its School of Community Resources and Development. Purdue University offers a Hospitality and Tourism Management major through the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, with coursework in areas such as accounting, marketing, lodging, foodservice, tourism, human resources, and law. Tuition fees in the U.S. vary by university, residency status, campus, housing, and academic year, so students should check each university’s official cost page before applying.
5. France
There is more to France than the iconic Eiffel Tower. France welcomed about 102 million international tourists in 2025, making it one of the world’s strongest tourism destinations. Notre-Dame de Paris reopened in December 2024 and attracted more than 11 million visitors in its first 12 months after reopening. The lavender fields of Provence, museums, cuisine, fashion, coastlines, ski areas, and historic cities also draw visitors from around the world. So, have you purchased a plane ticket to see France yet?
The large number of tourist attractions supports France’s competitive tourism industry. The country’s distinctive culture, hospitality sector, and destination infrastructure also make it an intriguing foundation for tourism management studies. To get the most out of your academic stay in France, check out ESCP Business School and its hospitality and tourism-related programs.
ESCP Business School offers an MSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management, with 2026 intake fees listed at €30,800 in total, including tuition and student services fees. You can also consider Ecole Superieure De Tourisme, which is part of Y SCHOOLS. Its Bachelor Management du Tourisme is a three-year program, with current listed tuition of €8,000 per year for the first two years and €9,000 for the third year. Students should check the official school pages for the latest admissions, program, and tuition information before applying.
6. Hungary
Hungary has a long history and many attractions for tourism students. Tourists flock to Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe and a favorite summer destination. Hungary is also known for its historic thermal baths, especially in Budapest. As the country’s capital, Budapest is full of baths, bars, museums, restaurants, and castles such as Buda Castle. Hungary offers a culture and social atmosphere that can be especially interesting for students of tourism and hospitality.
Hungary offers quality education for those who wish to enter the tourism industry, with universities such as Budapest Metropolitan University and Budapest University of Economics and Business, formerly known in English as Budapest Business School. Budapest Metropolitan University offers a full-time MSc in Tourism Management in English, with current tuition listed at €3,100 per semester for EU students and €3,600 per semester for non-EU students. Budapest University of Economics and Business also offers a full-time Tourism Management MSc in English, with current tuition listed at 690,000 HUF per semester for EU students and €3,300 per semester for non-EU students.
7. Russia
Russia can be an interesting country for students who want to study tourism management in a large and culturally diverse setting. It is known for colorful churches, major cities, public transportation systems, and Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest freshwater lake. Russia’s size and regional variety create many different tourism contexts, from historic city routes such as the Golden Ring to natural attractions, ski areas, and cultural destinations.
Students interested in graduate study can consider RUDN University or Belgorod State University (BelSU). RUDN lists an English-taught, full-time master’s program in Business Processes in Tourism and Hospitality, with a two-year duration and tuition listed at $5,250. BelSU reports more than 26,800 students and more than 3,800 international students, and its Institute of Earth Sciences includes programs and departments related to international tourism, hospitality, hotel management, and sustainable tourism. Students should check the latest official pages for current tuition, visa, safety, and admissions information before applying.
We hope this article on the best countries to study tourism management was informative and insightful. Make sure to also check out Available Hospitality and Tourism Management Programs for International Students!
