Tourism Management Diploma

The Tourism Management Diploma at Okanagan College is available in Kelowna and Revelstoke and is designed to give students real-world knowledge, skills and opportunities to advance careers in the mountain resort tourism sector. Upon graduation, students will be ideally suited for supervisory or front-line management positions in tourism. 

  • Build a strong foundation in core tourism and business management functions.
  • Network and build connections within the mountain resort sector.
  • Gain practical knowledge through a six-credit faculty supervised tourism sector study course.
  • Advance your career in the tourism industry through a paid summer co-op work term.
  • Work and learn in a diverse and dynamic four-season tourism environment.

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Tourism Management Diploma

Campus

  • Kelowna
  • Revelstoke
View schedule and campus details
Legend:
  • Full program offered
  • Partial program offered

Credential

Diploma

Delivery options

Full-Time

  • International students eligible

Tuition and fees

Please contact your campus

Program details

The world of tourism requires talented and passionate individuals with a broad understanding of the complex, interdisciplinary nature of the industry and its ability to thrive within communities and the global marketplace. The Tourism Management Diploma provides students with an overview of the tourism industry along with management skills for this diverse and integrated industry The program includes courses that address tourism and business management functions as well as providing opportunities to network and build connections within the sector. An integral part of the program is a co-op, as well as a faculty-supervised tourism sector study course, which will allow students to engage in experiential learning within the tourism community. Core themes include tourism and hospitality operations, sustainability, service management, marketing, and industry diversity. Upon graduation, students are well-suited for supervisory or front-line management positions in tourism and hospitality.

Far from the neon lights and rush hour traffic sits the idyllic mountain town of Revelstoke, B.C. Nestled in the world's only inland temperate rainforest, this vibrant community lives and breathes quality of life. Offering year-round activities, adventure seekers from around the world enjoy world-class ski lifts, heli-skiing, cat skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling in the winter. When summer arrives, untapped nature opens boundless adventures, experiences and places to explore with hiking, camping, mountain biking, golf and more.

A few reasons to live, work and study in Revelstoke:

  1. The outdoors. National and provincial parks at your doorstep.
  2. Legendary snowfall. Experience the classic Canadian winter.
  3. Small town charm. Come for the mountains, stay for the community.
  4. Endless adventure. Hot springs, waterfalls, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hiking, back country touring and more.
  5. The people. Make lasting friendships with people from around the world who love the outdoors as much as you do.

Explore Revelstoke

Known as Canada's favourite four-season playground, Kelowna is the largest city in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley and boasts all the amenities of a major city. Nestled between two mountain ranges and along the shores of the beautiful Okanagan Lake, Kelowna offers warm summers and gentle winters, and the perfect blend of urban and outdoor lifestyle.

A few reasons to live, work and study in Kelowna:

  1. Vibrant downtown. Arts, culture, and entertainment hubs.
  2. Close to nature. Hiking, biking, skiing, and golf.
  3. Laid back, lakeside lifestyle. Beaches, watersports.
  4. Farm to table. Renowned restaurants and wineries.
  5. Thriving tourism sector and growing innovation, tech, and aerospace sectors.
  6. Kelowna International Airport, one of the top-10 busiest airports in Canada.
  7. Warm and welcoming community for students, visitors, and newcomers.

Explore Kelowna

Students in the Tourism Management program will participate in a mandatory co-op work term in the summer between years 1 and 2. The co-op work term is 12-16 weeks of paid employment. Each student will be provided with supports to help them develop their own unique job search. Working with a co-op coordinator, they will refresh their resume and cover letter, connecting with industry employers. A co-op work term provides the opportunity to gain paid Canadian work experience in your chosen industry before graduation, whether seeking a position in adventure tourism, hospitality service or resort management the program allows students to explore what the tourism industry has to offer.

Some co-op employment examples may include:

  • Four-season resorts such as Revelstoke Mountain Resort
  • Independent and brand hotels from five star properties to youth hostels
  • Adventure tourism companies such as heli-hiking, mountain biking, freshwater fishing and whitewater rafting
  • Cultural organizations from interpretive centres to museums
  • Recreation operations such golf resorts and sight seeing
  • Events and conferences from mountain enduro events to weddings
  • Destination management organizations such as Tourism Revelstoke and Destination BC
  • National and Provincial Parks from management planning to operations
Campus Start date Schedule
Kelowna Sep. 04, 2024
Revelstoke Sep. 04, 2024

Admission requirements

Regular Applicants

  • B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent.
  • Students graduating from secondary school in or prior to 2012:
    • Principles of Mathematics 11, or an equivalent Advanced Level Adult Basic Education mathematics course; or a minimum grade of 70% in Introductory Mathematics 11; or a minimum grade of 60% in Applications of Mathematics 11.
  • Students entering Grade 10 in or after 2010 and/or completing the new mathematics curriculum:
    • A minimum of 60% in one of Pre-calculus Grade 11, Foundations of Mathematics Grade 11, or Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics Grade 11, Workplace Mathematics 11, or the equivalent Advanced Level Adult Basic Education mathematics course.
  • English 12 with minimum 60% or alternatives.

  • Senior secondary students who enter the Tourism Management Diploma program with a minimum grade of 73% in Accounting 12 may receive credit for TOUR 115.
  • Senior secondary students who enter the Tourism Management Diploma program and who have completed and passed both Entrepreneurship 11 and Marketing 11 may receive credit for BUAD 116 (or TOUR 130 as courses are equivalent).

Mature Applicants

  • Mature applicants are at least 19 years of age and have been out of full-time senior secondary study for at least one year.
  • Senior secondary graduation will be waived for mature applicants.
  • Mature applicants without English 12 can write the LPI and must receive a minimum score of level 4.
  • Mature applicants without Mathematics 11 can take the mathematics diagnostic test, administered by Okanagan College. A minimum score of 16/25 is required.

Qualifying Status

  • Applicants who ultimately fail to satisfy the specific English and/or math entrance requirements may be granted admission to and be allowed to remain enrolled in the Tourism Management Diploma program as qualifying students subject to the availability of space after the admission and registration of qualified applicants.
  • Qualifying students may concurrently register in a maximum of three first-year business or tourism courses, any three for which they satisfy the prerequisites.
  • Qualifying first-year tourism management students will not be considered to be continuing students and will, therefore, be allowed to continue in the program after the qualifying year only if all outstanding course entrance requirements have been successfully completed.

Program outline

Year 1

Term 1

Fall Term
TOUR 105 - Introduction to Tourism
TOUR 130 - Tourism Marketing
BUAD 123 - Management Principles
BUAD 128 - Computer Applications I
CMNS 112 - Professional Writing I

Term 2

Winter Term
BUAD 200 - Digital Marketing
BUAD 176 - Professional Sales
TOUR 220 - Hotel Management
TOUR 115 - Accounting for Tourism

Summer Session

Students will complete both of the following:
BUAD 101 Co-op work term
TOUR 200 - Tourism Sector Study

Year 2

Term 3

Fall Term
TOUR 209 - Tourism Law
TOUR 215 - Restaurant Management
TOUR 240 - Service Design for Tourism
BUAD 269 - Human Resources Management
Elective

Term 4

Winter Term
TOUR 225 - Emerging Trends in Destination Management
TOUR 245 - Tourism for SME
BUAD 262 - Organizational Behaviour
Elective
Plus students will complete two of the following courses:
TOUR 230 - Wine and Culinary Tourism
TOUR 235 - Rural and Agri-Tourism Development
TOUR 250 - Eco & Adventure Tourism
TOUR 299 - Conventions Management
VITT 125 - Introduction to Viticulture and Wine
BUAD 227 - Selected Topics: Tourism and Hospitality

Notes

Electives in Revelstoke are TOUR 250 (Fall) and TOUR 235 (Winter).
  • Successful completion of the prescribed and elective courses as listed in the program outline with a minimum graduating grade average of 60%.
  • Students are also required to successfully complete a co-op work term.
Additional information

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