IULM University in Milan offers a prestigious Master’s in Hospitality and Tourism Management (dual degree), featuring a dedicated specialization in Sustainable Destination Management & Communication. This rigorous program equips students with essential theoretical models, managerial tools, and communication strategies to design, manage, and promote tourism destinations sustainably.
Master’s Program Structure
- Duration: 2 years (120 ECTS)
- Year One (IULM, Milan): Common core modules in hospitality, cultural heritage, tourism marketing, sustainable tourism development, finance, human resources, and communication
- Year Two: Choose among three pathways:
- Sustainable Destination Management & Communication (IULM)
- Digital Technologies & Data for Tourism
- Hospitality & Tourism Management (University of Central Florida, USA)
Note: The sustainable management track supports a semester at the University of Oulu in Finland, offering a dual-degree option.
You can learn more about the program’s structure here.
Key Learning Focus
Students in the Sustainable Destination track master:
- Strategy Design for Sustainable Destinations: Planning tourism systems that balance environmental care, social inclusivity, and economic resilience
- Policy Design for Sustainable Tourism: Crafting governance frameworks, stakeholder engagement plans, and regulatory tools
- Eco-social Economics & Policy Design: Integrating sustainability economics within the tourism sector
- Transition Management in Post-Crisis Contexts: Managing recovery and resilience after crises, such as pandemics
- Creativity & Design of Tourism Policies and Services
IULM Practical Learning & Professional Readiness
- Hands-on approach: 70% of teaching involves field projects, workshops, company visits, and Job Labs, complemented by lectures and online modules
- Internship & Thesis: Placement opportunities in public destination agencies or sustainability-focused businesses, culminating in a capstone thesis
- Global exposure: Semester exchanges (Oulu, Finland) and international partnerships enrich the learning experience
Career Outcomes
Graduates emerge ready for impactful roles in:
- Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and tourism planning agencies
- Sustainability-focused consultancy and development firms
- Policy advisory positions regarding tourism, environment, and community development
- Project management in agri-tourism, heritage destinations, and social enterprise
Why It’s Unique
- Holistic curriculum blending planning, economics, policy, communication, and creative strategy
- International outlook with dual-degree options across Europe and the USA
- Practice-driven pedagogy ensuring graduates develop real-world leadership skills
In Summary
IULM Sustainable Destination Management & Communication specialization empowers future tourism leaders with academic depth, strategic vision, and practical competencies. Graduates will:
- Design and communicate sustainable destination plans
- Build stakeholder coalitions and governance structures
- Promote destinations ethically, creatively, and locally
It’s an ideal path for those committed to advancing resilient, inclusive, and sustainable tourism worldwide.