The Department of Tourism and Leisure Management

Reimagining Travel, Leisure, and Pleasure

Tourism and leisure represent one of the most rapidly evolving industries worldwide. Emerging global trends highlight a strong demand for leadership professionals backed by rigorous academic preparation. At Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the Department of Tourism and Leisure Management provides an up-to-date, comprehensive program that empowers students with the strategic expertise and management tools needed to excel in these vibrant sectors. The Department maintains strong ties with industry leaders across the private and public sectors, resulting in exceptionally high career placement rates for our graduates.

B.A. in Tourism & Leisure Management

Our three-year degree program integrates three essential pillars:

Business Administration: Master core managerial discipline, including marketing, finance, accounting, business law, and operations management.
Tourism & Leisure Management: Gain specialized knowledge in key industry sectors, covering airline management, event planning, travel tech and AI implementation, food & beverage management, regional planning, and accessibility.
Critical Thinking, Creativity & Human Development: Explore the broader societal impact of the industry through courses in ethics, the sociology of tourism and leisure, leadership, and heritage tourism.

M.A. in Tourism & Leisure Management

The M.A program in Tourism and Leisure Management is designed for forward-thinking managers and prospective graduate students looking to elevate their academic knowledge and leadership capabilities in tourism, leisure, and hospitality.

Conducted over three semesters with classes concentrated into just one day a week, this program offers an innovative curriculum taught by renowned academic researchers and top industry executives.

Study Tracks

Students can customize their degree path by selecting one of two tracks:

Thesis Track: Focused on advanced academic research and original investigation.

Applied Track: Geared toward practical application, professional strategic development, and career advancement.

Research Excellence

Our faculty members are internationally recognized for their groundbreaking research, frequently publishing in and serving on the editorial boards of premier journals in tourism, hospitality and leisure studies. Both M.A. and Ph.D. students actively collaborate with faculty on high-impact research initiatives.