Tourism Industry, Sports and Event Management

In this field of study, specialists and managers are trained who have both detailed technical know-how and sound economic knowledge. Students also learn how to plan, organize, market and finance events, sports and cultural events or tourism services.

Bachelor's and master's degree programs in the areas of tourism, sports and event management are mainly offered at universities of applied sciences. At universities there are some courses related to sports management. Some are more interdisciplinary, e.g. “Business Administration and Culture, Leisure and Sports Management” or “Health and Tourism Management”, while specialized courses of study focus on a sub-area, such as “Sports Economics”, “Hotel Management”, “Event Management” or “Culinary Management”. 

In addition to business, economics and legal knowledge, the courses provide industry-specific qualifications, e.g. in the areas of tourism and hotel management, destination management, tourism marketing, cruise tourism, hotel and hospitality management or business travel. Individual courses often take place in different foreign languages. Semesters abroad can be integrated into the study plan. In the area of event management or the trade fair and congress industry, content such as communication and creation as well as conception also play a major role, while in sports management basic medical and biological know-how is also imparted.

In order to be admitted to degree programs in the field of sports management and economics, a sports aptitude test may have to be passed. For event management as well as hotel and tourism management, proof of English language skills may be required.

• Tourism managers find employment, for example, with tourism and hotel companies, with tour operators and providers, in destination management, with tourism associations and transport providers. Possible fields of activity include operational management, marketing, product management, accounting and controlling.
• Sports managers and economists work in sports organizations and clubs, in the sports (articles) industry, at sports marketing agencies and sports travel agencies, in the health, tourism and fitness sectors as well as in public sports administration. There they take on various tasks, such as controlling finances, managing employees, looking for sponsors and cooperation opportunities, negotiating with media partners or organizing sporting events.
• Event managers, in turn, are employed, for example, at event agencies, trade fair, exhibition or concert organizers, congress agencies or in public administration at cultural offices or in city marketing, where they organize and coordinate events from conception to follow-up. They keep both the client's ideas and the budget in mind.