Tourism

Branch of knowledge: Social Sciences and Law
Center in charge: Facultad de Ciencias de la Economía y de la Empresa
Campus: Madrid-Vicálvaro
Method of teaching: Bilingüe
Credits: 240. Credits/year: 60. Duration: 4 years. Implantation: progressive, first course 2008-2009
Calendario académico    Schedule    Exam   Teaching Guides  Validations table   Faculty
Coordinator: Prof. Dr. D.  Jose Ramón Sarmiento Guede       

Basic Information

What will I learn by studying this degree?

Theoretical-practical knowledge about various aspects related to management, understanding, and decision-making in the field of tourism. Specifically:

• Understanding the structure of international tourism markets, identifying the main sources of information, indicators, and global distribution systems (GDS), to analyze supply and demand in the global context.
• Analyzing and evaluating tourism territorial resources, understanding their distribution, characteristics, and development potential through territorial analysis methodologies, to plan sustainable experiences in different regions.
• Interpreting and leveraging heritage and cultural resources, understanding their historical origin and current value for tourism, with the aim of designing meaningful and respectful experiences for the environment and local communities.
• Mastering the theoretical and practical framework of tourism marketing, including market research, consumer behavior, and the strategic use of digital tools.
• Knowing and applying grammatical structures and expressions of a second foreign language, focused on professional communication in international and multicultural tourism contexts.
• Understanding the functioning of the hotel industry, including types of accommodation and catering, their organizational and economic management, and the design of sustainable and inclusive strategies for these sectors.
• Developing leadership skills, human resource management, and teamwork, understanding the importance of motivation, adaptation to change, and continuous improvement in tourism organizations.
• Knowing the key technologies and digital platforms in tourism intermediation, understanding their application in management, commercialization, and planning of smart and efficient tourist destinations.
• Understanding the fundamentals of accounting, economics, and financial management, applying economic-financial analysis techniques and revenue management for decision-making in tourism companies.
• Knowing the fundamentals of law applied to tourism and business management, including basic legal concepts, accounting regulations, contractual obligations, and key processes in business management and organization.

 

Where will I be qualified to work upon graduation?

The Degree in Tourism is designed to train professionals with a solid foundation in the management of tourist destinations, defining objectives, policies, and tourism plans for companies and institutions, public or private, in a context of rapid transformation, with high demands for quality, competitiveness, and sustainability, and in an increasingly internationalized environment.

Graduates in Tourism will be professionals with solid training in the management of tourism activities and companies, capable of promoting sustainable and responsible development of the sector. They will possess communicative, multicultural, and technological skills that will allow them to adapt to a globalized and competitive environment. Below are the detailed graduate profiles with their descriptions and competencies:

1. Tourism Business Manager
   • Professional responsible for the administration and management of businesses in the tourism sector, planning, organizing, and supervising operations to ensure efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
   • Competencies:
     • Administrative and financial management of tourism companies.
     • Strategic and operational planning.
     • Implementation of management and marketing technologies.
2. Tourism Destination Manager
   • Professional who plans and coordinates the sustainable development of tourist destinations, optimizing resources and promoting collaboration between public and private sectors to improve competitiveness and visitor experience.
   • Competencies:
     • Planning and sustainable development of destinations.
     • Coordination of tourism policies and strategies.
     • Management of relationships with communities and stakeholders.
3. Tourism Promotion and Marketing Technician
   • Professional responsible for designing and executing marketing strategies to promote destinations and tourism services, using market analysis and digital tools to attract and satisfy customers.
   • Competencies:
     • Design and execution of tourism promotion campaigns.
     • Market analysis and consumer behavior.
     • Use of digital tools and social networks for marketing.
4. Tourism Consultant
   • Professional specialized advice in the development and improvement of tourism projects, providing analysis, sustainability strategies, and innovative solutions to optimize management and competitiveness in the sector.
   • Competencies:
     • Analysis and diagnosis of tourism projects.
     • Development of improvement and sustainability strategies.
     • Advice on tourism regulations and legislation.
5. Events and Congress Manager
   • Professional responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing events and congresses, managing all logistical, budgetary, and operational aspects to ensure their success and participant satisfaction.
   • Competencies:
     • Planning and organization of events and congresses.
     • Logistical coordination and supplier management.
     • Impact evaluation and customer satisfaction.
6. Manager of Tourism Intermediation Companies and Travel Agencies
   • Professionals who advise and sell tourism products and services, design personalized itineraries, manage reservations, and provide customer service to ensure satisfactory travel experiences.
   • Competencies:
     • Advice and sale of tourism products and services.
     • Design of personalized itineraries and tourism packages.
     • Reservation management and customer service.
7. Manager of Complementary Tourism Services Companies and Tourist Guides
   • Professionals who accompany and guide tourists, providing detailed and contextual information about the places visited, their history, culture, and heritage, ensuring an enriching and safe experience.
   • Competencies:
     • Deep knowledge of the history, culture, and heritage of tourist destinations.
     • Communication and presentation skills.
     • Group management and problem-solving.
8. Hotel Director
   • Professional responsible for the comprehensive management of a hotel, supervising operations, human resources, finances, and customer services to ensure high quality, profitability, and guest satisfaction.
   • Competencies:
     • Operational and administrative management of hotel establishments.
     • Leadership and team management.
     • Development of quality and customer satisfaction strategies.
9. Sustainable Tourism Specialist
   • Professional experienced in promoting and managing tourism activities that respect the environment, local culture, and economy, minimizing negative impact and fostering responsible and sustainable practices.
   • Competencies:
     • Implementation of sustainable tourism practices.
     • Evaluation of environmental and social impact.
     • Promotion of corporate social responsibility in the tourism sector.
10. Entrepreneur in the Tourism Sector
    • Professional who identifies business opportunities in the tourism industry and leverages them to create and develop innovative initiatives, such as tourism companies, services, or products, to meet the needs and desires of travelers, generating economic benefits and contributing to the sector's development.
    • Competencies:
      • Development of innovative business ideas and models.
      • Resource and financing management.
      • Marketing and market positioning strategies.
11. Revenue Manager
    • Professional responsible for optimizing the revenues of a tourism company, such as hotels, through strategic management of prices, inventory, and distribution.
    • Competencies:
      • Data analysis.
      • Negotiation skills.
      • Strategic thinking.

These professional profiles highlight the diversity of job opportunities for Tourism graduates, as well as the key competencies needed to successfully perform in each role.

Is this degree official in accordance with the regulations of the European Higher Education Area?

Yes (the final verification report is attached). The implementation of the degree will be carried out progressively, beginning in the first year of the degree in the academic year 2008-09.

Final verification report

Report favorable first modification

Report favorable second modification

Report favorable third modification

Report favorable fourth modification

Report favorable fifth modification

Report favorable sixth modification

What topics will be covered in this Degree?

The main fields of study of the degree are:-

• Cultural Geography
• Economics
• Business Organisation
• Product Marketing and Market Research
• Finance and Accounting
• Philology
• History
• History of Art
• Sociology
• Law

Recommended Profile

• High School Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences.
• Higher Vocational Training Technician in modalities linked to professional families: Hospitality and Tourism, Administration, Commerce, and Marketing.

No additional access restrictions are established beyond those provided in the general university regulations. Furthermore, given the multidisciplinary nature of the Degree in Tourism, it is complex to define a specific entry profile. However, it would be desirable for students of this degree to possess a series of characteristics and skills, such as:

• Sociable and extroverted character.
• Interest in different cultures of the world.
• Sensitivity to social issues.
• Interest in recreational activities.
• Ability for personal relationships.
• Commercial skills.
• Teamwork ability.
• Action and initiative capacity.
• Ease of communication.
• Ability to learn languages, being advisable to access the degree with an acceptable level of at least one foreign language.

Objectives

The University Degree in Tourism at URJC provides graduates with theoretical-practical training for management and planning at the level of organizations (companies and institutions), activities, destinations, products, and resources. Its objectives are defined based on the characteristics and conditions of the activity and the dynamic nature of a constantly evolving sector, in a context of rapid transformation and demands for quality, competitiveness, and sustainability, as well as increasing internationalization. Below are the main educational objectives of the degree:

1. Acquisition of Fundamental Knowledge
   • Provide a solid theoretical and practical foundation in the fundamental principles of tourism, covering historical, cultural, economic, and environmental aspects.
   • Foster understanding of the structure and functioning of the tourism sector, as well as the interrelationships between its different components.
2. Development of Professional Skills
   • Develop competencies in the management of tourism companies and destinations, including planning, organization, direction, and control of tourism activities.
   • Train in the use of technological and information tools applied to tourism, promoting innovation and competitiveness in the sector.
3. Promotion of Transversal Competencies
   • Promote effective communication skills, both oral and written, in various languages, highlighting the importance of English and other relevant languages for tourism.
   • Foster teamwork and leadership, promoting project management and conflict resolution skills.
4. Promotion of Sustainability and Social Responsibility
   • Instill principles of sustainability and social responsibility, emphasizing the importance of responsible tourism and its impact on the environment and local communities.
   • Promote respect and appreciation of cultural and natural diversity, encouraging the development of inclusive and accessible tourism.
5. Preparation for the Labor Market
   • Facilitate the labor insertion of graduates through professional internships and collaborations with companies and institutions in the tourism sector.
   • Provide the knowledge and skills necessary for entrepreneurship and the creation of new tourism initiatives, stimulating creativity and innovation.
6. Comprehensive Training as Citizens
   • Ensure comprehensive training that combines professional development with humanistic and ethical education, preparing students to be responsible and committed citizens.
   • Foster critical thinking and analytical capacity, promoting a proactive and reflective attitude towards the challenges of the tourism sector and society in general.

These educational objectives must be aligned with the disciplines that make up the curriculum, ensuring coherence between academic content.

Skills

In the Tourism Degree Study Plan, the learning objectives have been defined in terms of academic and professional skills which the student must obtain, and how they are to be obtained.
These skills will feature throughout the whole degree so a detailed subject-by-subject analysis has been carried out.
The White Paper on the Degree in Tourism (Aneca, 2004) sets out some 23 general skills and 32 specific skills as part of the general knowledge and scientific, technical and cultural resources needed for graduates to be successful in the different areas of tourism-related employment. Some of the most noteworthy are:-

• to know and assess the economic dimension of tourism
• to analyse the impact of tourism
• to make use of information and communication technologies in the different fields of tourism
• to analyse and critically summarise the economic data for tourism organisations
• to understand the dynamic nature of tourism and the new leisure society
• to understand how tourist destinations and structures work as a business sector in the world economy
• to understand the principles of tourism: its social, cultural, legal, political, employment and economic dimensions
• to communicate both orally and in writing in foreign languages
• to understand the legal framework which governs tourist activities
• to know the working procedure for accommodation,  restaurants, and suppliers and intermediaries for the industry
• to run the different types of tourism organisations
• to manage the financial resources of a tourism firm
• to identify the technical planning needs for infrastructure and tourist facilities
• to manage land used for tourism bearing in mind the principles of sustainability
• to identify and manage tourist locations and destinations

 

Minimum requeriments for stay

• For full-time students doing an undergraduate degree, the maximum period of time allowed to complete the degree is eight years. Part-time students can request an extension of up to two years from the Rector.
• In the degrees that have more than to 240 credits (4 years), the maximum stated in the previous section will be increased by one year for each 60 ECTS that are added to the 240 ECTS.
• Students have to pass a minimum of two subjects in the first year. Students who are studying part-time have to pass at least one subject in the first academic year.
• Students who are studying an official degree at Rey Juan Carlos University have a maximum of four enrollments in each one of the subjects in the study program, without counting previous cancellations of said subjects.

For further information see: Normativa de permanencia

Minimum number of  ECTS credits per type of registration and academic year

Full-time students:

COURSE	MINIMUN	MAXIMUM
1º Course	48 ECTS	60 ECTS
Other courses	48 ECTS	78 ECTS

 

Part-time students:

CURSO	MINIMUN	MAXIMUM
1º Course	24 ECTS	47 ECTS
Other courses	24 ECTS	47 ECTS

 

Access and Enrolment

Access

Access to official degrees requires holding a high school diploma or equivalent and passing the exam referred to in Article 42 of the Organic Law 6/2001 of Universities, modified in the Law 4/2007 (12 April), taking into account other mechanisms of access foreseen in existing regulations.
The maximum number of 1st year students accepted in the academic is:

Campus Madrid (Vicálvaro):

65 places  (including transfer admission places)

 

Enrolment

Enrolment in the Rey Juan Carlos University is on-line, using the computers on campus or any computer with web access. Dates and deadlines can be consulted in enrolment, as well as the requirements and necessary documents.  If any doubts arise, ask at the Student Telephone Assistance Centre (C.A.T.A.).

Teaching Itinerary

VIEW CURRENT TEACHING GUIDES

Materials resources

Material resources

Internship Placement

The subject Internships is a curricular subject whose fundamental objective is to encourage the comprehensive training of the student through the practical application of the knowledge acquired in the degree, which facilitates direct contact with the professional activity and offers the opportunity for students to incorporate themselves in the professional world with a minimum level of experience. All the internships are designed so that students who participate in them acquire professional experience in real situations and conditions, applying the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are acquired in the educational process during the degree. These internships are an important opportunity for the personal and professional development of the students.

The internships are activities that the student undertakes in companies, institutions, and organizations; that is, in centers external to the university, and that have as their objective to enrich and complement their university studies, while also offering deeper knowledge related to the skills that will be needed once they graduate.  

The Internship subject has two phases:

• First, doing the internship, which offers professional experience related to the profile of the graduate and that are shown in the Verification Report of the degree.
• Second, preparation of the report.

Documentation:

Formative Project Qualification

For more information: Unit internships

Social Security Contributions for student interns as of January 1, 2024

Academic Recognition of Credits

Rules of academic recognition of credits in the Degree

Movility Programmes

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For more information:

Student Support Programmes

Regulations

Quality Guarantee

External monitoring report

Link RUCT

Link BOCM

Internal System of Quality Guarantee

Internal System of Quality Guarantee

Composition of the commission

Composition of the commission

Report on Results

Once the follow-up on the Degree is carried out, the quantitative information concerning the results of the follow-up for each academic year is shown.

Report on Results

• 2023/2024
• 2022/2023
• 2021/2022
• 2020/2021
• 2019/2020
• 2018/2019
• 2017/2018
• 2016/2017
• 2015/2016
• 2014/2015
• 2013/2014
• 2012/2013

General information collection plan

• Indicators 2013/14
• Indicators 2014/15
• Indicators 2015/16
• Indicators 2016/17
• Indicators 2017/18
• Indicators 2018/19
• Indicators 2019/20
• Indicators 2020/21
• Indicators 2021/22
• Indicators 2022/23
• Indicators 2023/24

Steps toward Improvement

The Quality Guarantee System at URJC establishes that the Quality Guarantee Commission of the degree analyzes the information derived from the different indicators of the degree and draws up a report which includes plans for improvement, if that is what the results so indicate.

• Improvement actions 2023/2024
• Improvement actions 2022/2023
• Improvement actions 2021/2022
• Improvement actions 2020/2021
• Improvement actions 2019/2020
• Improvement actions 2018/2019
• Improvement actions 2017/2018
• Improvement actions 2016/2017 
• Improvement actions 2015/2016 
• Improvement actions 2014/2015 
• Improvement actions 2013/2014
• Improvement actions 2012/2013 
• Improvement actions 2011/2012
• Improvement actions 2010/2011

Accreditation renewal

Accreditation renewal supposes the culmination of the implementation of the official undergraduate and Master’s degrees registered in the University, Center, and Degree Register. The accreditation renewal of official undergraduate and Master’s degrees is organized in three phases: self-assessment report, external visit, and final assessment.

In the first phase, the university describes and assesses the situation of the degree with respect to the established criteria and guidelines. The result is the Self-Assessment report that is presented. The second and third phases are carried out by a group of assessors who are external to the degree in question.

• Renewal Final Report of accreditation 2022
• Improvement Plan 2022

Histórico

• Renewal Final Report of accreditation 2014
• Improvement Plan

Tracing

Special

• Final Report Special Follow-up 2023

Recognition of quality