Tourism & Destination Development

Tourism & Destination Development

The Minor in Tourism and Destination Development (TOUR) is an interdisciplinary program designed to develop future leaders in the tourism and service sector industries. Integrating expertise from multiple colleges, the minor offers a broad understanding of visitor experience design, destination operations, and tourism development. Students will gain essential skills relevant to the tourism industry, including visitor management, community tourism development, and digital marketing, with a unique focus on attracting, engaging, and meeting the needs of travelers while building community economies.

15 hours required for Minor

  • TOUR 2103 Foundations of Tourism, 3 credit hours.
    • This course explores destination development by leveraging community assets to attract travelers. Students examine tourism’s role in economic growth, community engagement, and viability while analyzing attraction management, cultural tourism, and outdoor recreation to craft experiences, promote destinations, and drive regional development.
  • TOUR 2613 Work Experience in Foundational Tourism Internship, 3 hours.
    • In this course, students gain entry-level experience in the tourism industry, focusing on customer service, professionalism, and communication skills in real-world settings such as visitor centers, hotels, or event planning organizations. This internship offers hands-on learning opportunities to develop essential skills by supporting daily tourism operations, engaging with guests, and understanding leadership and teamwork with diverse groups.
  • TOUR 3203 Visitor Experience Design and Destination Management, 3 hours.
    • This course explores the strategic process of designing visitor experiences that generate positive economic outcomes and enhance quality of life in tourist destinations. Students will learn to craft, operate, and evaluate memorable experiences in settings such as historic sites, festivals, museums, arts venues, short-term rentals, agritourism farms, and nature-based attractions. The course provides practical skills in economic impact analysis, revenue management, business planning, and visitor experience design, while highlighting sustainable and inclusive approaches to destination management.
  • TOUR 4103 Digital Storytelling for Tourism Destinations and Venues, 3 hours.
    • This course examines tourism marketing with a focus on digital strategies, including data analytics, social media, branding, and content creation. Students will develop and execute campaigns for sectors such as sports, outdoor recreation, and cultural tourism, building a professional portfolio and mastering impactful, real-world marketing techniques.
  • Advisor Approved Elective, 3 hours.

Please contact Dr. Rachael Carter (Program Director) or Lynda Moore-White for information about the Tourism and Destination Development Minor.

Contact information