How long is the MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems?

The MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems runs 12 to 18 months full postgraduate at LSTITM. Part-time pacing lets senior practitioners complete the MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems alongside travel-technology work.

How is the MSc delivered?

LSTITM offers the MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems on-campus in London, live online and by distance learning. The MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems syllabus is identical across all three routes.

Is this MSc UK-recognised?

Yes. The MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems is a postgraduate research-informed qualification aligned with BCS, TechUK and Tourism Society references, so MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems graduates hold credible study.

What entry requirements apply?

You need a UK 2:2 honours degree or 5+ years of senior travel-technology experience, IELTS 6.5, a research statement and two references. An LSTITM interview is required for the MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems.

What does the course cost?

LSTITM publishes current MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems fees on the admissions page. Instalment plans and international scholarships apply to MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems applicants.

MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems | LSTITM | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems is a 12 to 18-month postgraduate LSTITM programme that develops research-informed executive capability in tourism advanced planning systems across destination management organisations, national tourism boards, inbound tour operators, cruise brands, airline commercial teams and travel-technology firms operating across the UK, European and long-haul markets. Designed for senior tourism practitioners targeting executive planning director, chief operating officer and consulting partner positions, the MSc is delivered on-campus, online or by distance learning across a rolling annual intake schedule. The syllabus is aligned with BCS, TechUK, Tourism Society, Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and Chartered Management Institute (CMI) references, and includes a supervised dissertation.

By graduation you will be able to lead a research-informed planning-systems project, contribute to an executive-level planning strategy at operator level, publish a supervised dissertation, and present research-based planning recommendations to a chief executive or systems board.

The MSc is delivered through structured lectures, seminars, applied research modules and a supervised dissertation, with a UK-referenced reading list, tutor-led feedback on every submission and a small cohort designed to keep discussion rigorous and executive-facing throughout each module.

Key Features

Postgraduate syllabus co-designed by former tourism planning directors and consulting partners
Alignment with BCS, TechUK, Tourism Society, CIM and CMI planning references
Structured research training and supervised dissertation on a UK-relevant planning topic
Guided reading from ABTA, ITT, WTTC and UKHospitality on tourism planning
Structured induction to executive planning frameworks, systems governance and board-level readouts
Practical exercises writing planning strategies, dissertation chapters and board updates
Coaching on presenting research-informed planning options to a chief executive
Structured modules on sustainability, safeguarding, ethical planning and inclusive design
LSTITM careers workshops on executive planning roles and consulting-partner tracks

What You Will Learn

Lead a research-informed planning-systems project at operator or DMO level
Contribute to an executive-level planning strategy at OTA, airline or brand level
Publish a supervised dissertation on a UK-relevant planning topic
Read an executive planning dashboard for a UK tourism programme
Contribute to a business case for an executive planning intervention
Follow ethical, GDPR and inclusive-planning principles
Support a supplier or partner conversation on planning integration and governance
Draft an executive readout summarising planning research and next steps
Present research-informed planning options to a chief executive or board

Who This Course Is For

Bachelor holders progressing into executive-track planning practice
Senior planning practitioners moving into chief operating officer tracks
International students seeking a UK postgraduate tourism planning qualification
Career changers holding a first degree and 5+ years of senior tourism experience
Working consultants formalising their executive planning portfolio

Career Pathways

Head of Planning (Tourism)
Chief Operating Officer (Tourism, junior)
Tourism Systems Consultant (senior)
Tourism Programme Director (senior)
Tourism Consultancy Partner (planning)
Airline Distribution Manager (senior)
OTA Account Manager (senior)
Distribution Systems Consultant (senior)
Global Tourism Manager (senior)

LSTITM's careers service supports MSc students with executive CV writing, LinkedIn coaching, board-interview preparation and salary negotiation, plus warm introductions to London OTAs, airline distribution teams, cruise brands and travel-technology consultancies recruiting into executive planning roles. Weekly workshops include portfolio reviews of the planning strategies, dissertation chapters and board updates you produce during the MSc.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 (Lower Second Class) honours degree or overseas equivalent in any discipline
Applicants without a first degree may be considered with 5+ years senior tourism experience
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band under 6.0) or equivalent English proficiency
A 500-word research statement on the applicant's chosen area of tourism specialisation
Two academic or professional references and a short interview

Why Study at LSTITM

LSTITM is the London School of Tourism and International Travel Management, a specialist division of Harold International College of London focused on the destination, business, systems and strategic disciplines shaping modern global tourism. Every LSTITM programme is aligned with recognised UK bodies including the Tourism Society, ITT, ABTA, CIM, CMI, IATA, BCS, TechUK, WTTC and UKHospitality, giving MSc graduates a credible reference base for their next executive planning application in a competitive UK market.

MSc students learn from former tourism planning directors, travel-technology consulting partners and destination policy leaders, in a research-informed curriculum with a supervised dissertation and a specialist tourism careers service that supports every executive application cycle with named coaches and warm introductions across the LSTITM alumni network in UK tourism.

Apply for MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems

Advance into executive tourism planning with the LSTITM MSc in Tourism Advanced Planning Systems, delivered by a specialist London school for tourism and international travel management with a research-informed executive planning focus at its core and a strong UK sector reference base. You will graduate with an executive-grade portfolio of strategies, dissertation research, executive readouts and board updates built on real UK travel-technology and DMO case material, ready to bring to interviews with chief executives at London tourism-technology employers. Advance into executive tourism leadership with LSTITM. Enrol Now.