MSc in Tourism Destination Branding
Course Overview
The MSc in Tourism Destination Branding is a postgraduate MSc route running 12 to 18 months full postgraduate route, aligned with executive tourism practice. Delivered by the Tourism Business, Marketing & Operations department at LSTITM, the programme concentrates on a postgraduate programme covering destination branding for UK and international tourism boards and DMOs within the wider UK visitor economy.
By the end of the msc route you will be leading destination branding programmes and campaign portfolios for UK-facing tourism boards or agencies, ready to contribute in tourism business, marketing & operations settings across London and comparable UK tourism environments.
The MSc in Tourism Destination Branding gives postgraduate depth to the discipline of shaping and stewarding destination brands, including brand-strategy research, campaign portfolio governance, brand-system architecture and a dissertation that engages a genuine destination brand question with executive readiness.
Key Features
- Programme content aligned with Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Tourism Society, Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) and Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) themes
- Delivered fully in UK English through the Tourism Business, Marketing & Operations department
- Structured articulation from LSTITM Certificate through Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Higher Diploma and honours-level study
- Focus areas include destination brand strategy, campaign portfolios, brand governance, dissertation practice for the MSc in Tourism Destination Branding
- Dedicated career support covering CV, LinkedIn and interview coaching for UK tourism roles
- Access to LSTITM's employer network across tour operators, OTAs, DMOs and London hospitality partners
- Formative and summative assessment reviewed by tourism industry practitioners
What You Will Learn
- Develop destination brand strategies for UK and international audiences
- Manage campaign portfolios across paid, earned and owned channels
- Govern destination brand systems and creative assets
- Recognise CIM and IDM standards across destination brand practice
- Manage a dissertation on a chosen destination brand question
- Compare UK destination brand cases with wider European and global work
- Coach peers on brand governance rigour
- Present branding programmes to executive tourism audiences
Alongside taught content, the MSc in Tourism Destination Branding embeds postgraduate research through applied brand projects with UK and international destination partners. Learners plan destination brand studies, prepare campaign case studies, complete supervised research and shape a final dissertation on a live destination brand question drawn from their partner engagement with a UK or international employer.
Who This Course Is For
- Senior marketing leaders moving into destination brand roles
- Bachelor graduates targeting brand and marketing careers in tourism
- International candidates preparing for UK brand-leadership careers
- Career changers from creative and marketing sectors into tourism
MSc learners join brand-focused executive sessions with UK and international tourism partners, hearing directly from senior brand leaders on the postgraduate research habits that separate strong new brand strategists from weaker ones, and on the executive briefings that prepare postgraduate brand research for boards and campaign audiences.
Career Pathways
- Head of Digital Marketing (Travel)
- Head of Tourism Sales
- Head of Tourism Business Development
- Head of Product (Tourism)
- Head of Tourism Events
- Head of Customer Experience
LSTITM's careers service supports every MSc in Tourism Destination Branding learner with CV coaching, interview practice and warm introductions across London tourism boards, tour operators, OTAs, airline partners and hospitality employers, aligned with senior and executive tourism careers in the UK visitor economy.
Postgraduate MSc graduates commonly enter senior brand strategist, head of destination brand and executive marketing director roles at UK and international tourism organisations.
Entry Requirements
- A UK 2:2 (Lower Second Class) honours degree or overseas equivalent in any discipline, with a stated interest in tourism destination branding
- 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
The MSc in Tourism Destination Branding also connects learners to LSTITM's UK and international destination partner network, giving direct exposure to tourism boards and agencies shaping brand programmes.
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 that shape modern global tourism.
Students on every LSTITM route are supported by dedicated career services covering CV, LinkedIn, interview coaching and introductions to London tourism boards, tour operators, OTAs, airline and hospitality partners.
Apply for MSc in Tourism Destination Branding
Applications for the MSc in Tourism Destination Branding are open all year through the LSTITM admissions portal, with the admissions team available to guide UK and international applicants through documentation, English requirements and instalment plans. Once accepted, postgraduate learners receive a full induction covering module timetables, dissertation supervision, tutor introductions and a quick primer on UK and international destination brand practice that new MSc students commonly find useful in the transition to postgraduate study. Applicants can request a call with a brand MSc tutor before enrolling to confirm module choices, dissertation supervision and executive research expectations for this MSc. Advance into executive tourism leadership with LSTITM and secure your place on this MSc in Tourism Destination Branding cohort. Enrol Now.
