MSc in Tourism Strategic Communication Systems
Course Overview
The MSc in Tourism Strategic Communication Systems is a 12 to 18-month postgraduate qualification for senior communications practitioners moving into executive strategic communications leadership at tourism boards, airlines, OTAs and multi-brand travel groups. It sits within LSTITM's Travel Systems and Global Tourism portfolio and is aligned with the communications reference frameworks used by CIM, IDM, Tourism Society and BCS.
By graduation, students can lead an enterprise strategic communications system, design a research-informed comms strategy, complete a full postgraduate dissertation and step into a senior communications leadership role.
Postgraduates work through supervised executive studios, live board rehearsal sessions and structured research seminars so every graduate leaves with a dissertation, a communications portfolio and coaching on non-executive board readiness.
Every postgraduate develops a rolling executive communications portfolio across the MSc, gradually building programme, board and reputation artefacts credible with airline and tourism board chief communications officers.
Postgraduate assessment is spread across executive coursework, board rehearsals and a full research-informed dissertation, so students build a coherent long-form portfolio credible with airline and tourism board chief communications officers.
Key Features
- Executive-level postgraduate qualification with research-informed comms teaching
- References to CIM, IDM, Tourism Society, BCS and CMI
- Delivered online, on-campus in London and by distance learning
- Applied executive studios on strategic comms systems and tooling
- Assessment through executive comms strategies, board decks and a dissertation
- Progression into consultancy, executive and board-level comms careers
- Careers-service support with tourism boards, airlines and OTAs
- Live monthly comms clinics with practicing airline and tourism board directors
- Curated pattern library of UK and international strategic communications playbooks
What You Will Learn
- Executive strategic communications leadership across owned, earned and paid
- Research-informed comms systems design at destination and brand level
- Advanced crisis and reputation management for tourism organisations
- How to lead cross-sector partnerships in strategic comms programmes
- Board and sponsor engagement in reputation and stakeholder programmes
- Governance, GDPR and ethics across enterprise comms programmes
- How to run a research-informed postgraduate dissertation project
- How executive comms leadership works with policy and marketing teams
- How to lead a full strategic comms system with clear reputation KPIs
- How to structure a research-informed dissertation grounded in a live comms challenge
- How to write an executive-level comms transformation paper grounded in research
- How to prepare an evidence-informed board proposal for a multi-year reputation programme
Who This Course Is For
- Bachelor holders progressing into executive tourism communications
- Practitioners with 5+ years senior communications experience
- Career changers moving into executive tourism comms from adjacent sectors
- International applicants aiming at tourism board and airline comms leadership
- Consultancy directors targeting executive comms engagements
- International students targeting UK executive strategic comms credentials
- Working corporate affairs directors on flexible executive study routes
Career Pathways
- Tourism Communications Manager (executive)
- Head of Corporate Affairs (Tourism)
- Tourism Consultancy Partner (comms track)
- Brand Manager (Travel) (executive)
- Digital Marketing Manager (Travel) (executive)
- Global Tourism Manager (comms track)
- Tourism Policy Advisor (comms-led)
- Head of Tourism Development (comms track)
- Non-Executive Director (Corporate Affairs)
- Advisory Partner (Comms Consultancy)
The LSTITM careers service supports MSc students with executive-role coaching, portfolio review and warm introductions to tourism boards, airlines and OTAs across the London region.
The careers team also runs non-executive board readiness coaching, with introductions to tourism board and airline corporate affairs recruitment cycles across London.
Recent MSc cohorts have moved into executive corporate affairs director roles at UK airlines, tourism board chief communications tracks and comms consultancy senior partner promotion cycles across London.
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 division of Harold International College of London focused on destination, business, systems and strategic tourism disciplines. Every route is aligned with recognised UK bodies including CIM, IDM, Tourism Society, BCS and UKHospitality.
The MSc in Tourism Strategic Communication Systems is delivered by lecturers drawn from tourism board comms directorships, airline corporate affairs leadership and consultancy backgrounds, plus a dedicated careers team.
The MSc in Tourism Strategic Communication Systems sits alongside sister LSTITM Master's routes in integrated systems and industry leadership, giving postgraduates a rich peer network drawn from senior comms practice.
MSc students also access monthly executive briefings from London airline comms chiefs, tourism board corporate affairs directors and comms consultancy partners, so their study translates directly into executive practice.
Apply for MSc in Tourism Strategic Communication Systems
The MSc in Tourism Strategic Communication Systems is a strong executive route into UK-anchored strategic communications leadership work in London. Applications open on a rolling basis. Advance into executive tourism leadership with LSTITM. Enrol Now.
