Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management

The Master’s program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management prepares students to shape the future of international city destinations, develop creative solutions for the future and balance the needs of visitors, locals and the visitor economy.

The program focuses on visitor economy and urban destination management. Students will learn about systemic visitor economy management, urban planning and urban mobility concepts as well as ICTs and data-thinking for tourism destinations, tourism intelligence systems and smart city standards in destinations. They will also develop leadership skills like change management, strategic sustainability etc. to facilitate change in tourism.

The international Master’s program is entirely taught in English and our students take part in exciting practical projects, field trips, case studies and expert talks. In the 3^rd semester they can choose either a management traineeship, e.g. in a destination management organization or a consultancy project to further put their abilities into practice.

The Master’s program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management is entirely taught in English.

At FHWien der WKW you study real business. All study programs have a very high practical relevance. Two-thirds of the lecturers come directly from the business world and pass on their expertise to our students.

The Master’s program includes exciting practical projects, field trips, case studies and expert talks. In the 3^rd semester you can choose either a management traineeship, e.g. in a destination management organization or a consultancy project to further put your abilities into practice.

Our aim is to focus on knowledge application. Destination managers have to be able to analyze complex relationships and work out solutions systematically. The methods taught during the program will help you to further develop these key competencies.

The Master’s program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management is suitable for everybody who

• has already gained some professional experience in the tourism industry, or
• has previous interdisciplinary knowledge related to city tourism (architecture, urban planning, etc.), and
• wants to advance his/her knowledge of the development and management of urban tourism destinations.

The Master’s program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management lasts 4 semesters.

No, the Master’s program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management is a part-time study program. Lectures usually take place in the following time frame: Thursday and Friday from 08:30–18:30 and Saturday from 08:30–16:30. 50 % of the lectures are guided e-learning units and 50 % take place on campus. The on-campus teaching blocks will be published on our website in good time so that everyone can plan accordingly.

Lectures only take place during the time specified on the website. Blocked courses and a sensible use of online teaching units mean about 10 face-to-face blocks per semester. Attendance phases are reduced in the course of the program.

You must plan approximately 40 hours per week  (lectures & self-study) for the Master’s program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management.

The program offers a job-friendly study structure and is therefore designed to be easily combined with a job. 50 % of the lectures are guided e-learning units and 50 % take place on campus.

In our experience, most students work 20-30 hours per week while studying part-time.

No, proof of employment is not required. Due to the schedule, part-time study programs give working professionals the opportunity to efficiently combine their career and studies. However, employment is not mandatory.

No, a semester abroad is only mandatory for our full-time study programs. In the part-time Master’s program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management a semester abroad is optional. It is possible in the 3^rd semester.

A semester abroad is an unforgettable experience and offers a unique opportunity to get to know foreign cultures, improve foreign language skills and make international friends. It is also a great asset on your resume.

FHWien der WKW collaborates with approximately 160 partner universities worldwide. An overview of our partner universities can be found here. Please note that not every partner institution is suitable for every study program. You can use the map to filter which partner universities are suitable for your study program.

Our Center for International Education and Mobility (CIEM) coordinates all international cooperation. Currently we have agreements with partner universities in Finland, Spain and Portugal. However, you can also apply for a semester abroad as a free mover at any other recognized university.

No, you do not have to do a professional internship in the Master’s program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management. In the 3^rd semester students have the opportunity to either choose two electives, do a management traineeship or participate in a consultancy project.

You will receive a Master of Arts degree in Business.

Thanks to our practical training, our graduates are highly sought after in the job market. The graduates of our Master’s program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management become change-makers in city tourism and work in fields like

• Destination management and marketing organizations
  • Strategic positioning
  • Partner and stakeholder management
  • Product and brand development
  • Data management and research
• Consultants and project managers for
  • Destination development
  • Tourism intelligence
  • Service design
  • Change processes
• Urban planning and city authorities

Our graduates are able to understand the complexity of urban tourism destinations and their stakeholder interactions, transfer visitor economy & digitalization knowledge to practical cases and reflect on critical developments and make data-based & solution-orientated decisions for the future of urban tourism.

FHWien der WKW has its own job platform for students and graduates. In the Career Center, you will find exciting jobs and internships from companies in various industries. The platform also provides helpful career and application tips.

Once a year in fall, FHWien der WKW also holds its Career Day. This career fair offers a free CV check and an application photo shoot. You can also get in touch with exciting companies and find out about current job vacancies.

Tuition fees amount to € 363.36 per semester for EU and EEA citizens, Swiss citizens and third-country nationals with exceptional circumstances. Third-country nationals who do not qualify for exceptional circumstances are required to pay different tuition fees.

In addition to the tuition fees, the ÖH contribution and the special contribution of € 25.20 per semester must be paid.

A detailed list of costs and exceptions for third-country nationals can be found here.

(As of August 2025)

In addition to the tuition fees, there are costs for study trips, literature and other study resources of approximately €1000.

Under certain conditions, students are entitled to various forms of financial support (e.g. study grants, travel allowances, insurance contributions, childcare allowances) and scholarships (e.g. graduation scholarships, self-support scholarships). The ÖH FHWien is available to answer any questions you may have.

In accordance with the Study Grant Act (Studienförderungsgesetz), merit-based scholarships are also awarded each year for outstanding achievements in the previous academic year. The amount of each scholarship is determined annually by the Federal Ministry of Science and Research and ranges from EUR 726.72 (double tuition fees) to EUR 1,500.00. You will be informed annually about the application and award process by mail.

(As of August 2025)

Yes. We see tourism as a cross-sectional discipline, and a sustainable tourism development & visitor economy management benefits from different perspectives.

Crediting achievements from a previous Bachelor’s degrees is legally not possible.

Yes. We regard tourism as a cross-sectional discipline, whereby economic, ecological and social activities are in the center of our considerations. Therefore, a basic understanding of business administration is required.

All information on admission requirements, the admissions procedure, dates and deadlines, as well as helpful downloads, instructions and FAQ can be found here.

The program begins every winter term in September.

For first-semester students, there is a kick-off event where you can meet the Head of program and lecturers as well as your fellow students and receive important information about the university of applied sciences and your study program.