Minor in International Tourism & Hospitality Management (ITHM)

ITHM is a multi-disciplinary minor that fits quite well with any university major. The tourism and hospitality industry is among the world’s leading industries, particularly in Cambodia and throughout Southeast Asia. One of every ten persons in the world is employed in ITHM in an amazing variety of positions with many different skills and from a wide variety of academic backgrounds.

The ITHM minor is 15 credits (5 courses). Students may select from among 7 regular classroom courses: ITHM 210 Tourism & Resort Management, ITHM 220 Restaurant Management, ITHM 350 Cultural Heritage Tourism, ITHM 370 Environmental Tourism & Hospitality, ITHM 410 Event Management, ITHM 450 Tourism Distribution System, and ITHM 480 Cambodia’s Tourism Industry. Students may also take ITHM internship 490. ITHM 491 Independent Study and ITHM 495 Special Topics courses are offered as needed.

An ITHM minor prepares students for many jobs, careers, and entrepreneurial opportunities in tourism, hospitality, and other related fields. In addition to the 5-course minor, students of any major may also take individual ITHM courses as electives to enhance their knowledge and broaden their career opportunities.

  • BUSINESS MAJORS: The great variety of skills of Business majors are valued in tourism and hospitality businesses ranging from international corporations to local start-ups. There are tourism (including hotel) marketers, managers, accountants, economist, communications professionals, and financial experts. The list is endless.
  • LAW MAJORS: The tourism and hospitality industry utilizes legal professionals in everything from contracts, partnerships, and disputes resolutions to creating and interpreting laws and regulations affecting international travel. Every company has a lawyer on staff or retainer, including those who specialize in hotel law, airline law, and much more.
  • GLOBAL AFFAIRS MAJORS: ITHM is a diverse field that by its unique characteristics includes international relations, economic development, socio-cultural and environmental impacts, international charters and conventions, NGOs, governmental agencies with tourism-related functions.
  • ITC/ITM MAJORS: Tourism and hospitality use IT like all other business but also within its own highly sophisticated systems such as reservations and transportation and cutting-edge areas such as virtual reality and service robots.

1. Demonstrate strong knowledge of tourism and hospitality principles, theories, and applications in Cambodia, ASEAN, and worldwide.

  • Identify and explain how various forces and components combine to make the tourism and hospitality industry Cambodia’s (and the world’s) leading service industry.
  • Demonstrate how tourism and hospitality businesses operate as an industry that creates tourism products, services, and experiences.
  • Evidence basic knowledge of hospitality and tourism and each functional area of business, coordinate their interrelationships, and analyze their contributions to organizational success.
  • Explain the necessity of public-private partnerships and the roles and motivations of the primary stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry.

2. Apply Triple Bottom Line sustainability principles and practices as a centerpiece in their personal and professional lives.

  • Demonstrate the economic benefits, impacts, viability, and equity of tourism and hospitality development and operation.
  • Demonstrate ethics, social responsibility, community involvement, cultural diversity, and heritage preservation.
  • Demonstrate environmental responsibility and stewardship of indigenous natural resources.
  • Evaluate effectiveness of Triple Bottom Line sustainability for a business or a destination.

3. Demonstrate ability to interpret data, utilize research, think critically, and solve industry problems.

  • Demonstrate ability to see the ‘big picture’ and the interrelationships that exist among components and factors affecting an outcome.
  • Analyze complex problems and issues among tourism’s various stakeholders, sectors, and components.
  • Analyze situations, including the ‘status quo’, and demonstrate ability to adapt to change.
  • Gather, organize, and analyze relevant data and research and demonstrate ability to make reasoned decisions that lead to desired outcomes.

4. Demonstrate leadership skills to become successful managers, leaders, and entrepreneurs in the industry.

  • Inspire, manage, and lead peers and subordinates to achieve organizational goals and Triple Bottom Line sustainability.
  • Recognize entrepreneurial opportunities, develop innovations, and meet changing customer needs and ways of doing business on a multi-national scale.
  • Demonstrate tourism and hospitality expertise and professional behaviors and competencies in customer service and business relationships.
  • Use appropriate technologies to excel in customer service, product innovation, and competitive advantage.
  • Communicate effectively and confidently with all stakeholders in the community and industry in both oral and written forms.

5. Appreciate the role of the tourism and hospitality industry in the overall economy and society within Cambodia and as a global mega-industry.

  • Recognize the vast diversity of products and services that comprise the tourism and hospitality industry in Cambodia and beyond.
  • Appreciate the role tourism and hospitality plays in the standard of living and quality of life of individuals, communities, and countries.
  • Identify individual interests and preferred career paths within the tourism and hospitality industry.
  • Internalize the importance of lifelong learning to update competencies and adapt to new knowledge, best practices, and emerging technologies.
The ITHM Minor is designed to develop competency for graduates to:
  1. Assume responsible positions within any of the four operating sectors of the tourism industry: transportation, attractions, accommodations, and food & beverage.
  2. Manage economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts of tourism and hospitality.
  3. Identify entrepreneurial opportunities within tourism and hospitality.
  4. Contribute to specialized areas within tourism and hospitality depending on courses taken and individual interests.
  5. Analyze Cambodia’s tourism industry to include its sectors, impacts, resources, markets, and international competitiveness

Cambodia’s largest industry after agriculture and garment manufacturing is tourism and hospitality. Major investments are increasing opportunities on a massive scale. Below is a sampling of companies and organizations with jobs from entry level to executive looking for talented, multi-lingual graduates who have shown an interest and a commitment to the tourism and hospitality industry.

  • Airlines
  • Cruise ships
  • Hotels
  • Beach resorts
  • Casinos
  • Attractions
  • National parks
  • Tour operators
  • Sightseeing companies
  • Event, meeting, wedding planners
  • Convention centers
  • Visitor information centers
  • Restaurants, coffee shops, clubs
  • NGOs: World Wildlife Fund
  • Government: Ministry of Tourism
  • UN: World Tourism Organization
Required Courses (3 credits)
ITHM 480Cambodia’s Tourism Industry
ITHM 490Internship
Plus 4 courses from the following:
ITHM 210Hotel and Resort Management
ITHM 220Restaurant Management
ITHM 350Cultural Heritage Tourism
ITHM 370Environmental Tourism and Hospitality
ITHM 410Event Management
ITHM 450Tourism Distribution System
ITHM 491Independent Study
ITHM 495Special Topics

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