Sustainable Tourism*

Information about the degree program

The tourism industry is one of the largest industries in the world. In Germany in particular, tourism is an important economic sector with diverse employment opportunities in which there is a high demand for well-trained specialists.

Increasing tourism has both positive and negative effects. It creates income and many jobs, but can also have negative socio-cultural and ecological effects (e.g. acculturation, violation of social standards and human rights, environmental degradation and contribution to climate change).
This is where the interdisciplinary course in sustainable tourism comes in. With a focus on sustainable development, we convey content from the disciplines of business, law, geography, sociology and ecology. As future tourism experts, you will learn to make tourism more environmentally and socially compatible in order to create a balance between social, ecological and economic requirements.

Course Structure

Career Path

Important information: 

The degree program "Sustainable Tourism, B.A." is currently being improved. For this reason, the program will not be offered in the coming winter semester. Enrollments will be possible again from the winter semester 2025/2026. You will be informed about news via our website as soon as possible.

Study trip to El Salvador

25 students from the Faculty of Society and Economics at the Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences traveled to the Central American country of El Salvador in March 2019. As part of the "Economy, Ecology and Ethics" course, the students of the bachelor's degree programs in Sustainable Tourism and International Relations were given a special insight into a distant country, to become socially involved, to be economically interested and to learn about environmental protection measures.  .... more

Ecursion Lithuania/Latvia

This year, 18 students from the Faculty of Society and Economics went on an excursion to the Baltic States. The excursion takes place annually as part of the “Ethics and Tourism” course of the Sustainable Tourism course. In 10 days we visited different cities and national parks .... more

Your team of Sustainable Tourism

Prof. Dr. Dirk Reiser
Head of Studies, Professor of Sustainable Tourism Management

Prof. Dr. Diana Marquardt
Professor of Tourism Economics with focus on Tourism industry

Ilona Benkendorf
Course Coordinator, Scientific Assistant Sustainable Tourism, B.A.

Sebastian Amrhein, M.Sc.
Scientific Staff

* The degree programmes offered are suitable for part-time study in accordance with §62a HG NRW.