The field of tourism management plays a vital role in training the workforce needed by all the leading and supporting sectors that constitute the tourism industry. In addition, tourism management; Unlike other sectors, it is a labor-intensive field where the human factor with its own conditions and dynamics is of high importance. Tourism aims to train managers who can contribute to both human resources with their cultural achievements and the country's economy at the national level. Businesses operating in the tourism industry need individuals who have knowledge of human resources, management and organization, marketing, accounting, and financing, and who can solve problems and form strategies. The training given in the field of tourism management gives individuals entrepreneurial characteristics and, in this way, the investments needed by our country are made from domestic sources, at the right time and in the right place.
From an academic point of view, there are more than 30 tourism management programs in our country taught at the undergraduate level. In addition, when we consider the programs related to the departments operating in this field, this number increases to more than 50. However, the number of higher education institutions providing postgraduate education in this field is around 20, and this number is only 4 in the Black Sea region. Given the tourism potential of our country, the region, and Samsun, the increasing number of tourists, and the need for qualified personnel, it is clear that the existing tourism departments will not be enough to meet this need. Depending on our country's 2023 vision, local managers and property managers of the region and the city have contributions and support to the tourism area in order to be successful in tourism-related goals. In this context, contributing to these goals from an academic point of view and master's education plays a vital role in the training of managers.
In the tourism sector, which is one of the precursor sectors of our country, tourism employees with master's degrees are critical in meeting the increasing needs of both domestic tourism and active foreign tourism, ensuring the sustainability of tourism, developing the local and regional economy, providing employment opportunities and accurately managing touristic enterprises that play an important role in the development of the city and the region. At this point, although universities have a vital mission to train professional operators to meet the needs of the tourism industry, individuals with bachelor degrees do not have any opportunity for a master's degree in their city, and working individuals can't develop themselves academically and professionally. This prevents employees in managerial positions from having a higher level of competence in touristic enterprises in the region. In addition, it causes businesses not to be able to use their current potential.
Thanks to postgraduate level tourism management training, it will enable graduates to perform their professions in a more visionary and professional fashion and improve the services offered by touristic enterprises in the region. In addition to the tourism management profession, students who have postgraduate degrees from Tourism Management Program with Thesis have the opportunity to work in other public institutions provided that they receive sufficient points from the Public Personnel Selection Exam if they wish. Graduates who do not want to work in public institutions and organizations will also have employment opportunities in middle and senior management positions in any tourism enterprise, especially travel enterprises, with the tourism education they have received. In addition, graduates who want to pursue an academic career can work as an academician in a program related to the fields of any university if they meet the necessary conditions.