Christian Engler
MA Tourism Management, 2006
There are only positive things I can say about the Masters course at the School of Service Management. The contents taught and the combination of modules offered were well-thought, and the lecturers and professors were always well-prepared and highly motivated.
As my previous university degree was not related to tourism I found the course extremely helpful to get an effective and condensed high-level approach to many issues relevant to the tourism industry. I also found it particularly useful that several modules such as Operations Management focussed on hands-on practise topics (e.g. case studies) from the HOSPITALITY and RETAIL area. It’s a good idea to teach tourism together with these neighbouring areas of services. Today I use the knowledge that I acquired in these modules for many everyday work situations.
I consider the library and the online resources very valuable assets. The library staff - just like all university staff - was extremely friendly and attentive; the overall atmosphere at the university campus can be described as very personal and motivating. I found good friends and made worthwhile contacts during my 15 months in Eastbourne.
I now run an agency for tourism concept development, project management, tourism marketing and media services in Tanzania. With some local staff and a network of freelancers in Europe I do marketing for two major safari tour operators and several hotels. I also assist them in developing new tourism and hospitality products and packages which take into account principles of sustainable tourism. For instance I have written a master plan for a new luxury tented eco-lodge on the tropical island of Pemba and I will move there and coordinate its construction and opening soon. I also offer placements into charitable projects and organisations in East Africa. The Master’s course was a big help for me to achieve all this.
