MSc Sustainable Tourism and Event Management

The starting date for the program is October or December each year.

The curriculum has been created following the input and guidance from key experts in key industry sectors who have a first-hand view of the competencies and knowledge required to ensure sustainable innovation in Sustainable Tourism and Event Management initiatives.

Under the careful instruction of the ‘Conference des Grandes Ecoles’ programme certification criteria (France’s equivalent of the Ivy League in the US or the Russell Group in the UK), this innovative program gives students a visionary learning experience through practitioner and research led teaching.

Our 13-month program is taught 100% in English and includes a 4-month internship. Students will participate in a local field trip in teaching block 1 and will go to a European destination in teaching block 4.

The 4 teaching blocks will take students through the following activities :

• Mastering the challenges of sustainable business models, and the transformation of company culture, to develop a more circular approach within the tourism sector;
• Participation in the design of integrated and innovative solutions for services and tourist travel packages by adapting material resources and developing the company’s intangible resources (employee skills, trust, occupational health, organisational relevance);
• Developing cooperation between responsible actors in the tourism value chain around a particular destination, including through the implementation of training for employees and stakeholders.
• Leading a complete internal and/or external project team involving all functions to design and implement a sustainable event;
• Participation in the creation of value for all stakeholders (internal and external) in destination or event management;
• Setting up systems for evaluating the company’s activities, particularly cooperation within the sector, and performance indicators based on the satisfaction of customers’ needs, on environmental and social impacts and on the territorial impact of a destination resort;
• Prospective monitoring of new sustainable economic models for a touristic destination.

GO TO ACTION ! A common project will take the students to a European destination, where they will be placed in a professional situation. A problematic will be defined by the managers of the establishment in collaboration with the educational team and during 10 days the students will take the position of consultants in order to study the theme and to provide a file including an audit, recommendations and a defense in front of the professional and academic jury.

You can discover all the courses by downloading our brochure!

ADMISSION PROCESS

This program runs from October each year as of October 2025.

The candidate must:
• be finishing or have already completed a four-year degree (equivalent to 240 ECTS) in France or abroad
• have at least a B2 level in English (5.5 IELTS)

Applications will be received once all documents are submitted.
Applicants will also be invited to a personal interview online and in English, as part of the admission process.

Applications are evaluated as follows:

Native English speakers or candidates who have been studying in English for at least two years will be exempt from the English requirement. In this case, applications are evaluated as follows:

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Documents required for your application:

• Application file
• photocopy of identity document ;
• CV + cover letter ;
• photocopy of the baccalaureate or equivalent;
• any post-baccalaureate diplomas already obtained;
• all transcripts of grades obtained during the years of higher education;
• proof of English level B2 or English-speaking student or 2 years of courses 100% in English;
• letter of recommendation (professional or academic);
• application fee.

FEES

You can find the fees on this page.

Please note that for the December intake, Early bird rate is available for non-EU international students: 10% discount applicable to the year’s tuition fees if the complete application form is sent in and the tuition fees are paid before the end of July.

You have questions about the Early bird? Ask our team: join@esdes.fr  

FLYWIRE, POWERFUL GLOBAL PAYMENT NETWORK

Esdes Business School has partnered with Flywire to accept payments from international students worldwide.

You can easily pay your tuition and fees online: Flywire provides a secure global payment network that simplifies paying your fees from your home country and countries around the world.

Payment options can include bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets and more, typically in your home currency for most countries.

Check out how it works 

Available for non E.U international students : Discover more

Scholarship avalaible : click here to get a scholarship

Do you have a question about Esdes? Contact us!

The international recruitment team will answer you as soon as possible

Find out more?

Ask our students!

What is sustainable tourism and event management ?

The tourism sector provides an important source of revenue and employment for many countries worldwide. In France alone, the tourism sector represents 9% of national wealth and more than a million jobs. Up until 2020, tourism enjoyed exponential growth as tourists benefited from the democratisation of global travel and a wide range of hospitality packages on offer.

However, the sector was strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and witnessed a severe drop in the number of foreign tourists, a massive reduction in travel and a repositioning of investments.

Sustainable tourism refers to a form of tourism that takes into account the social, economic, and environmental impacts of travel on the destinations visited, and aims to minimize negative impacts while maximizing benefits for local communities, economies, and the environment.

Sustainable tourism seeks to balance the needs and interests of tourists with those of local residents, so that tourism can contribute to the sustainable development of a destination. It involves promoting responsible travel behavior, such as reducing waste and energy consumption, supporting local businesses, and respecting local cultures and traditions.

Sustainable tourism can take many forms, including ecotourism, cultural tourism, adventure tourism, and community-based tourism. Examples of sustainable tourism practices include the use of renewable energy, conservation of natural and cultural resources, and support for local livelihoods and economies.

Overall, sustainable tourism aims to create a positive impact on both the destination and the traveler, by promoting responsible travel practices and ensuring the long-term viability of tourism as a means of economic development.

Why sustainable tourism is important ?

Sustainable tourism is important for several reasons:

• Environmental Conservation: Tourism can have significant negative impacts on the natural environment, such as pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction. Sustainable tourism aims to minimize these impacts by promoting responsible travel practices and supporting the conservation of natural resources.
• Economic Development: Tourism can be an important source of income for local communities, particularly in developing countries. Sustainable tourism seeks to ensure that tourism benefits local economies by supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and promoting local cultures and traditions.
• Social Responsibility: Tourism can also have negative social impacts, such as displacement of local communities and cultural homogenization. Sustainable tourism promotes social responsibility by ensuring that tourism development is carried out in consultation with local communities and respects their rights and traditions.
• Climate Change: The tourism industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. Sustainable tourism seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of tourism by promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation.
• Reputation: Increasingly, consumers are seeking out sustainable travel options and are willing to pay a premium for responsible and sustainable tourism experiences. Businesses that adopt sustainable tourism practices can enhance their reputation, attract environmentally and socially conscious travelers, and benefit financially.

Overall, sustainable tourism is important because it promotes responsible and sustainable tourism practices that benefit the environment, local communities, and the tourism industry itself.

What are the opportunities after an MSC in sustainable tourism and event management? 

An MSC in sustainable tourism and event management can lead to a variety of career opportunities in the sustainable tourism and event management sectors. Here are some examples:

1. Sustainable Tourism Development: Graduates may work in roles such as tourism planners, consultants, or project managers, focusing on developing sustainable tourism strategies for destinations.
2. Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism: Graduates may work in the growing field of ecotourism or adventure tourism, designing and implementing sustainable and responsible travel experiences.
3. Events Management: Graduates may work in events management, organizing sustainable events that minimize waste and promote environmental and social responsibility.
4. Hospitality and Hotel Management: Graduates may work in sustainable hospitality and hotel management, developing sustainable and eco-friendly practices and operations.
5. Corporate Social Responsibility: Graduates may work in corporate social responsibility (CSR), advising companies on sustainable tourism and event management practices, and designing and implementing CSR initiatives.
6. Environmental Conservation: Graduates may work in environmental conservation organizations, promoting sustainable tourism practices that protect the natural environment and wildlife.
7. Research and Academia: Graduates may pursue further studies or research in sustainable tourism and event management, or work as academics, teaching and conducting research in the field.

Overall, an MSC in sustainable tourism and event management can provide a solid foundation for a career in a growing field with many exciting and rewarding opportunities.

Why study sustainable tourism and event management at Esdes Business School in Annecy?

Esdes offers students the possibility to study an MSc in Sustainable Tourism and Event management on its prestigious campus in Annecy, conveniently located near Switzerland and the French Alps. This is a strategic and pertinent choice for the school as it allows students to integrate a study program in the heart of a touristic region that is directly facing the challenges that climate change has imposed.  The economic model for the Alps is based on snow.  However, the ski seasons are witnessing shorter seasons and many smaller resorts are forced to open later in the season and close earlier due to the lack of snow. Resorts are therefore turning to new initiatives in tourism that bring to the fore the natural beauty of this region all year round, allowing tourists to enjoy new activities and environments, whilst reducing the carbon footprints of the sector.

Esdes has therefore prioritised its collaboration with a number of key stakeholders in the region to enable students to benefit from a hands-on professional approach and allow them to develop a qualified and relevant network. The combination of practitioner led and research led teaching also allows students to discover the challenges that the tourism sector faces and as well as the key concepts related to sustainable tourism and event management. This will help students to:

• Optimise natural resources which are strategic to sustainable tourism and responsible event management
• Respect socio-cultural authenticity of host communities and contribute to intercultural tolerance
• Guarantee economic returns from tourism and event management, whilst offering all stakeholders socio-economic benefits which are fairly distributed, with job opportunities and sustainable incomes for host communities and other hospitality organisations, as well as contribute to the reduction in poverty