PROGRAM DETAIL
Degree Granted: D.T.H.M.
Qualification Framework: Level 9
Program Duration: 3 Academic Year
Program Level: Postgraduate
Program Entry: Regular / RPEL
Program Credits: 60 SCU / 60 SCH / 120 ECTS
Mode of Study: Distance Learning
Mode of Learning: Self-Paced with Structured Learning Phases
Mode of Assessment: Quiz, Assignment, Doctoral Project / Dissertation / Publication
Language: English
Location: Asynchronous
Total Tuition Fee: $32.000
Scholarships: Up to 90%
Start Date: Anytime
Student Support: 24/7
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Doctorate of Tourism and Hospitality Management (DTHM) at Enigma Business School is an advanced doctoral program designed for senior professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, academics, consultants, policymakers, and industry leaders seeking to advance knowledge and practice in the increasingly complex global tourism and hospitality sector.
The program integrates tourism management, hospitality management, destination development, service management, consumer experience, sustainability, technology, and strategic leadership to examine the economic, organizational, social, cultural, and technological forces shaping contemporary tourism and hospitality. Rather than focusing solely on operational hospitality practices, the DTHM approaches tourism and hospitality as complex and interconnected systems.
Delivered through a flexible distance learning and self-paced model, the DTHM enables experienced professionals and scholars to undertake doctoral-level study while remaining actively engaged in tourism, hospitality, travel, destination, or related professional environments.
Program Objectives
The DTHM program aims to:
- Develop doctoral-level expertise in tourism and hospitality management
- Strengthen strategic and systems thinking across tourism and hospitality ecosystems
- Advance evidence-based approaches to destination, hospitality, and tourism development
- Enable candidates to conduct rigorous applied research addressing complex industry challenges
- Generate original knowledge that contributes to tourism and hospitality practice, policy, and scholarship
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the DTHM program, graduates will be able to:
- Critically analyze complex tourism and hospitality systems and industry challenges
- Integrate advanced management theories with tourism and hospitality practice
- Design and evaluate strategies for destination competitiveness and hospitality excellence
- Apply advanced research methods to tourism, hospitality, visitor, and destination studies
- Generate original insights that contribute to industry practice, policy, or academic knowledge
Candidate Profile
This program is designed for:
- Senior tourism and hospitality executives
- Hotel, resort, restaurant, and travel industry leaders
- Destination management professionals
- Tourism entrepreneurs and business owners
- Tourism consultants and strategic advisors
- Government and tourism policy professionals
- Academics and researchers in tourism and hospitality
- Professionals seeking doctoral-level expertise in tourism and hospitality management
Why Choose This Program?
- Specialized doctoral degree focused on tourism and hospitality management
- Integration of tourism, hospitality, strategy, sustainability, and technology
- Strong emphasis on real-world industry challenges and applied research
- Flexible self-paced distance learning for senior professionals
- Multiple doctoral completion pathways
- Internationally oriented curriculum suitable for a global tourism industry
- AI-supported research and academic learning environment
- Internationally accredited program
- ISO-certified institution
- Global recognition and degree verification
Program Structure
The DTHM program requires completion of 60 credits, typically over 3 years, structured through progressive Doctoral Learning Phases.
The curriculum is composed of:
- Core Doctoral Courses: 42 credits
- Specialization and Doctoral Completion Pathway: 18 credits
The program begins with broad doctoral-level foundations in tourism and hospitality management before progressing toward specialized inquiry and doctoral-level knowledge contribution.
Doctoral Learning Phase Framework
Phase 1: Advanced Foundations of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Phase 2: Strategic Tourism, Hospitality, and Destination Management
Phase 3: Applied Research and Industry Impact
Phase 4: Specialization and Doctoral Completion
Curriculum and Syllabus
Core Doctoral Courses (42 Credits)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Advanced Tourism and Hospitality Management Theory | 4 |
| Tourism Systems, Destinations, and Global Tourism Development | 4 |
| Strategic Hospitality Management and Service Excellence | 4 |
| Tourism Economics, Policy, and Governance | 4 |
| Advanced Research Methods in Tourism and Hospitality Studies | 4 |
| Visitor Behavior, Experience, and Consumer Psychology | 4 |
| Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Development | 4 |
| Digital Transformation and Technology in Tourism and Hospitality | 3 |
| Tourism Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Business Models | 3 |
| Doctoral Seminar in Tourism and Hospitality Management | 4 |
| Total Core Credits | 42 |
Credit weight reflects the depth, complexity, interdisciplinary scope, and doctoral-level learning outcomes of each course.
Specialization and Doctoral Completion Pathway (18 Credits)
Candidates undertake focused doctoral study within a selected specialization and complete one approved doctoral pathway.
Option 1: Doctoral Dissertation
- Dissertation Proposal and Defense: 6 credits
- Tourism and Hospitality Research and Dissertation Writing: 12 credits
Option 2: Doctoral Project
- Doctoral Project Proposal: 6 credits
- Strategic Tourism or Hospitality Intervention and Impact Evaluation: 12 credits
Option 3: Publication-Based Doctorate
- Doctoral Research and Publication Strategy: 6 credits
- Peer-Reviewed or Professional Tourism and Hospitality Publication Portfolio: 12 credits
Specializations
Available specializations may include:
- Strategic Tourism Management and Destination Competitiveness
- Hotel and Hospitality Management
- ustainable Tourism and Hospitality
- Tourism Marketing and Visitor Experience
- Digital Tourism and Hospitality Technology
- ourism Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- nternational Tourism and Global Travel Management
- Tourism Policy, Governance, and Development
- Luxury Hospitality and Experience Management
- Tourism Human Capital and Service Leadership
Specializations may be periodically expanded or revised in response to emerging developments within the global tourism and hospitality industry.
Learning Methodology
- Self-paced doctoral study
- Modular digital learning resources
- Advanced doctoral seminars and scholarly colloquia
- One-on-one academic supervision and mentoring
- Tourism and hospitality case analysis
- Destination and organizational diagnostics
- Applied industry inquiry and independent research
- AI-supported research, literature analysis, data interpretation, and academic writing
Each structured Course consists of 12 Modules, while doctoral research and completion activities are conducted through dedicated research milestones and academic supervision.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Master’s degree or equivalent qualification
- Professional, managerial, entrepreneurial, academic, or research experience in tourism, hospitality, business, management, or a related field is recommended
- Demonstrated capacity for doctoral-level study and independent inquiry
- English proficiency suitable for advanced academic research
- Eligibility for RPEL and equivalency assessment may apply
Admissions Process
- Online doctoral application submission
- Academic and professional document review
- Review of research interests and doctoral readiness
- Academic assessment where applicable
- Approval by the Academic Office and Academic Council
- Enrollment confirmation and doctoral onboarding
Admissions operate under a Rolling Admission System.
Assessment and Evaluation Method
Assessment is designed around doctoral-level academic rigor and emphasizes critical analysis, interdisciplinary integration, research competence, strategic thinking, and applied industry impact.
Assessment methods include:
- Module-based quizzes
- Advanced analytical and written assignments
- Tourism and hospitality case analysis
- Destination and organizational assessments
- Research proposals and doctoral milestones
- Dissertation, doctoral project, or publication portfolio
- Oral defense or formal doctoral evaluation
Completion Requirements
To be awarded the DTHM degree, candidates must:
- Successfully complete all required courses and credits
- Fulfill all doctoral research and academic milestones
- Successfully complete one approved doctoral completion pathway
- Demonstrate an original contribution to tourism and hospitality knowledge or practice
- Comply with academic integrity, research ethics, and institutional requirements
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the DTHM program are prepared for advanced roles such as:
- Chief Executive Officer of Tourism or Hospitality Organizations
- Hotel or Resort Group Executive
- Chief Tourism Strategy Officer
- Destination Management Executive
- Tourism Development Consultant
- Hospitality and Tourism Strategy Consultant
- Tourism Policy Advisor
- Sustainable Tourism Development Specialist
- Tourism Innovation and Digital Transformation Leader
- University Professor or Lecturer
- Tourism Research Director
- International Tourism Development Advisor
- Hospitality Entrepreneur
- Board-Level Tourism and Hospitality Advisor
International Accreditation and Global Recognition
The Doctorate of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Enigma Business School is internationally accredited by SEAAC (South East Asian Accreditation Council), ICDLA (International Commission for Distance Learning Accreditation), EDLC (European Distance Learning Commission), GABDE (Global Accreditation Board for Distance Education), and IAHRM (International Association of Human Resources Management). All of these institutions are highly respected accreditation bodies in ASEAN, EU and the USA.
Program Notes
The Doctorate of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Enigma Business School represents a globally oriented, interdisciplinary, and applied doctoral program that integrates tourism, hospitality, destination management, sustainability, technology, consumer experience, and strategic leadership. The program is designed to equip experienced professionals and scholars with the intellectual capability to address complex challenges and generate meaningful contributions to one of the world’s most dynamic and interconnected service industries.
Program Director,
Doctorate of Tourism and Hospitality Management (DTHM)