Tourism and gastronomy degrees
Tourism, gastronomy, hospitality, pastry, event planning, oenology and several more: they are studied at universities and institutes throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
If you like cooking for your friends, planning trips and outings, organizing the class party or talking to people from other places, there are studies that start from what you already do.
What tourism and gastronomy degrees have in common
Almost all of them have to do with welcoming and serving people: those who travel, those who stay, those who eat, those who attend an event. In the cooking ones there is a lot of practice: you prepare dishes and learn technique; in the tourism and hospitality ones you study how a trip, a hotel or a destination is organized, and you work on dealing with people from different cultures.
In several of them there is also a management component: planning, coordinating teams and thinking about how those who arrive feel. Some degrees focus more on the creative side (a dish, a dessert, an event) and others on the organizational side (a hotel, an agency, a restaurant).
The title, duration and type of institution change from one country to another and from one institution to another. Always check the specific program before enrolling.
The tourism and gastronomy degrees
Some focus on traveling and welcoming tourists, like Tourism; others on cooking and drinks, like Gastronomy or Pastry; and others on hotels, events or onboard service on a plane.
Where to study tourism and gastronomy
Centro Internacional de Estudios Superiores de Administración y Desarrollo Empresarial (CESAE)Madrid · PrivateHospitalityTourismGastronomyPastrySommelier
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC)Mexicali · PublicHotel ManagementTourismGastronomyWinemaking
Grupo Educativo Perito Moreno (GEPM)Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos AiresTourismHospitalityEvent Planning
Instituto Superior en Enseñanza Hotelero Gastronómica (ISEHG)Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires · PrivateHotel ManagementGastronomyPastry
IUBH University of Applied Sciences (IUBH)Bad Honnef · PrivateEvent PlanningTourismHotel Management
Mausi Sebess Escuela de CocinaVicente López · PrivatePastryGastronomySommelier
Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI)Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires · PrivateHospitalityTourismEvent Planning
Universidad Anáhuac Cancún (UAC)Cancún · PrivateTourismHotel AdministrationGastronomyHow to choose between them
Pay attention to what you do when no one asks you to: if you cook or bake at home, if you are the one who organizes the plan when you go out as a group, if you like making others feel comfortable, if you are interested in other languages and other cultures. Those interests point to cooking, organizing or dealing with people.
Then ask yourself which side you prefer to be on: in the kitchen, creating what others are going to eat; in organization, making a trip, a hotel or an event work; or in a more specific specialty, like wine in Sommelier or Oenology.
If you are drawn to working in contact with passengers, like in Passenger Cabin Crew Member or Onboard Purser, also look at the aviation and transportation degrees.
If you are torn between Tourism and Event Planning, compare the subjects in each profile, how long it lasts and which institution offers it near you. The career test also compares your answers with these degrees.
To read before choosing
Frequently asked questions
How long do tourism and gastronomy degrees last?
Pastry, Sommelier and Passenger Cabin Crew are short programs; Event Planning is in the middle, and Tourism, Gastronomy, Oenology and hospitality degrees are longer university degrees.
Do I need to know how to cook before studying gastronomy?
You don't need to be an expert. What matters is the willingness to practice, to learn technique and to work with other people in a demanding environment. Check the admission requirements of each institution.
Is Tourism just about traveling?
No. Studying Tourism is learning to plan trips and destinations, assist visitors and manage services. Traveling can be part of your day-to-day in some jobs, but the degree is mostly about organizing and providing service.
What is the difference between Hospitality and Hotel Management?
Names vary by institution and country, and so does the content. Look at each program's curriculum to see if it focuses more on guest service or hotel administration.
Can they be studied online?
It depends on the program and the institution. The cooking parts usually require in-person practice. Check the format of the program you are interested in.