School for the Visitor Economy

The School for the Visitor Economy is a cross-university school providing the local and international hospitality, tourism and event management industries with qualified professionals.

We deliver industry-based programs across all qualification levels, from pre-vocational certificates through to PhDs. We also offer customised accredited training programs designed to meet the specific needs of businesses within the sector. Our courses in hospitality, tourism and event management allow you to build pathways across VU's other offerings related to visitor economy needs, such as food science, transport and logistics, management and marketing, sports management, our prestigious MBA program and many more.

Our courses are informed by key industry partnerships. We work with our many partners to provide you with hands-on experience so you graduate with a professional network and key industry knowledge.

VU Polytechnic's Visitor Economy Work Ready Program - Transcript

Top 3%

In the world

Victoria University is ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide (THE World University Rankings).

Hands-on experience

Work integrated learning gives you practical industry experience while you study.

Award-winning model

VU Block Model® won the Victorian International Education Awards 2018, university category

Industry connections

The School works with a high level industry advisory panel and industry partners to make sure our training, education and research is closely aligned with industry needs. You will have access to work integrated learning opportunities, which will ensure you gain hands-on professional work experience and graduate job-ready.

You will join a large network of alumni, industry partners and tourism researchers you can stay connected with after graduation.

Our hospitality students can also access Victoria University Polytechnic's award-winning 150-seat training restaurant, VenU. There, you will be able to practise your skills in a live environment with paying customers.

VU also has strong research capabilities, with the cross-disciplinary expertise to respond to future industry challenges and developments with evidence-based solutions.

Recruiting staff through VU work placements

We're looking at VU to produce the best of breed and for us to be exposed to the talent that's coming through VU.

Amanda Wilson — School for the Visitor Economy

Amanda's story

The program gave me invaluable industry experience and taught me more than I could have ever learned in a classroom.

Anthony Renehan — Bachelor of Business (Hospitality Management)

Anthony's story

The career of a lifetime at the happiest place on earth

I loved every minute of my time at VU. The staff wanted us to do well not just in our studies, but also in life.

Tim McCann — Bachelor of Business (Tourism & Hospitality Management)

Read Tim's story

Courses we offer

You can study a wide range of courses, from certificate and diplomas all the way through to masters degrees and PhDs.

We offer a range of study areas, including:

hospitality
commercial cookery
travel and tourism
event management
business.

Our courses enable you to pathway seamlessly between vocational education units at Victoria University Polytechnic and tertiary courses at Victoria University. You can re-enter education at any point in your career to top-up your skills or qualify for promotion.

If you're a student interested in studying one of the School for the Visitor Economy courses:

browse our course range
visit the course page, where you can find out more, apply or submit an enquiry
read our blog post that breaks down 8 skills that will help you succeed in hospitality, tourism and events.

Browse our courses

Research

The School undertakes and facilitates cross-disciplinary research within the Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities. Our research underpins growth and sustainability in tourism destinations and visitor-economy–related businesses.

Our strong industry links and partnerships allow our researchers to respond nimbly to industry problems and evolving opportunities.

Key current research themes include:

tourism and the green economy and planetary health
tourism risk and recovery
tourism economics
tourism marketing
wellness tourism
events management and evaluation.

School leadership

Dr Joanne Pyke, Director School for the Visitor Economy
Professor Terry DeLacy, Professor Sustainable Tourism
Professor Stephen Gray, Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities
Associate Professor Romana Garma, Deputy Dean, Victoria University Business School

Research & academic staff

Dr Khandakar Ahmed, Lecturer, Information Technology
Dr Chitra DeSilva, Senior Lecturer, Victoria University Business School
Dr Colin Drake, Senior Lecturer, Victoria University Business School
Dr Ancy Gamage, Lecturer, Victoria University Business School
Alexandra Law
Dr Ranjith Ihalanayake, Senior Lecturer, Victoria University Business School
Dr Catherine Lou, Lecturer and Research Fellow
Dr David Marsden, Lecturer, College of Sport and Exercise Science
Dr Riccardo Natoli, Senior Lecturer, Victoria University Business School
Dr Thu-Huong Nguyen, Lecturer, Victoria University Business School
Dr Maria Prokofieva, Senior Lecturer, Victoria University Business School
Dr Eric Schwarz, Chair, Postgraduate Courses in Sport Business and Integrity
Dr Michael Linley, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Health and Sport

Adjunct professors & associates

Professorial Fellow Brian King, Research and Teaching Area: Hospitality & Hotel Management, Tourism Management
Professor Stephen Burgess
Adjunct Professor Geoffrey Lipman
Professor Michael McGrath, Professor, Information Systems
Associate Professor Martin Roberston, Adjunct Associate Professor, Victoria University Business School

PhD students

Following is a sample list of current PhD students and topics.

Mshari Adnan M Aljabr - Mobile Marketing Effects on Customer Restaurant Selection in Saudi Arabia
Mila Arden - Discourse Analysis of the New Colombo Plan funded Australian Outbound Student Mobility Programs
Anna Bosco - The Principles of Modern Cocktail Culture can offer a behavioral Blueprint for Hospitality and Tourism that encourages multicultural tolerance and sustainability in Australia and across the Globe
Claudio Calero - Forecasting Australian Regional Tourism Competitiveness
Anu George - Is the Implementation of Responsible Tourism Initiatives Achieving Green Growth Objectives: A Case Study in Kerala, India
Li He – An Integrated Framework of Tourism Development and Residents’ Quality of Life in Tourism Destinations in Transition in China: A case study of Yangshuo, Guangxi Province
Thi Bich Van Luu - Emotional contagion in Tourism Experiences: Scale Development and Testing
Bich Tien Ma - Exploring residents' attitudes and behavioural support for cruise tourism: A case study Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC), Vietnam
Pir Owners - The diffusion of a sustainable tourism-green economy strategy in a tourism destination: A case study of Wakatobi Islands, Indonesia
Roopa Sreedhar - Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals: a case study of Karnataka, India
Anudhi Tillekeratne - Impact of cultural blindness of short-term volunteer tourists in Sri Lankan host communities

Building the resilience of tourism destinations

Dr Joanne Pyke's team has completed research into the resilience of tourism destinations and communities. Read about the project and download the reports.

RESET Reports

The Resilient Enterprises & Sustainable Employment in Tourism (RESET) project aims to support the recovery and transformation of the visitor economy in Melbourne’s west following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In collaboration with key industry partners, RESET will develop training for Western Melbourne tourism businesses, guided by an assessment of skills and capability gaps in the area.

Resilient Enterprises & Sustainable Employment in Tourism (RESET) reports

Australia-ASEAN Visitor Economy Supply Chain Network

The Australia-ASEAN New Normal for the Visitor Economy Supply Chain project aims to develop collaborative networks between ASEAN countries, to create a sustainable ‘new normal’ for the visitor economy supply chain.

Three events will be held to support the creation of a virtual community, to share and discuss on the impacts of COVID-19 and recovery strategies. These events aim to strengthen international collaboration between Australia and ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia-ASEAN Council (AAC), the project includes:

two webinars
a face-to-face workshop (to be held June 2023 in Malaysia).

The project will support industry recovery and identify resilience building strategies, through a collaborative network.

Project team

VU research team

Key collaborators

Assistant Professor Dr Wanamina Bostan Ali
- Assistant Dean of Organization Development (Public Relations and International Relations Department), Director of MBA International Program, Assistant Professor of Business Administration Department, Faculty of Management Sciences Prince of Songkla University, and Coordinator for Southern MICE Academic Cluster
Ms Maheswary Subramani
- Coordinator Supply Chain Logistics Management & Management Innovation, Lecturer Sunway Education Group, Registered Training Provider by HRD Corp
Dr Le Minh Thanh
- Dean, Faculty of Tourism, Van Lang University. Vice Chairman, Chapter of Hospitality & Tourism; Association of Vietnam Universities and Colleges (AVU&C)
Ms Belinda Rimbo
- Education Services Director of the Victorian Government Trade & Investment Office, Indonesia.

Supporting partners

Australia

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia
Victoria Tourism Industry Council
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Women in Logistics and Transport.

Thailand

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau
Songkhla Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

Malaysia

Sunway Education Group
Wisdom Woods Training Centre
Association of Tourism Attractions Penang
AME Training Academy.

Vietnam

Southern Airport Services Company.

Indonesia

Association of the Indonesian Tourism Tertiary Education Institutions.

Webinars

Webinar 1: How has the visitor economy supply chain been impacted by COVID-19
- Download the Webinar 1 brochure

Webinar 2: Digital transformation for resilience
- Download the Webinar 2 brochure
Workshop 3: Australia-ASEAN Diverse Engagement and leadership in ‘New Normal’ Visitor Economy Supply Chain
TBA.