Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism

Increasingly, travelers are interested in authentic experiences that will allow them to witness firsthand the lives and traditions of indigenous people. And for these communities, which are often marginalized and struggling to find alternative ways to increase their livelihoods, tourism can provide an economic incentive to sustainably maintain their cultural and natural resources while fostering a sense of cultural pride.

Our program is designed to provide tourism entrepreneurs and community leaders with the tools to identify and develop the assets that would most appeal to tourists, from cooking and crafts workshops to nature walks to historical sites.

The Professional Certificate in Cultural Tourism is designed to be a self-managed process that allows participants to learn the content and complete the requirements at their own pace.

What Can You Expect to Gain from the Cultural Heritage Tourism Certificate Program?

  • Develop an understanding of trends in cultural heritage and native tourism
  • Learn best options and approaches for managing tourism at the community level
  • An understanding of how to conduct a comprehensive tourism assessment and evaluate the potential of cultural heritage tourism for your community
  • The tools needed to introduce cultural heritage tourism to your community and to plan for its adoption and growth

 

Is the program right for you? Cultural Heritage Tourism is an ideal program for you if you are…

  • Involved in tourism, including tribal hospitality and gaming
  • Responsible for economic and cultural development, including planning or tribal heritage preservation for your community
  • Thinking about starting a native-owned tourism enterprise
  • Working within the tourism field and interested in learning more about cultural heritage tourism specifically
  • Working in the tourism sector and specifically charged with interacting with native tourism stakeholders, including hotels, casinos and cultural centers

Click here to apply to the program

 

Cultural Heritage Tourism Certificate Requirements

The Cultural Heritage Tourism Certificate Program is designed to be flexible and meet the various needs of individuals interested in professional development and career advancement.  To earn a certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism from The George Washington University School of Business, students must successfully meet the following requirements:

The Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism program is comprised of six courses. One course is scheduled per week during two three-week blocks with a week break in the middle. Each course typically includes readings, tourism lectures and presentation modules. Participants are required to complete a written assignment at the end of each course.Upon successful completion of the six courses, students receive a Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism from The George Washington University School of Business. This is a non-credit, non-degree program.

Tips for Success:

  • Set aside 6-8 hours of study per week for each course
  • Plan to self-manage your time: this online certificate program is designed to learn the content at your own pace
  • Complete your weekly assignments including the lecture, readings and discussion boards to successfully complete the mastery exam at the end of the week

Admissions

To be admitted to the Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism program, students must have completed the equivalent of a high school diploma. International students not proficient in English must have a TOEFL PBT score of 600 or a TOEFL CBT score of 100.

Registration

The next program will be held from September 30 to November 17, 2019. Please register here for the program. For all inquiries, questions, or to receive updates on the program, please email [email protected].

Program Fees & Financial Aid

Program Fees with AIANTA membership: $2,725

Program Fees without AIANTA membership: $2,775

Because the Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism is a non-credit, non-degree program, federally funded student loan programs are not available, and the program is not eligible for deferment of such loans.

Graduation Requirements

 

The Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism program is comprised of six core courses. One course is scheduled per week during a six-week block. Each course typically consists of a recorded main lecture, required readings, scheduled guest lectures, and discussion forums. Participants are required to complete a mastery exam at the end of each course. The mastery exam may be completed from the comfort of your home or office.

Upon successful completion of the six courses, students receive a Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism from The George Washington University School of Business. This is a non-degree program.

IMPORTANT POLICIES

Extension & Reinstatement Policy

The Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism is offered in two three-week blocks (6 courses total) with a week break in the middle. If for any reason during the program you require an extension, you may submit a letter of explanation to [email protected]. Program staff will review your request and determine if the extension request will be granted. You can only receive one extension for a maximum of six weeks.

Refund Policy

If a student withdraws from the Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism program thirty days before the start date, refund is 100% of tuition minus a $100 withdrawal fee. If a student withdraws from the program within fifteen days of the start date, no refund is granted. A student who withdraws between the thirty- and fifteen-day period will either receive a full credit to the program the following year or a 50% refund.

Financial Obligation

All financial obligations to the George Washington University must be met in order to receive a certificate.

Courses

The Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism program is comprised of six core courses. One course is scheduled per week during two three-week blocks with a week break in the middle. Each course typically consists of readings, lectures and presentation modules. Participants are required to complete a written assignment at the end of each course.

Upon successful completion of the six courses, students receive a Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism from The George Washington University School of Business. This is a non-degree bearing program.

Representative courses listed below are subject to change.

This course examines the range of cultural heritage assets that can help to attract and engage visitors and drive economic development and cultural preservation. The curriculum covers best practices for effective community-based participatory planning, management and shared stewardship, which are all components of successful cultural heritage tourism.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Develop cultural heritage resources as tourism attractions

  • Link cultural heritage tourism and economic development

  • Use collaborative techniques to ensure community objectives and heritage preservation goals are served

  • Conduct a resource assessment

  • Facilitate community participation in developing a community-based cultural heritage tourism planning process

  • Market cultural heritage-related tourism services

  • Create strategic partnerships for funding and resources

The rapid growth of tourism worldwide has created many challenges and opportunities for established and emerging destinations. This course focuses on conducting destination assessments to evaluate tourism potential and the costs and benefits of a sustainable tourism development program.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Use sustainable tourism to expand economic development and to improve the quality of life for a tourism destination

  • Develop a sustainable community leadership model

  • Compile visitor profiles and economic impact data

  • Survey resident attitudes regarding tourism and its sustainable development

  • Assess tourism potential using a demand-driven marketing approach

  • Conduct a preliminary competitive-advantage analysis, using attraction and facility inventory techniques

  • Identify potential projects that contribute to economic development or investment promotion goals

Participants are introduced to the issues and challenges involved in community-based tourism and learn the steps for planning and implementing their own program.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Understand the concept, principles, and aims of CBT

  • Identify the various actors involved in CBT, and the critical importance of participation when developing and implementing a CBT venture

  • Lead the planning and implementation stages of a CBT venture

  • Anticipate the positive and negative impacts, and challenges of CBT

This course covers the strategic and critical role that marketing plays in tourism development and introduces basic promotional techniques that can help to effectively sell a new or existing tourism product or destination.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Identify effective marketing strategies for tourism businesses, service providers, and destinations

  • Link competitive tourism product offerings to relevant markets

  • Understand contemporary traveler behavior and facilitate competitive travel experiences

This course covers the importance of outstanding customer relations in the hospitality industry and several strategies that can be used to deliver that level of service.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Refine their customer service approaches

  • Put a special touch on hosting activities with all customers

  • Apply different strategies to deliver high level of service

The focus here is on professional meeting and event management, including industry best practices around research, design, planning, coordination and evaluation.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Structure and manage an event planning schedule to improve profitability

  • Conduct comprehensive needs assessments and feasibility studies

  • Identify and prioritize event goals and objectives

  • Identify all potential challenges to a successful event and choose appropriate solutions by using efficient planning scenarios

  • Conduct mid- and post-event evaluations

  • Create and present proposals and agreements that are advantageous to all parties of an event

  • Appreciate the rewards of being in the Event Management profession