Tourism Management

For Victoria Koutstaal, recreation is more than just fun and games.

“Recreation is community-based and community-building,” she says. “Socialization and our passions are a huge part of our identity as individuals. Without recreation, we have a really difficult – if not impossible – time being healthy, well-rounded human beings. It’s so vital to people’s mental health.”

What began as a typical day for Lucas Gamp turned out to be anything but.

Last fall we spent 19 days travelling throughout Aotearoa New Zealand’s South Island with the World Leisure Centre of Excellence at VIU. All students were supported with various levels of funding from Global Skills Opportunity Travel Grants, allowing for more freedom in choosing activities throughout the trip. We visited many places including Otautahi Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Te Anau and Ōtepoti-Dunedin.

Ted Nathanson is currently the manager of Wildplay in Nanaimo, a position he has held since February 2019. His journey to this position began when Ted decided to enroll in VIU’s Tourism Management program.

Here’s what he says about his working at Wildplay and how VIU helped prepare him for it.

It took Emily McComb half a year to find her fit at Vancouver Island University. After spending a semester exploring a nursing career, she made the switch to tourism management – a decision she’s never regretted now that she’s thriving as a sports management professional. Emily graduated from VIU in 2021 with a Bachelor of Tourism Management degree, as well as a diploma in Sports and Recreation Management and a certificate in Event Management.

Liette Masse graduated from the Bachelor of Tourism Management program in 2019. She came back as a mature student because she wanted an undergraduate degree on her resumé to complement her extensive work experience. She now works as Manager of Donor and Alumni Relations at VIU.