Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Fachschule) für Tourismus/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft

This advanced training takes place at vocational colleges (Fachschule) and other educational institutions. Learning locations include classrooms and computer rooms.

The profession is an advanced training profession: Bachelor Professional. The type of advanced training is regulated by state law (landesrechtlich) and conducted at vocational colleges (Fachschule). The training duration is 2-4 years (full-time/part-time). Tasks and activities: Business administrators (Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin) for tourism undertake organizational, commercial, and business management tasks in companies within the tourism industry. They develop concepts for travel, entertainment, and leisure programs based on calculations, market, and demand analyses. They also plan advertising and sales measures. Furthermore, they inform themselves about legal, health, and political regulations or risks of the respective travel countries and conduct on-site research. They are active in travel agency services and may also work as tour guides themselves. Work areas and locations: Business administrators (Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin) for tourism are primarily employed in travel agencies, with tour operators, and in larger hotels.

Full-time training lasts 2 years, while part-time training lasts 3-4 years.

Distribution of hours (example): Mandatory area, interdisciplinary learning area: Vocational and work pedagogy: 40 teaching hours, German/Communication: 120 teaching hours, Foreign language: 240 teaching hours, Social studies: 80 teaching hours, Corporate management: 120 teaching hours. Total interdisciplinary learning area: 600 teaching hours. Subject-specific learning area: Business administration: 160 teaching hours, Financing/Controlling: 120 teaching hours, Tourism management: 120 teaching hours, Geography: 160 teaching hours, Informatics: 160 teaching hours, Marketing: 160 teaching hours, Mathematics: 200 teaching hours, Accounting: 160 teaching hours, Law: 160 teaching hours, Tax theory: 80 teaching hours, Tourism economics: 120 teaching hours, Economics: 160 teaching hours, Second foreign language: 160 teaching hours, Project work: 160 teaching hours. Total subject-specific learning area: 2,080 teaching hours.

Advanced training at state vocational colleges (Fachschule) is generally free of charge. Private vocational colleges (Fachschule) usually charge course fees, and sometimes admission and examination fees. Additional costs may arise, for example, for: work materials, travel to the training location, external accommodation. Funding opportunities: Advanced training at vocational colleges (Fachschule) can be financially supported according to the Advanced Training Promotion Act (Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz). Further information: Aufstiegs-BAföG - Promotion for Advancement. Funding for particularly talented young professionals: Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB) - Further Education Scholarship.

Learning areas: Subject-specific, e.g.: Business administration, tourism management, financing/controlling, geography, law, marketing, tourism economics. Interdisciplinary, e.g.: German/communication, foreign language, social studies, corporate management. Additional knowledge: Schools may also provide additional knowledge that enables the acquisition of trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung) or university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife).

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully passing the advanced training examination: Economics/Law, for example, to be able to make financial decisions; Arithmetic/Mathematics, for example, to calculate travel offers; Geography, for example, to apply geographical knowledge in customer consulting; Foreign languages, for example, in contact with tourism companies abroad.

The advanced training consists of theoretical and practical lessons. Depending on the educational offer, one should be prepared for the following conditions: Full-time lessons typically involve full-day classes on at least four weekdays. Part-time lessons are usually career-accompanying, taking place on weekends or in the evenings. The learning format is generally in-person, with classes held in a classroom setting at the educational institution (which may not be in the place of residence).

There are various possibilities for advanced training abroad. For example, in Austria, advanced training offers can be found via AMS - Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich - Weiterbildungsdatenbank (Austrian Public Employment Service - Advanced Training Database) using search terms like 'Tourismusmanagement' (Tourism Management). In Switzerland, offers can be found via wab - Die Weiterbildungsdatenbank der Schweiz (The Swiss Advanced Training Database) using search terms like 'Tourismusmanager/in' (Tourism Manager). The Europass offers the possibility to document learning stays completed abroad. Further information on the Europass is available.

Participation in advanced training is not remunerated.

The following advanced training alternatives are available for the profession of Business Administrator for Tourism: In the field of Tourism and Leisure Industry, the 'Geprüfter Tourismusfachwirt/Geprüfte Tourismusfachwirtin' (Certified Tourism Specialist) involves leading the development and implementation of tourist services. In the field of Hotel and Catering Industry, the 'Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Fachschule) für Hotel-, Gaststättengewerbe/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft' (Business Administrator for Hotel and Catering Industry/Bachelor Professional in Business) involves taking on specialist and leadership tasks in the hotel and catering sector. In the field of Transport, Storage, and Logistics, the 'Geprüfter Fachwirt/Geprüfte Fachwirtin für Personenverkehr und Mobilität' (Certified Specialist for Passenger Transport and Mobility) involves leading the organization and execution of tourist transport and conveyance orders. In the field of Exhibition and Event Management, the 'Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Fachschule) für Event-Management/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft' (Business Administrator for Event Management/Bachelor Professional in Business) or 'Geprüfter Veranstaltungsfachwirt/Geprüfte Veranstaltungsfachwirtin' (Certified Event Specialist) involves planning and organizing events, conferences, and congresses.

In 2020, the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Crafts Code (HWO) were amended. Among other things, this included the introduction of advanced training qualifications such as 'Geprüfte/r Berufsspezialist/in' (Certified Vocational Specialist), 'Bachelor Professional', and 'Master Professional' to emphasize the equivalence of vocational and academic education. The use of these professional titles depends on the enactment of corresponding new advanced training regulations.

The school and vocational school regulations of the federal states (Bundesland) govern the duration, possibilities for shortening, and extending the training. Participants with a degree in another specialization within the field of economics or in a second specialization can shorten the advanced training. Participants can make up for missing professional experience, in part, during the advanced training, which may extend its duration.

This advanced training is legally regulated only in the mentioned federal states (Bundesland). It leads to the following qualification titles there: Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia: State-certified business administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin) - Specialization in Tourism (Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft). Hesse: State-certified business administrator, Specialization in Tourism (Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft). Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: State-certified business administrator (Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft) - Focus on Tourism. Rhineland-Palatinate: State-certified business administrator - Specialization in Business Administration and Corporate Management (Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft); State-certified business specialist for tourism (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebsfachwirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebsfachwirtin für Tourismus) (partial qualification). Schleswig-Holstein: State-certified business administrator (Bachelor Professional im Fachbereich Wirtschaft). Thuringia.

The state-certified business administrator for tourism (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin für Tourismus) is a vocational advanced training. It is regulated by state law and takes place at vocational schools (Fachschule). The full-time training lasts 2 years, and part-time training lasts 3-4 years. Depending on the federal state (Bundesland), a partial qualification as a business specialist for tourism is possible.

Improve opportunities with additional qualifications: Aspiring business administrators for tourism can secure a good starting position by acquiring additional qualifications during their advanced training, for example, the university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife) as a basis for a later university degree (Studium). Find the right employment: After their advanced training, business administrators for tourism work, for example, in travel agencies, for tour operators, or in larger hotels. Secure employability: Through adaptive advanced training (Anpassungsweiterbildung), one can keep their specialized knowledge current, up-to-date, and expand it. The range of topics extends from tourism to cost and performance accounting. Advance professionally: With their advanced training qualification, business administrators can gain access to a university degree (Studium) even without a general university entrance qualification and, for example, obtain a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management. Become self-employed.

Vocational school regulations: The advanced training is regulated by state law in the following federal states (Bundesland): Ordinance on the study programs at the state vocational schools in the fields of Technology, Agriculture, and Economics of the State of Berlin (Fachschulverordnung Technik, Agrarwirtschaft und Wirtschaft) of April 30, 2014 (Ber.GVBl. S. 125), last amended by Article 2 of the Ordinance of September 15, 2025 (Ber.GVBl. S. 470). Ordinance on training and examinations at one- and two-year vocational schools (FS-APrVO) of July 5, 2011 (Hess.ABl. S. 323), last amended by Article 28 of the Ordinance of December 16, 2025 (Hess.GVBl. Nr. 110). Ordinance on training and examinations at vocational schools (Fachschulverordnung - FSVO M-V) of February 24, 1998 (GVOBl. M.-V. S. 341), last amended by Article 1 of the Ordinance of May 21, 2025 (Mittl.bl. BM M-V S. 58). Ordinance on training and examinations in the vocational college courses (Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsordnung Berufskolleg - APO-BK) of May 26.

Vocational schools (Fachschule) usually require a degree in a relevant recognized vocational training (Ausbildung) occupation as well as professional experience. The minimum school requirement is a secondary school leaving certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) or an intermediate school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss). This depends on the respective federal state (Bundesland).