TL;DR: BS Tourism Management (BSTM) is a four-year degree governed by CHED Memorandum Order No. 62, series of 2017 — the same policy that governs BS Hospitality Management — which sets a 137-unit minimum curriculum built around a shared Tourism and Hospitality Core, travel- and destination-focused Professional Courses, and a 600-hour, 6-unit practicum. There is no PRC board exam for BSTM. Jobstreet Philippines' published salary data puts entry-level travel and tourism roles at roughly ₱15,000-₱27,000 per month, with travel consultant and management roles at the higher end.
BS Tourism Management is one of the two Philippine tourism-cluster degrees that searchers routinely confuse with each other, the other being BS Hospitality Management. Both fall under the same CHED policy and share a curriculum foundation, but they train students for different sides of the travel industry. This guide breaks down what BSTM actually covers, its real subject list and unit counts under CHED's own framework, its practicum requirement, what it costs, and what the job market looks like. For the sister program, see our BS Hospitality Management guide; for the wider field of college choices, see in-demand courses in the Philippines.
What Exactly Is BS Tourism Management?
BSTM is a four-year bachelor's degree focused on the travel and destination side of the tourism industry: tour operations, transportation management, tourism policy and planning, and destination marketing. It shares one CHED policy document with BS Hospitality Management: CMO No. 62, series of 2017, "Policies, Standards and Guidelines for Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management and Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management," which the Commission adopted, in its own words, "for the purpose of offering the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management and Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management with the end view of keeping pace with the demands of local and global travel, tourism and hospitality environment to become globally competitive."
The order took effect starting School Year 2018-2019, replacing the older CMO No. 30, series of 2006, and sets a minimum curriculum that schools can expand on with their own specializations, provided they can demonstrate the required learning outcomes are still met.
Disclaimer: curriculum specifics and elective offerings vary by school within CHED's minimum framework. Always confirm the current curriculum and practicum placement process directly with your target school's tourism department.
BSTM vs BSHM: What's the Real Difference?
The two programs share a foundation but train students for different parts of the industry. CHED's own framework distinguishes them by "macro" versus "micro" orientation: BSTM takes the aggregate, industry-wide view (transportation, policy, destination planning), while BSHM takes the operational, enterprise-level view (running a specific hotel or food service outlet).
| Program | Core Focus | Typical Path | Best Fit If You... |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSTM (Tourism Management) | Travel, tour, and destination management: tour operations, transportation, policy and planning | Travel agency, tourism office, tour operator, destination marketing | Like the bigger picture of how travel and destinations are planned and marketed |
| BSHM (Hospitality Management) | Hotel and food service operations: front office, food and beverage, lodging | Hotel, resort, restaurant, cruise line | Prefer hands-on, service-facing operational work |
Because both programs share the same 30-unit Tourism and Hospitality Core and the same General Education and business foundation, some schools let students switch between BSTM and BSHM relatively late in the program without losing many credits — worth asking about directly if you're undecided between the two.
How Many Units Does BSTM Require?
CMO No. 62, s. 2017 prescribes a minimum of 137 units for BSTM (rising to 152 units for schools authorized to offer a named specialization, such as Leisure and Recreation Management). The breakdown:
| Curriculum Component | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Education (GE) Courses | 36 | Per CMO No. 20, s. 2013 |
| National Service Training Program (NSTP) | 6 | |
| Physical Education (PE) courses | 8 | |
| Common Business and Management Courses | 6 | Operations Management (TQM), Strategic Management |
| Tourism and Hospitality Core | 30 | Shared with BSHM |
| Tourism Professional Courses | 30 | BSTM-specific |
| Professional Electives | 15 | School selects from a CHED-suggested list or its own catalog |
| Practicum | 6 | Minimum 600 hours |
| Total (minimum) | 137 | 152 units for HEIs offering a formal specialization |
What Subjects Are in BSTM's Professional Courses?
The 30-unit Tourism Professional Courses block is where BSTM diverges from BSHM. Confirmed subjects from CMO No. 62 include Global Culture and Tourism Geography, Sustainable Tourism, Tour and Travel Management, Transportation Management, Tourism Policy Planning and Development, and Research in Tourism, along with two Foreign Language subjects (which must be in the same language across both terms) and a course covering conferences and events management (MICE).
CHED also publishes an unusually long list of suggested free electives for BSTM's 15-unit professional elective requirement — schools pick from options that include Medical and Wellness Tourism, Recreational and Leisure Management, Agri-Tourism, Cruise Tourism, Tour Guiding, Philippine Gastronomical Tourism, Environmental Conservation in Tourism, Heritage Tourism, Meetings/Incentives/Conventions/Exhibitions Management, and Destination Management and Marketing, among others. This is why two BSTM graduates from different schools can have noticeably different elective specializations even though both hold the same degree.
How Much Practicum Does BSTM Require?
BSTM students must complete a minimum of 600 practicum hours, worth 6 units, per CMO No. 62, s. 2017 — identical to the BSHM requirement, since both programs share this section of the order. Schools may split this into two practicum offerings, and CHED recommends training venues be recognized by the Department of Tourism where possible. For BSTM students specifically, common placements include travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, and local tourism offices, rather than the hotel/food-service placements typical of BSHM.
Disclaimer: practicum hour requirements and placement processes can vary in implementation by school. Always confirm the current requirement and accredited-venue list with your target school's tourism department before enrolling.
What Does BSTM Tuition Cost?
Tuition for BSTM follows the same general pattern as other Philippine college programs: state universities and colleges (SUCs) charge little to nothing under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, while private schools' BSTM programs commonly run from roughly ₱25,000 to ₱60,000 or more per semester depending on the school's tier and location. Because tuition changes yearly and by school, pull the current published rate directly from your target school rather than relying on a roundup figure. Our in-demand courses in the Philippines guide covers how BSTM's cost compares with other popular degree choices.
What Jobs Can a BSTM Graduate Get?
BSTM graduates typically start as travel consultants, tour operators, tour guides, or entry-level staff at tourism offices, then move into corporate travel management, destination marketing, or tourism planning roles with experience. Local government tourism offices, the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies, airlines, and the growing local MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) sector are also common employers.
According to Jobstreet Philippines' published salary data and Indeed's salary aggregator, common entry points include:
| Role | Typical Monthly Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Tour Operator | ₱15,000-₱16,000 |
| Tour Guide | ₱19,000-₱25,000 |
| Travel Specialist | ₱16,000-₱26,000 |
| Travel Consultant | ₱20,000-₱27,000 |
| Travel Agent (average, Indeed) | ~₱22,356 |
Disclaimer: salary figures reflect Jobstreet and Indeed's published market data as of their most recent update, not guaranteed pay for any individual graduate. Actual offers vary by employer, city, and experience.
Is BSTM Right for You?
Before committing to BSTM over BSHM or another business-adjacent degree, weigh these questions:
- Are you drawn to the planning and marketing side of travel, or the hands-on service side? If it's the former, BSTM fits; if the latter, BS Hospitality Management is the closer match.
- Do you want a government or private-sector track? BSTM graduates have a realistic path into local tourism offices and the Department of Tourism, an option BSHM graduates pursue less directly.
- Have you checked the school's practicum partners? Since CHED sets only a 600-hour minimum and leaves venue selection to schools, ask specifically which travel agencies, tour operators, or DOT-recognized venues the program partners with.
- Are you interested in a specific elective track? Because CHED's suggested elective list for BSTM is unusually broad (medical tourism, cruise tourism, heritage tourism, MICE, and more), ask which electives your target school actually offers before enrolling.
- What strand did you take in senior high? This curriculum is vertically aligned with the ABM strand; students from other strands can still enroll but may need bridging courses. See our home economics strand guide for a related SHS pathway.
Ready to find the right school? Browse schools or compare tuition and programs across hundreds of Philippine schools on SchoolFinderPH.
Sources
- CHED CMO No. 62, s. 2017 — Policies, Standards and Guidelines for BS Tourism Management and BS Hospitality Management (official PDF)
- Jobstreet Philippines — Tour Guide Salary
- Jobstreet Philippines — Tour Operator Salary
- Jobstreet Philippines — Travel Consultant Salary
- Jobstreet Philippines — Travel Specialist Salary
- Indeed Philippines — Travel Agent Salaries
- SchoolFinderPH — BS Hospitality Management Guide
- SchoolFinderPH — In-Demand Courses in the Philippines
- SchoolFinderPH — Home Economics Strand Guide
