Master’s degree1,500 h · Online · 11 modules

Master's in Marine Tourism Destination Planning

This master's gives you the tools and expert knowledge to lead the creation and management of sustainable, attractive marine tourism destinations. You will learn to diagnose a destination, design innovative sea-based experiences, plan infrastructure and protect the marine environment, covering strategic planning, tourism marketing, natural resource management and the socioeconomic impact of tourism, so you can drive responsible development and the conservation of marine destinations.

Duration1,500 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules11
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About the program

What is the Master's in Marine Tourism Destination Planning?

This master's follows the full planning cycle of a destination whose main asset is the sea. You will study the segments, demand and impacts of marine tourism; destination diagnosis with resource inventories, carrying capacity, SWOT and competitiveness indicators; strategic plans, coastal spatial planning and governance; sea-based products such as nautical tourism, diving, whale and wildlife watching, fishing tourism, maritime gastronomy and adventure at sea; marine protected areas, visitor flows, Blue Flag beaches and climate adaptation; destination branding and marketing; marinas, passenger transport, lifesaving and signage; economic evaluation and the tourism satellite account; island destinations and cruise call management; and smart destinations.

What sets this master's apart: it plans the destination from the sea inward, building products around marine resources and protected areas and treating carrying capacity, island connectivity and cruise calls as planning variables in their own right; it combines product design and marketing with public policy, financing and impact evaluation; and it closes with a Final Project in which you prepare a complete strategic plan for a marine tourism destination.

Program typeMaster’s degree
ModeOnline
Duration1,500 hours
Modules11
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Destination diagnosis: resource inventories, carrying capacity, SWOT and competitiveness indicators.
  • Strategic planning: vision, coastal spatial planning, governance, action plans and budgets.
  • Marine products: nautical tourism, diving, whale watching, fishing tourism and maritime culture.
  • Sustainability: marine protected areas, visitor flows, Blue Flag beaches and carbon footprint.
  • Island destinations and cruises: connectivity, cruise calls, capacity limits and tourist taxes.
  • Smart destinations: sensors, tourism big data, digital guides and online distribution.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Master's in Marine Tourism Destination Planning

11 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Foundations of marine tourism

  • 1.1. Concept and segments of marine tourism
  • 1.2. Demand trends
  • 1.3. Economic, social and environmental impacts
  • 1.4. Institutional framework of tourism
  • 1.5. Benchmark marine destinations
  • 1.6. Marine tourism and local development
  • 1.7. Profile of the nautical tourist
  • 1.8. European tourism policies
  • 1.9. Tourism and the marine environment
  • 1.10. International success stories
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Destination diagnosis

  • 2.1. Inventory of resources and attractions
  • 2.2. Supply and demand analysis
  • 2.3. Tourism carrying capacity
  • 2.4. SWOT analysis of the destination
  • 2.5. Competitiveness indicators
  • 2.6. Surveys and demand studies
  • 2.7. Competitor analysis
  • 2.8. Resource maps
  • 2.9. Participatory diagnosis
  • 2.10. Diagnosis report
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Strategic destination planning

  • 3.1. Vision, objectives and destination model
  • 3.2. Strategic tourism plans
  • 3.3. Coastal spatial planning
  • 3.4. Involvement of local stakeholders
  • 3.5. Governance and destination management organizations
  • 3.6. Future scenarios
  • 3.7. Action plans and programs
  • 3.8. Plan budget
  • 3.9. Implementation schedule
  • 3.10. Communicating the plan
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Developing marine tourism products

  • 4.1. Nautical tourism, diving and cetacean watching
  • 4.2. Themed routes and experiences
  • 4.3. Cruise tourism
  • 4.4. Gastronomy and maritime culture
  • 4.5. Creating packages and product clubs
  • 4.6. Fishing and seafaring tourism
  • 4.7. Cetacean and wildlife watching
  • 4.8. Adventure tourism at sea
  • 4.9. Product accessibility
  • 4.10. Selling tourism products
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Sustainability and conservation

  • 5.1. Sustainable tourism and certifications
  • 5.2. Marine protected areas and public use
  • 5.3. Managing visitor flows and overcrowding
  • 5.4. Circular economy in destinations
  • 5.5. Climate change adaptation
  • 5.6. Beach management and Blue Flag
  • 5.7. Sustainability indicators
  • 5.8. Regenerative tourism
  • 5.9. Environmental education for visitors
  • 5.10. Carbon footprint of the destination
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Destination marketing and promotion

  • 6.1. Destination brand
  • 6.2. Digital marketing and social media
  • 6.3. Segmentation and source markets
  • 6.4. Trade shows, press and partnerships
  • 6.5. Tourism intelligence and big data
  • 6.6. Promotional campaigns
  • 6.7. Event tourism
  • 6.8. Experience marketing
  • 6.9. Measuring campaigns
  • 6.10. Destination marketing plan
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Infrastructure and services

  • 7.1. Recreational ports and marinas
  • 7.2. Accessibility and mobility
  • 7.3. Tourism services and quality
  • 7.4. Safety on beaches and in nautical activities
  • 7.5. Smart tourism destinations
  • 7.6. Maritime passenger transport
  • 7.7. Tourist information
  • 7.8. Lifesaving services
  • 7.9. Tourism signage
  • 7.10. Quality of public services
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Economic management and evaluation

  • 8.1. Public and private funding
  • 8.2. Economic impact assessment
  • 8.3. Indicator systems
  • 8.4. Crisis management in destinations
  • 8.5. Monitoring plans
  • 8.6. Tourism satellite account
  • 8.7. Tourist spending and employment
  • 8.8. Return on public investment
  • 8.9. Destination benchmarking
  • 8.10. Annual results report
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 9

Island destinations, cruises and tourism capacity management

  • 9.1. Specific features of island destinations
  • 9.2. Air and sea connectivity
  • 9.3. Managing cruise calls
  • 9.4. Passenger reception infrastructure
  • 9.5. Capacity limits and tourist taxes
  • 9.6. Waste and water management on islands
  • 9.7. Housing and tourism
  • 9.8. Economic diversification
  • 9.9. Resilience to crises
  • 9.10. Management plan for an island destination
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 10

Innovation, technology and smart tourism destinations

  • 10.1. The smart tourism destination model
  • 10.2. Sensors and visitor flow management
  • 10.3. Tourism big data
  • 10.4. Mobile apps and digital guides
  • 10.5. Augmented reality in maritime heritage
  • 10.6. Booking systems and online distribution
  • 10.7. Sharing economy platforms
  • 10.8. Cybersecurity in destinations
  • 10.9. Open innovation with tourism businesses
  • 10.10. Tourism innovation project
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 11

Final Project

  • 11.1. Choosing the topic and defining the research problem
  • 11.2. Defining the problem, objectives and scope of the strategic plan
  • 11.3. Setting objectives, hypotheses and the scope of the work
  • 11.4. Review of the state of the art and the applicable regulatory framework
  • 11.5. Analysis of the applicable regulatory and technical framework
  • 11.6. Designing the methodology and the work plan
  • 11.7. Methodology, resources and work planning
  • 11.8. Technical development and analysis of results
  • 11.9. Conclusions, feasibility and future lines of work
  • 11.10. Writing the report and defense before the panel
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Master's in Marine Tourism Destination Planning

It is 1,500 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
29
months to finish
125 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Master's in Marine Tourism Destination Planning

01Drive the sustainable development of marine tourism by encouraging eco-efficient practices in accommodation, transport and marine tourism activities.
02Design innovative maritime tourism experiences, researching emerging trends and adapting disruptive technologies to create unique, personalized tourism products.
03Manage marine natural resources efficiently, supporting sustainable fishing practices and the monitoring of marine populations and adapting strategies to scientific data and environmental rules.
04Optimize the economic performance of marine destinations with revenue strategies that increase occupancy and average visitor spending, diversify the offering and attract high-value segments.
05Promote collaboration among marine tourism stakeholders by establishing effective channels to share information on safety, sustainability and business opportunities.
06Develop specialized marine tourism marketing strategies, identifying emerging niches such as adventure tourism, ecotourism and themed cruises and adapting the offering to their needs.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Master's in Marine Tourism Destination Planning

01Tourism planning specialistdesigning and managing sustainable marine tourism products.
02Marine tourism destination managercoordinating and promoting coastal and maritime destinations.
03Specialized tourism consultantadvising on marine tourism development projects.
04Tourism marketing managercreating promotion strategies for marine destinations.
05Tourism project manager and sustainability managerplanning and delivering tourism projects and sustainable practices in marine settings.
06Researcher or trainer in marine tourismanalyzing trends and teaching courses and workshops on marine tourism planning.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Master's in Marine Tourism Destination Planning

Marine tourism: destinations whose main assets are the sea, its wildlife, nautical activities, maritime culture and protected marine areas.

Both. It covers the tourism development of coastal areas as well as public use and visitor management in marine protected areas.

Yes. A full module covers island connectivity, cruise call management, passenger reception, capacity limits, tourist taxes, waste and water on islands and island management plans.

Yes. You work through diagnosis, strategic planning, product development, marketing, infrastructure and economic evaluation, and you apply it all in a Final Project that is a full strategic plan for a marine destination.

Yes. A related degree or experience in tourism, planning or coastal development is enough; the admission interview confirms that the program suits your profile.

Through practical work in each module, such as diagnosis reports, product designs, marketing plans and indicator systems, and a Final Project presented before a panel.

A master's issued by Navalis Institute, together with the diagnoses, plans and reports you develop during the program.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7 with live sessions that are recorded, forums and tutorials. It comprises 1500 hours of study across 11 modules of about 136 hours each.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at tourism professionals, consultants and public administration specialists working on coastal and marine tourism development, tourism entrepreneurs, tourism marketing managers and graduates in tourism, geography, environmental sciences or economics. A degree in tourism, geography, economics, business administration, architecture, environmental sciences or a related field, or demonstrable experience in tourism management, spatial planning or coastal development, is recommended.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection and videoconferencing software such as Zoom or Teams.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $1,168 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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