Outdoor tourism and sport event management
Location: Bari (BA)
Academic Biennium: 2025–2027
National Figure: 9.1.2 Higher Technician for the development of supply management processes of the tourism and cultural supply chains
Program Overview
The highly specialized program in Outdoor tourism and sport event management aims to train professionals capable of designing and managing tourism experiences related to sport and outdoor activities, strategically integrated with the Apulian territorial, cultural, and economic context.
Context
In recent years, Outdoor tourism and sport event experiences have emerged as a rapidly growing sector, driven by an increase in sporting events and rising average spending on sport-tourism experiences. Popular disciplines, including cycling, running, outdoor and water sports, attract not only athletes but also active travelers seeking memorable experiences and quality hospitality. Puglia region is investing in this sector through a network of events, sport-oriented accommodations and rental services. The goal is to promote experiential tourism embedded in the territorial, cultural, and economic landscape.
Professional Profile
The professional graduating from the Outdoor tourism and sport event management program can develop tourism services focused on sports as well as organize sports events aimed at tourists. They manage the planning and delivery of sports and tourism activities; oversee revenue management, partnerships, sponsorships, ticketing, licensing, and merchandising using digital tools and AI-based platforms.
What you will learn
In the Outdoor tourism and sport event management program, you will acquire the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in this dynamic sector, including the ability to:
- Support various business functions in delivering tourism services
- Track guest behavior, preferences, and sentiment to offer personalized packages
- Build professional networks with public and private stakeholders
- Plan and coordinate online communication strategies
- Design sports-related intervention programs
What you will study
The Outdoor tourism and sport event management course curriculum is focused on providing in-depth understanding and practical knowledge in the following key areas:
- Monitoring tourism trends and the reference territorial system
- Organizing and managing departments/services in tourist and hospitality structures
- Developing marketing strategies for sport-tourism products
- Planning and organizing events
- Managing relationships with customers, suppliers, and local stakeholders
Graduates of the Outdoor tourism and sport event management course will find different career paths within the growing sports tourism industry, including positions in:
- Travel agencies and tour operators specialized in sports tourist
- Hospitality businesses targeting sports tourism
- Organizers of sport-centered tours and events
- Convention bureaus and event/communication agencies
- Public and private companies offering tourism information, booking, and reception services
The course lasts 1800 hours in total, distributed over two years and divided as follows:
– 1080 hours dedicated to classroom laboratory teaching, case studies in the laboratory and/or in work contexts, seminar activities, educational and study visits, project work;
– 720 hours of internship activities in work contexts.
The daily timetable will be determined on the basis of the operational program and may vary from 5 to 8 hours.
Attendance is mandatory for at least 80% of the training activities, under penalty of exclusion from the final exam which will be held in accordance with the methods established by the Ministry of Education and Merit.
Upon completing the program and passing all final evaluations, students will be awarded the Diploma of Specialization in Applied Technologies (EQF Level 5 – European Qualifications Framework). The diploma is issued by the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit and is accompanied by the Europass Diploma Supplement, valid throughout Italy and recognized for public competitions.
Additional certifications may include:
- Certifications for industry-specific software
- English and second foreign language certifications (based on CEFR levels)
- Workplace safety certifications
- HACCP Certification
- EIPASS Advanced Certification (ITS acts as the certifying body upon exam completion)
Starting from 2025, this ITS program is valid for ITP (Insegnante Tecnico Pratico) teaching competitions and public administration access.
