Hospitality and Tourist Services Technician on Board
Location: Bari (BA)
Two-year program: 2025–2027
National Qualification: 9.1.2 Higher Technician for the development of management processes in the tourism and cultural industries
The Advanced Specialization Program in Hospitality and Tourist Services Technician on Board aims to train professionals capable of operating both on board and ashore, managing services related to cruise hospitality and promoting destinations through effective destination marketing strategies.
Context
Tourism remains one of the driving forces of the Italian economy, especially in the international segment, which helps compensate for the slight decline in domestic demand. In this context, the Blue Economy, particularly the cruise sector, is offering increasing job opportunities for specialized profiles such as the Hospitality and Tourist Services Technician on Board. Puglia continues to strengthen its position as a strategic hub for the Mediterranean tourism industry, with 30 tourist ports, 7 active cruise terminals, 85 coastal municipalities involved in marine tourism, and an integrated offering of sea, culture, and hospitality.
Professional Profile
The Hospitality and Tourist Services Technician on Board program trains professionals capable of managing the guest experience in its entirety, both on board cruise ships and during land excursions. Graduates of this program will work primarily in cruise hospitality, tourist information services, and destination promotion, combining international-level hospitality skills with organizational, interpersonal, and digital competencies. The course is offered in collaboration with MSC Crociere, which hosts students in key departments such as the Guest Service Desk and Shore Excursion Office. Here, students will support guest reception, provide information, and assist with the promotion, organization, and sale of shore excursions, with the opportunity to accompany guests on tours.
What You Will Learn
By studying to become a Hospitality and Tourist Services Technician on Board, you will gain essential technical and interpersonal skills to manage the guest experience in the cruise and tourism sectors.
Specifically, you will learn to:
- Welcome, assist, and manage internal bookings (spa, restaurants, events, excursions), handle complaints, and address personalized guest needs
- Use digital terminals, CRM systems, chatbots, and AI tools to optimize response times and personalize interactions
- Analyze sales and customer satisfaction data to improve service efficiency
- Promote authentic and engaging tourist experiences, enhancing coastal destinations and their cultural, natural, and gastronomic attractions
What You Will Study
The ITS course for Hospitality and Tourist Services Technician on Board is organized into training modules designed to develop a wide range of managerial, operational, and communication skills.
You will study:
- Organization, management, and supervision of departments/services within tourism and hospitality facilities
- Delivery of tourist information, assistance, and consultancy services
- Coordinating guided tours and operational management of visitor experiences
- Design of tourist packages and integrated experiential offers
Although mainly oriented towards the cruise industry, the Hospitality and Tourist Services Technician on Board program also prepares you to work in various sectors of organized tourism and guest services.
You could pursue careers in:
- Hotels, travel agencies, and tour operators
- Incoming travel agencies and tourist booking centers
- Tourist ports and passenger terminals, in coordination with authorities and local service providers
- Convention bureaus and agencies specializing in congress services
- Corporate travel departments managing business trips
- DMOs, public entities, and local tourism consortia
- Tourist promotion companies, info-points, and integrated tourism service networks
The course lasts 1,800 hours in total, spread over two years and divided as follows:
– 1,080 hours dedicated to classroom laboratory teaching, case studies in the laboratory and/or in workplace settings, seminars, educational and study visits, and project work;
– 720 hours of internships in workplace settings.
The daily schedule will be determined based on 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 procedures established by the Ministry of Education and Merit.
Upon successful completion of the program and final assessments, students will be awarded a Level 5 EQF “Advanced Specialization Diploma in Applied Technologies” (European Qualifications Framework).
The diploma is issued by the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit, together with the “Europass Diploma Supplement” It is valid throughout Italy and recognized for public competitions.
Where applicable, and depending on the specific area of study, students will also acquire the necessary skills to sit certification exams, including:
- Certifications for industry-specific software tools
- English and second foreign language certifications according to CEFR levels
- Workplace health and safety certifications
- HACCP certification
- Advanced EIPASS (subject to exam; ITS acts as a certifying body)
The ITS program is also recognized for eligibility in ITP competitions starting from 2025 and within the public administration
ITS programs are entirely funded by the Ministry of Education and Merit.
ITS students are covered by the ADISU Puglia right to education system and can take advantage of numerous benefits and advantages (scholarships, expense reimbursements, etc.) regulated by ADISU for the relevant academic year.
