A favourite destination
It was about 4pm on 10th April 1901 when a young Herman Hesse tore to pieces a famous Baedeker tourist guide and started to explore Florence. Although just for a few days, he felt he belonged to the town. He was enthusiastic about the fountain in the Boboli gardens, his evenings at the Pergola Theatre, and was happy to give pieces of information to young Italians.
Hesse himself was a modern tourist; he was searching for genius loci , i.e. looking for the roots of the past in the present.
For centuries Florence has been a favourite destination for tourists from all over the world and there is no guidebook that can completely describe its beauties and heritage sites.
Long study tradition
Since 1963 Florence has become a centre of tourism studies. More precisely on 15 th March 1963 the first module of Economics of tourism studies was officially recognized by the World Tourism Organisation.
To date, tourist studies comprise two levels. The first, is a three-year degree (Laurea triennale) in Science of Tourism; the second a two-year degree (Laurea magistrale) Planning of tourism systems.
The aim of these programs is to offer modern techniques in the organisation and management of firms in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Students who have obtained a three year degree have the possibility to enrol in Laurea Magistrale (second level – two year degree) or to be employed to:
- Plan tourist events in tourist agencies, holiday resources, congress centres;
- Organise and manage public or private tourism enterprises in tourism;
- Manage press offices of public or private tourism enterprises;
- Assist tourism enterprises in managing sustainable tourism operations or managing protected areas and assets.
The two year degree (Laurea magistrale) program is designed to form managers dealing with tourism issues.
- In all types of enterprises in the tourism industry and hospitality sector
- In governmental institutions (local or national) operating primarily in tourism sectors as well as in the cultural and/or local development sectors
VocMat Project
As one of the world's leading economic sectors, the tourism and hospitality industry offers a wide range of careers in various sectors or as support to the industry.
Graduates of the Faculty of Economics acquire specific knowledge and skills with a degree in tourism and the University of Florence is keen to preserve its role in instructing professionals in the sector so rich of potential. It is therefore important to assure high level knowledge in the tourism industry. For this purpose the VocMat project proposes to meet these needs and it is the reason the Faculty of Economics is pleased to be part of the project. Moreover, VocMat project gives us the possibility to compare our experience with that of other European universities and enterprises in the sector.