University of the Ryukyus

Established in 2009, the Graduate School of Tourism Sciences is a single major graduate school (Master’s degree in Tourism Sciences).

The standout feature of our graduate school is that we examine the phenomenon of tourism from the perspective of sustainable tourism. By offering education and conducting research that focuses on the promotion and development of sustainable tourism, our aim is both to produce excellent research and nurture top quality professionals with tourism expertise and international character who can provide leadership in tourism development and sustainable tourism promotion in Okinawa, Japan and at the global level.

The educational program at our graduate school focuses on sustainability and combines both fundamental specialized knowledge and quantitative analysis techniques in the three areas of economics, management and natural environment.

Furthermore, our curriculum focuses on the regional characteristics of Okinawa Prefecture, reflecting such aspects as islandness, vulnerability and subtropicality. Our curriculum is also interdisciplinary in nature, embracing health tourism, the use and conservation of tourism resources (Okinawa’s unique local culture and natural ecosystem), tourism business and tourism development.

Tourism has continued to change dynamically in recent years. With this in mind, the development of capable individuals who possess specialized tourism expertise and scientific analytical skills is ever more important to meet the needs of the local community of Okinawa as it strives to become a tourism-based prefecture, and Japan more broadly in the context of its tourism nation policy.

Master's Program