WELCOME
Programme Director
Welcome to the Master of Social Science in Sustainable Tourism (MSSST) Programme at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
Tourism is facing unprecedented environmental, social, cultural, economic, and technological challenges that demand innovative, responsible, and transformative responses. Sustainable tourism has therefore become an increasingly important field of study and practice, seeking to balance tourism development with environmental stewardship, community wellbeing, natural and cultural heritage conservation, and long-term sustainability. As destinations worldwide navigate issues such as climate change, changing visitor behaviours, resource pressures, and evolving governance landscapes, there is a growing need for leaders who can guide tourism towards more sustainable futures.
The Department of Geography and Resource Management (GRM) at CUHK has long been at the forefront of sustainability education, research, and practice across global to local scales. Since its establishment in 2007, the MSSST Programme has been a pioneering and distinctive postgraduate programme dedicated to advancing sustainable tourism through interdisciplinary education, experiential learning, research-informed practice, and engagement with industry, government, and communities. Building upon its strong foundations in sustainable tourism, resource management, tourism governance, and destination development, the Programme continues to evolve in response to emerging challenges and opportunities in Hong Kong, the region, and beyond.
Guided by our vision of developing responsible sustainable tourism leaders for a transformative future, the Programme seeks to cultivate graduates with advanced sustainability literacy, professional competencies, and strong ethical values. Through a combination of academic inquiry, field-based learning, stakeholder collaboration, and real-world engagement, students develop the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to contribute meaningfully to tourism policy, planning, management, community development, and sustainable transformation.
We invite you to join a vibrant learning community committed to creating positive change through tourism. Together, we will explore innovative approaches to sustainable tourism development, foster responsible leadership, and contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for destinations, communities, industries, and society.
