Tourism sector has been one of the fastest developing and growing sectors in the world economy since the second half of the 20th century . Tourism sector, which is the locomotive in the economic and social development of many countries, has become one of the basic sectors with a significant role in the development of countries.

The tourism sector in Turkey has shown an important improvement in terms of both supply and demand especially since the 1980s and has contributed to the country’s economic and social development. Tourism sector has contributed to the increase in foreign exchange input of the country, the creation of new employment opportunities, regional development and the increase of government revenues.

The rapid development of tourism sector both in the world and in Turkey has also increased the need for qualified labour in the sector. There are higher education institutions providing associate degree and undergraduate education in order to fill the qualified workforce needed by businesses that directly serve the tourism sector such as accommodation, catering, airline companies and travel agencies.

The Faculty of Tourism is a higher education institution that provides undergraduate level of education for the purposes stated. Students take 62 kinds of courses in the education plan of the faculty throughout their 4-year education. 30 % of the courses in the education plan contain English language courses while 13 % of the courses consist of a second foreign language. 28 % of the courses in the education plan contain courses related to tourism profession, 12 % are about basic business. 9 % of the courses consist of elective management and occupational courses while 6 % of them are cultural courses and 2 % consist of elective English courses. The percentages indicate that the education provided in the faculty consists mainly of foreign language and vocational education, and is supported by basic business management knowledge.

Erciyes University Türkan-Tuncer Hasçalık Tourism Faculty, which was established with the aim of training mid-level or senior executive candidates who possess the competencies required by the tourism sector and tourism enterprises, enables its students to achieve the following objectives:

- to have an advanced knowledge of English,

- to have a second foreign language

- to be equipped with professional knowledge and skills,

- to learn about different social structures and characteristics,

- to discover and develop their own abilities, - to develop effective and easy communication skills,

- to learn about teamwork, - to have a creative and productive personality,

- to acquire values such as tolerance, responsibility, discipline, courtesy and respect.

When all these factors are considered, Faculty of Tourism is at the forefront in terms of students’ preferences among other higher education institutions in Turkey.