Four Decades (1980-2020) of Hospitality and Tourism Higher Education in Australia: Developments and Future Prospects

ABSTRACT Whilst numerous scholars have investigated topical issues in hospitality and tourism higher education, few have examined the macro trends over multiple successive decades. This paper addresses the gap in the context of a major international provider of hospitality and tourism higher education – Australia – by exploring key trends over a 40-year period. The authors focus on four aspects (public University provision, hospitality and tourism programs, Hotel Schools, and Regulatory Bodies) and proceed to examine impacts for future hospitality and tourism education and workforce in Australia.