This study identifies reasons why college students in Hong Kong want to study hospitality and tourism management (HTM) and why they want to pursue HTM degrees abroad. It also aims to identify students' preferred HTM study areas. An empirical study of a cohort of 384 HTM students was conducted to determine their motives for their choice of HTM. The results indicate that there were five motivational factors among HTM students: self-actualisation, job opportunity, field attractiveness, ease of study, and scholastic achievement. Detailed information on the motivational factors along with preferred overseas study destinations and HTM study areas are discussed. [Copyright of Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sports and Tourism Education is the property of Higher Education Academy. Full article may be available at the publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.3794/johlste.72.178]
