A Group Debate, 15 minutes including time for questioning - weighted at 30%
An Individual Debate Paper, 1000 words - weighted at 70%

Both assessment tasks will assess all Learning Outcomes.

The main focus of the module is on developing an understanding of leading and emerging issues in visitor attraction and resort management. It will encourage debate from a range of contemporary perspectives and is designed to allow students to consider these perspectives from a regional, national and international perspective.

Specific issues may be drawn from (but are not limited to) the following:-

- The role of visitor attractions and resorts in destination development and the importance of the visitor attraction and resort sectors for economic regeneration and destination appeal.
- Exploring visitor behaviour in the context of visitor attractions and resorts.
- The role of authenticity.
- Exploiting secondary spend opportunities and yield management in visitor attractions and resorts.
- The role of education in visitor attraction management, including the role of the visitor attraction as educator or entertainment.
- Conservation, restoration and preservation, ethics in interpretation, enhancing the customer experience.
- Exploitation and commodification in visitor attractions. Balancing visitor access with conservation of the resource and its authenticity.
- Stakeholder conflict.
- Crisis and risk management.

(1) Comprehend the nature and role of visitor attractions and resorts in a social and cultural context and their links with the operating environment and the wider tourism industry.
Knowledge & Understanding

(2) Explore existing and emerging theories as well as themes in attraction and resort management
Knowledge & Understanding

(3) Explore the process and challenges of developing visitor attractions and resorts and discuss the key reasons for their success or failure
Analysis
Application
Problem Solving

(4) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the social, economic and environmental impacts of contemporary issues on/of visitor attractions and resorts and consider solutions for identified impact.
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning
Problem Solving

Resources
The Library
Internet
Market Reports

Bowdin, G., Allen, J., O'Toole, W., Harris, R. & McDonnell, I. (2011) Events Management, 3rd Edition. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Cooper, C. and Hall, C.M. (2012) Contemporary Tourism: An International Approach. Goodfellow Publishers.

Frochot, I. and Batat, W. (2013) Marketing and Designing the Tourist Experience. Goodfellow Publishers.

Fyall, A., Garrod, B and Leask, A. (Editors) (2007) Managing Visitor Attractions: new directions, 2nd Edition. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.

Murphy, P. (2008) The Business of Resort Management. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 150 hours of activities towards achieving the learning outcomes. These will be split between 39 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 111 hours of directed, guided and self-study, together with preparation for and completion of the assessment tasks. Learning support material will be provided for the module.
The module will draw upon a mixture of activities including lectures, web-based activities, case study analysis, relevant videos and in-class discussions, individual and group problem solving and self-directed learning.

The main focus of the module is on developing an understanding of leading and emerging issues in visitor attraction and resort management. It will encourage debate from a range of contemporary perspectives and is designed to allow you to consider them from a regional, national and international perspective.