The purpose of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the global tourism marketplace, paying specific attention to destinations and their planning, management and development.



It will explore the underlying factors leading to the development and promotion of places (urban, coastal and rural) as tourist destinations as well as the embodiment of culture in contemporary international tourism and leisure movements.



Examining the exploitation of different destination environments as a tourism resource, the module will require students to show how the specific nature of the tourism environment supports a form of tourism that differs from other forms in terms of supply and demand factors. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the module will require students to examine the relationship between tourism, leisure and culture in a global context.



The module seeks to understand the role played by culture upon representations of people, populations and pasts in the tourism/leisure marketplace. An appreciation of the contribution of culture as a tool and a catalyst for place regeneration in the development and management of tourism/leisure will be considered.



In addition, the importance of tourism planning, development and management to optimise tourism impacts is considered.



The module will further require students to adopt a critical stance to scrutinise the ways in which culture is contextualised across the world in tourism receiving and generating countries. The overall impetus of the module is to develop an understanding of the tourism destination from the perspective of planning, management and development and to locate the concept of 'culture' to the study of people, populations, pasts and places in the business of tourism and leisure.

This assignment introduces you to the main tourist destinations of the world in terms of their location, visitor numbers, income generation, culture, physical (landscape), social aspects and operations and management of destinations. From your research you will identify a global destination that has been identified as a lesser developed country. From this you will discuss strategies of how to rejuvenate the destinations and make recommendations to the destinations, local tourist board on how to support sustainable tourism development.



A1: Report: Scope of Tourist Destinations

You are to produce a Report that has four sections, these are to include:



Section 1: Growth, Development and Management

You are to identify one LDC and analyse the different statistical data to determine tourism destination trends and future trends.



Section 2: Impacts of Culture, Social and Physical

Identify the different cultural, social and physical features:

Cultural Provision: resources e.g. museums, monuments, churches, megaliths, festivals, food, drink, music.

Social Awareness: social groups, needs of different customer groups, impact of tourism on resources and the local community, carrying capacity, sustainability, local and national government policies, alternatives to mass markets.

Physical Landscape: effects of people and the need for conservation.



Section 3: Areas of Regeneration

You now need to discuss the potential for sustainable tourism to enhance the host community at the chosen tourist destination you have selected (link to culture).



Learning Outcomes 1-3

The learning strategy for the module will require students to commit 200 learning hours. There will be 48 hours of class support and 152 hours of independent and self-directed study.



Lectures will provide students with a broad theoretical overview and the conceptual frameworks needed to study the relationship between tourist destinations and culture, and to understand the influence of culture upon global tourism and leisure movements. Workshops and tutorial support activities will provide students with the opportunity to acquire and develop a range of critical thinking and analytical techniques to apply the underpinning theories to cases and scenarios, and to complete interpretation exercises in preparation for the assessment.
Independent study will require students to read and consider preparatory questions which will form the basis of workshop and tutorial discussions. Students are also required to organise and review their lecture notes and undertake preparatory reading and research on assigned material in order to participate in class discussions individually and as part of a group.


Students will have the opportunity to engage with:



A mix of lectures/ tutorials/ large and small group activities, plus self directed learning. Learning support material will be provided for independent /self directed learning.

Participation in group activities, involving peer assessment.

Role-plays and directed reading.

Undertake their own research.

Guest speakers.

Technology supported activities.

Debates

Field work and visits.

Resources.

1. Analyse the growth, development and management of tourist destinations.

Knowledge and Understanding
Analysis

2. Apply specific cultural, social and physical (landscape) impacts of tourism in different destinations.

Application
Analysis

3. Evaluate the contribution of culture in the regeneration of destinations.

Analysis
Problem solving
Communication

The Library

Various Tourism websites/case studies in industry

Market reports

Journals and books

ooper, C., Fletcher, J.Fyall, A., Gilbert, D. and Wanhill, S. (2008) Tourism Principles and Practice. 4th edn. Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.

Cooper C et al (2005). Tourism: Principles and Practice. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited
Howie F (2003). Managing the Tourist Destination. Continuum
Meethan, K (2001) Tourism in Global Society: Place, Culture, Consumption, Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Page, S.J. (2009). Tourism Management. Managing for Change. 3rd Edition. Butterworth Heinemann, Elsevier.

Page S, J (2007). Tourism Management: Managing for Change. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann
Reisinger, Y. (2009) International Tourism: Cultures and Behaviour, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Richards, G. (2006) Cultural Tourism: Local and Global Perspectives, London: Routledge.
Sigala, M and& Leslie, D (2005) International Cultural Tourism: Management, Implications and Cases, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Smith, M. (2003) Issues in Cultural Tourism Studies, London: Routledge.

Tourism has experienced continued expansion and diversification, to become one of the largest fastest-growing economic sectors in the world. As destinations invest in tourism, this has enabled socio-economic progress resulting in job creation and enterprise, export revenues and infrastructure development. But, has this impacted destinations positively or negatively? This module will allow you to look at the impact tourism has on destinations, leisure and culture across the globe.