1. Analyse the structure and characteristics of global destinations, resorts and attractions

Knowledge and Understanding

2. Apply management and analytical concepts to evaluate destination performance and competitiveness

Application and Problem Solving

3. Collaboratively evaluate cultural, social and environmental influences on global destination management

Critical Reasoning and Collaboration

4. Use digital tools and data sources to communicate insights on global destinations

Digital Literacy: Communication

Assessment 1: Global Destination Report
Students will develop a creative report focused on a selected global destination, event, resort or attraction. The report will analyse destination positioning, competitiveness, visitor experience and management challenges within an international context.

The report may include a combination of:

Profile and global context analysis

Visitor experience mapping

Competitor benchmarking

Short written commentary linking analysis to theory

Embedded Formative Assessment:
Formative feedback through concept pitches, portfolio planning workshops and peer review of draft materials.

Assessment 2: Global Destination Management Poster
Students will deliver a professional poster proposing strategic recommendations for the future development or repositioning of a global destination, event, resort or attraction.

The poster should:

Demonstrate critical understanding of destination management

Address sustainability, competitiveness or visitor experience challenges

Use appropriate digital and visual communication tools

Present clear, evidence-based recommendation

Embedded Formative Assessment:
Poster development workshops, draft slide feedback and rehearsal sessions.

This module examines the management of global destinations, resorts and visitor attractions within an international context. It develops students’ understanding of how destinations are planned, positioned, marketed and managed across different global regions, considering cultural, economic, political and environmental influences.

The module adopts an applied and creative approach, enabling students to analyse real-world destinations and attractions through global case studies, scenario-based learning and industry-focused assessment. Emphasis is placed on visitor experience, sustainability, competitiveness and professional decision-making, preparing students for future careers within the global visitor economy.

The global visitor economy and international tourism systems

Types of global destinations, resorts and attractions

Destination competitiveness and positioning

Global event destinations

Cultural, social and economic influences on destination management

Governance and stakeholder roles in global destinations

Cultural policy and community impact

The events Industry

Governance, policy, regulation and public interest

Visitor experience management in international contexts

Destination branding, marketing and digital promotion

Sustainability and responsible destination management

Risk, resilience and crisis management in global destinations

Comparative global case studies

In this module, you will explore how global destinations, resorts and visitor attractions are planned, managed and developed in international contexts. You will analyse destinations across different regions, examining competitiveness, visitor experience, sustainability and cultural influences. Through applied case studies, creative report work and professional pitching, you will develop the analytical, digital and communication skills needed to understand and respond to contemporary challenges in the global visitor economy.

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 300 hours of activities towards achieving the learning outcomes. These will be split between 72 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 228 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 Individual problem solving and self-directed learning.

In addition to formal teaching, the module emphasises collaborative learning through Individual discussions and workshops.

Self-directed learning plays a crucial role in the module, with students encouraged to explore extensive online resources, digital libraries, and the module’s Blackboard system. This independent study component fosters digital literacy and research proficiency, allowing students to consolidate their learning at their own pace while preparing for assessments.

Employability, Enterprise and Professional Practice

Develops destination management, visitor experience, benchmarking and strategic thinking skills

Assessment outputs align with roles in DMOs, attractions, events and consultancy

Strong focus on professional communication and applied decision-making

Academic, Digital and Research Skills

Research-informed destination analysis using theory and global data

Digital skills developed through visual mapping, infographics and professional poster design

Supports progression to Level 6 analytical and research-led work

Morrison, A.M. (2019) Marketing and Managing Tourism Destinations. Routledge.

Pike, S. (2020) Destination Marketing: Essentials. Routledge.

Dredge, D. and Jamal, T. (2019) Tourism Governance. Routledge.

UNWTO (2022) Tourism and Sustainable Development. UNWTO.

Buhalis, D. (2020) eTourism. Routledge