The focus of the module is on developing an understanding of leading and emerging issues in tourism and event management research. It will encourage critical debate from a range of contemporary perspectives and is designed to allow students to consider new tourism and event concepts and contexts from a regional, national and international perspective. A range of futurology theories and tourism and events case-studies are used throughout the module to inform, support and challenge.



The module will explore a range of driving forces related to the production and consumption aspects of event management such as:

- an investigation into the development of destinations, destination and event management and the sustainable nature of both organisations and destinations

- innovation within the visitor economy

- trends in the use of technology

- international visitor economy trends

- enhancing the attendee experience

- sales, marketing & communications practices and trends

- the changing nature of tourism and event demand and forecast of future developments

- visitor mobilities and background, exploring the impact of demographic variables such as age and disability and how the visitors background, e.g. social class, ethnicity, gender and sexuality, shapes the tourism and event experience.

Assessment – Individual portfolio

Developing a ‘key message’ for the visitor attraction industry.

Students will be required to undertake a critical evaluation of the most important issue that the industry needs to be aware of in terms of its future development.



A1 – Task:

Guidelines:

Design a media article recognising a key issue with the visitor attraction environment. The article should consider the issue that they believe will have the most significant effect in the industry and provide justifications and real world case studies/examples of how the industry is dealing with, and may have to deal with in the future. The issue can be a trend, a resource-related issue, an environmental factor or another relevant topic. Students should consider the implications of the issue for the industry (e.g. these will probably have both positive and negative dimensions) and the industry’s response - existing literature should be consulted surrounding existing relevant commentaries and theories. The recommendation is that they present their argument in the form of a ‘quality’ newspaper or magazine industry article, making the points succinctly and powerfully



Assessment Learning Outcomes 1



A2 – Task:

Guidelines:

Individual 15 minute presentation with 5 minutes question time (face to face). Application of scenario planning to identify significant future issues and trends which will impact on the visitor economy - a conceptual approach to thinking about the various factors likely to shape the industry in the future. This process should be used to depict plausible possible future/s for a particular visitor attraction or event. Students can then use the scenario/s to develop strategies to an organisations' advantage. Students should adopt this approach to create a 15-year scenario plan for a company/event of your choice.



Assessment Learning Outcomes 2

This Module is delivered face to face, over one Semester, to final year undergraduate students, via a series of lectures, seminars and student interactive workshop presentations. These are supplemented by assignment workshops/tutorials and guest speakers.



Students need to be pro-active in taking responsibility for their own learning in order to benefit from the directed reading, workshop presentations and subsequent group discussions.



In terms of assessment strategy, the module uses two types of assessments: a portfolio with critical commentaries and a presentation.

1. Identify and critically assess the driving forces and current and future practices and trends impacting and influencing the development and future of the events industry.

Knowledge and understanding, learning and analysis


2. Apply futurology tools on a specific event or events company case study in order to develop the student as a practitioner.

Knowledge and understanding, problem solving and application

The Library

Internet

Market Reports

Boniface, P. (2001) Dynamic Tourism: Journeying with Change. Clevedon, Avon: Channel View Publications.

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

Novelli, M. (2005) Niche Tourism: Contemporary issues, trends and cases. Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.

Robinson, P., Heitmann, S. & Dieke, P.U.C.(Eds) (2011) Research Themes for Tourism. Wallingford: CABI.

Shaw, G. & Williams, A.M. (2002) Critical Issues in Tourism: A Geographical Perspective, 2nd Edition. Oxford: Blackwell

Why do we study contemporary issues?

Studying current events will help you better understand the importance of people and places. Contemporary issues are relevant to present day and provide us with opportunities to better ourselves and the environments we operate in.



This module includes social, environmental, economic, technological changes and ethical instances evolving from vast and varied societies, ecosystems, lifestyles and cultures all of which characterise the world today. By the end of the module, you will better understand how to live, work and operate effectively in the global marketplace.