Module Identifier RS30820  
Module Title SUSTAINABLE TOURISM  
Academic Year 2006/2007  
Co-ordinator Dr Brian J Garrod  
Semester Semester 1  
Course delivery Lecture   1 x 2 hour lecture per week  
  Seminars / Tutorials   1 x 1 hr seminar per week  
  Other   2 x 3 hr workshops and 1 x 3 hr afternoon field visit per semester  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment 2,500 word written assignment  40%
Semester Assessment Seminar presentation  10%
Semester Exam2 Hours Written examinations (2 hours)  50%
Supplementary Assessment Students who fail the module overall will be required to re-take the element that led to failure.100%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Understand the core principles of sustainable development

2. Analyse the conceptual basis for sustainable tourism

3. Evaluate the environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts of tourism

4. Critically evaluate a range of policy tools that can be used in managing for sustainable tourism

5. Assess the practical application of sustainable tourism principles

6. Identify good practice in sustainable tourism management

Brief description

Designing and implementing effective management strategies and policies for sustainable tourism requires a sound knowledge of the concept of sustainable development and how it applies to the context of tourism. This module will identify core principles of sustainable development approach and examine how they can be put into practice with the aim of making various tourism types and destinations more sustainable. This will involve an in-depth evaluation of good practice on the part of the tourism industry, governments and host communities, non-government organisations and tourists. Environmental, economic and cultural aspects of sustainability will be considered. A practical focus will be adopted through the use of international case studies and classroom-based exercises. There will also be a field visit to observe sustainable tourism in action.

Content

1. Introduction to the principles of sustainable development
2. Applying the principles of sustainable development in the context of tourism
3. Environmental, economic and socio-cultural impacts of tourism
4. Definitions and conceptual models of sustainable tourism
5. Policy tools for sustainable tourism
   a. Dispersion and concentration
   b. Carrying capacity
   c. Pricing mechanisms
   d. Ecological footprinting
   e. Codes of conduct
   f. Environmental impact assessment
6. Monitoring tourism¿s impacts
7. Eco-labelling and certification
8. Collaboration in sustainable tourism
9. Tourism in National Parks and protected areas
   a. Conservation and social role
   b. Services and infrastructure
   c. Economics, financing and marketing
10. Cases studies in sustainable tourism
   a. Wildlife tourism
   b. Ecotourism
   c. Heritage tourism
   d. Cultural tourism
11. Local communities and participation
12. The future of sustainable tourism

Module Skills

Problem_solving Two classroom-based workshops will involve students working in groups to solve problems set by the tutor, e.g. evaluation of success parameters implicit in a computer-based simulation model of ecotourism development  
Research skills Students will be expected to carry out a wide-ranging programme of reading on the principles and practice of sustainable tourism for both the written assignment and the examination.  
Communication The seminars will require students to read specific book chapters and articles, to make a presentation on the academic content of such material and to engage in debate on the subject matter with fellow students  
Information Technology Preparing the assessment reports will require students to use the Library's online catalogue as well as internet sources. Assessment reports will also need to be word processed to a high standard.  

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6