Module Information

Module Identifier
RS30820
Module Title
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Dr Brian J Garrod
Semester
Semester 1

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
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 Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 2,500 word written assignment  40%
Semester Assessment Seminar presentation  10%
Semester Exam 2 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'r 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

Skills Type Skills details
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.
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.

Reading List

General Text
Beeton, S. (1998.) Ecotourism: A Practical Guide for Rural Communities /Sue Beeton. Landlinks press Primo search Buckley, Ralf. (2003.) Case Studies in Ecotourism John Wiley Primo search Cater, E. and Lowman, G. (1994.) Ecotourism: A Sustainable Option? Wiley Primo search Duffy, R. (2002) A Trip Too Far: Ecotourism, Politics and Exploitation Earthscan Primo search Eber, S. (1992.) Beyond the Green Horizon: Principles for Sustainable Tourism World Wide Fund for Nature Primo search Fennell, D. (2002.) Ecotourism Programme Planning CABI Pub. Primo search Fennell, D. (1999.) Ecotourism: An Introduction Routledge Primo search Font, X. and Buckley, R.C. (2001.) Tourism Ecolabelling Certification and Promotion of Sustainable Management http://www.netLibrary.com/urlapi.asp?action=summary&v=1&bookid=87404 CABI Pub. Forsyth, T. (1996.) Sustainable Tourism: Moving from Theory to Practice WWF UK Primo search France, L. (1997.) The Earthscan Reader in Sustainable Tourism Earthscan Publications Primo search Garrod, B. and Wilson, J.C. (2003.) Marine Ecotourism: Issues and Experiences Channel View Publications Primo search Harris, R., Griffin, T. and Williams, P.. (2002) Sustainable Tourism: A Global Pperspective http://www.netLibrary.com/urlapi.asp?action=summary&v=1&bookid=86102 Oxford ; Higginbottom, K. (2004.) Wildlife Tourism: Impacts, Management and Planning http://www.crctourism.com.au Common Ground Publishing [for] CRC for Sustainable Tourism Higham, J. (2007.) Critical Issues in Ecotourism: Understanding a Complex Tourism Phenomenon Elsevier, Butterworth Heinemann Primo search Higham, J. and Luck. M. (c2008.) Marine Wildlife and Tourism Management: Insights from the Natural and Social Sciences CABI Pub. Primo search Honey, M. (2002.) Ecotourism & Certification: Setting Standards in Practice Island Press Primo search Hunter, C and Green H (April 1995) Tourism and the Environment: A Sustainable Relationship? International Thomson Business Press Primo search Lindberg, K. Epler Wood, M., and Engeldrum., D. (1998.) Ecotourism: A Guide for Planners and Managers Ecotourism Society Primo search Luck, M. and Kirstges, T (2003.) Global Ecotourism Policies and Case Studies: Perspectives and Constraints Channel View Publications Primo search Middleton, V. with Hawkins, R. (1998.) Sustainable Tourism: A Marketing Perspective Butterworth-Heinemann Primo search Mowforth, M. and Munt, I. (1998.) Tourism and Sustainability: New Tourism in the Third World /Martin Mowforth and Ian Munt. http://www.netLibrary.com/urlapi.asp?action=summary&v=1&bookid=77286 Routledge Newsome, D., Dowling, R. and Moore, S. (2005.) Wildlife Tourism Channel View Primo search Page, S. and Dowling, R. (2002) Ecotourism Pearson Education Limited Primo search Roe, D, Leader-Williams, N. and Dalal-Clayton, B.. (1997.) Take Only Photographs, Leave only Footprints: The Environmental Impacts of Wildlife Tourism International Institute for Environment and Development Primo search Shackley, M (1996.) Wildlife Tourism International Thomson Business Press Primo search Stabler, M.J. (1997.) Tourism and Sustainability: Principles to Practice C.A.B. International Primo search Swarbrooke, J. (1999.) Sustainable Tourism Management CABI Primo search Wearing, S and Neil, J (1999.) Ecotourism: Impacts, Potentials and Possibilities /Stephen Wearing and John Neil. Butterworth-Heinemann Primo search Weaver, D.B. (1998.) Ecotourism in the Less Developed World CAB International Primo search Weaver, D.B. (c2001.) The Encyclopedia of Ecotourism CABI Pub. Primo search Should Be Purchased
Weaver, D.B. (2006.) Sustainable Tourism: Theory and Practice Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann Primo search Recommended Consultation
Annals of Tourism Research http://www.aber.ac.uk/is/ejournals Elsevier Science Current Issues in Tourism http://www.aber.ac.uk/is/ejournals Multilingual Matters Ltd International Journal of Tourism Research http://www.aber.ac.uk/is/ejournals Wiley Journal of Ecotourism http://www.aber.ac.uk/is/ejournals Channel View Publications Journal of Sustainable Tourism http://www.aber.ac.uk/is/ejournals Multilingual Matters Ltd Journal of Travel Research http://www.aber.ac.uk/is/ejournals Sage Publications Tourism Management Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6