Module Information

Module Identifier
BR10620
Module Title
CONTEMPORARY CASE STUDIES IN TOURISM
Academic Year
2012/2013
Co-ordinator
Dr Brian Garrod
Semester
Intended for use in future years
Pre-Requisite
BR12810
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 1 x 1 hour lecture per week
Other 8 x 2 hour interactive workshops and 2 x 2 hour presentation sessions
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Coursework assignment portfolio  Portfolio based on work prepared for weekly workshops. Outcomes 1-5  50%
Semester Exam 3 Hours   Group presentation  Group presentation (10 minutes each) Outcomes 4, 5  50%
Supplementary Assessment Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:


1. Identify a range of forms of tourism and the factors leading to their growth

2. Explain how new ways of experiencing tourism have impacted on the 'mainstream' tourism industry

3. Outline the costs and benefits of such forms of tourism in comparison to conventional forms such as mass tourism

4. Draw and apply lessons from case studies on the planning and management of tourism operations and destinations

5. Synthesise findings from case studies in order to illustrate contemporary issues in the marketing and management of tourism organisations

Brief description

This module focuses on contemporary case studies in tourism. These cases will cover 'mass' tourism as well as new forms of 'alternative' tourism that are now beginning to challenge the supremacy of mass tourism. Such alternative tourism forms include farm tourism, backpacker tourism, volunteer tourism, food (gastronomic) tourism and wine tourism, dark tourism (thanatourism), adventure tourism, ecotourism and heritage tourism. Emerging variants of mass tourism, for example low-budget tourism and all-inclusive tourism, will also be considered. The cases will emphasise contemporary issues in the strategic planning, operations management, marketing, product development, human resource management, financial, economic, community and policy aspects of tourism.

Content

The module will comprise a series of lecturers, in which cases will be introduced and discussed. Each lecture will then be followed up by an interactive workshop, where the cases will be considered in greater depth. The purpose of the workshops is also to develop key learning, research and employability skills, such as group working, making presentations, the application of information technology, debating skills and working with numbers.

The module will seek to remain up to date and relevant by selecting contemporary cases that have a strong relationship with real-world practice. The precise mix of topics will therefore change from year to year. Topics could include:

  • The mass tourism model and the notion of alternative tourism
  • Farm tourism, with a focus on farm diversification strategies
  • Backpacker tourism, focusing on community impacts
  • Dark tourism, looking particularly at tourist motivations
  • Food and wine tourism, emphasising product development considerations
  • Heritage tourism, examining visitor management aspects
  • Ecotourism, analysing its environmental impacts
  • Volunteer tourism, with an emphasis on operational management issues
  • Adventure tourism, investigating the visitor experience
  • All-inclusive tourism, measuring and analysing tourism impacts
  • Low-budget tourism, highlighting implications destination marketing
A concluding lecture will serve to pull together the various issues and themes that have been identified in the series, to draw out lessons and to form conclusions about the contemporary nature of tourism.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number At least one workshop will require students to work with numbers and to manipulate numerical data in a spreadsheet. Assessed in assignment portfolio and feedback given.
Communication Students will prepare and deliver a group presentation based on a specific tourism case study. This will be assessed and feedback given. Students will need to communicate clearly in writing in the assessment portfolio.
Improving own Learning and Performance
Information Technology Students will be expected to use information technology in making their presentation. The assignment portfolio will require students to use word processing and spreadsheet skills. Assessed in assignment portfolio and feedback given.
Personal Development and Career planning
Problem solving Some of the workshops will be based around solving a particular problem or set of problems relating to contemporary tourism and its management. Assessed in assignment portfolio and feedback given.
Research skills
Subject Specific Skills By extending students knowledge of particular forms and cases of tourism, this module will serve to equip students to work in the tourism industry.
Team work Students will prepare and deliver a group presentation based on a specific tourism case study. This will be assessed and feedback given. Students will also be expected to work together in teams during the workshops (not assessed).

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4