module specification

The module is closely aligned with the responsible tourism and ethical management agenda and reflects current debates in relation to how to utilise tourism as a tool for sustainable development, justice and social reconciliation. It takes the lessons learned from the developed countries and through the approach of critical theory, being aware of dominant ‘western oriented’ approaches, assesses the possibilities of applying them to destinations in the developing world.

The module also addresses inequalities in the developed world and assesses the role of tourism in social inclusion, and spatial regeneration.
Issues such as human rights, ethical management, conflict resolution and sustainable development will form the basis of the module. Furthermore, students will develop awareness of stakeholders, barriers to development, leakages, resource auditing, capacity measurement, benchmarking, destination management systems and other concepts and issues in order to construct a tourism strategy for a specific context.

Brief guidance notes: The module explores the application of sustainability principles to tourism development and operation.
 

The overarching aim of the module is to explore the relationships between powerful influences of the tourism activity on the economies and communities of the developing world.
It also aims:

1. To consider the current challenges facing the developing world
2. To explore how development theories and practice are played out in ever growing tourism activities.
3. To examine the questions that developing countries face as they endeavour to utilise tourism as a means of creating wealth, alleviating social ills and managing resource depletion

The module will also develop students' skills in:

• Academic writing
• Creative communication
• Critical thinking
• Self-assessment and reflection

• Social inequality in global trading systems
• Tourism and the Sustainable Development Gaols
• Pro-poor and community based tourism; issues and challenges
• Human rights and Ethical issues in tourism (case study)
• Tourism as a tool for building peace in developing post-conflict countries
• Governance, governments and tourism development
• Tourism and Social Inclusion
• Tourism and Gender Justice
• Tourism Planning in the setting of developing countries

The module will be delivered through a weekly series of 1.5 hour lectures and 1.5 hour seminars. Lectures will provide information and present academic problems appropriate to the topic under consideration. Seminars will offer students opportunities for discussion and activities in small groups and at whole class level, including presentations, short writing exercises and reflections, usually on the topics covered in the lecture of the same week. Learning materials and opportunities will also be made available on WebLearn, which will also be an important means of communication between students and between students and tutors, especially via a blog maintained by each student. 

Students will be expected to spend approximately 7 hours per week reading and reflecting upon the work covered so far through the module. Progress will be facilitated by the maintenance of the weekly blog, where students will not only consider their own responses but also read those of their peers in the seminar.

Lectures will also be given by guest speakers from experts in development and tourism in developing countries with a particular emphasis on speakers from the host communities in the developing country.

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

1. Critically assess and apply the principles and concepts guiding sustainable tourism development;
2. Critically assess and apply the tools available for tourism development;
3. Construct and evaluate a tourism strategy which aim is to assist peace agenda as a component of a development of the developing countries’ destination following the ethical and sustainable management principles;
4. Assess and evaluate the role of tourism in social reconciliation process
5. Further develop independent study and presentation skills..
    

Module assessment comprises two components:
1. Reflective blog portfolio (30%): Students are required to set up an online blog where they discuss and reflect on topics from lectures.
2. Individual essay of 3000 words (70%) on critical issues related to tourism and development.

Key text:
Telfer, D. J. and Sharpley, R. (2008) Tourism and Development in the Developing World. Routledge, London.

Supporting material:
Ateljevic, I., Harris, C., Morgan, N. and Pritchard, A. (2007) Tourism and Gender. CABI Publishing, Oxford.
Burns, P. and Novelli, M. (2008) Tourism Development. CABI Publishing, Oxford.
Cole, S. and Morgan, N. (2010) Tourism and Inequality: Problems and Prospects. CABI Publishing, Oxford.
Dowling, R. K., Singh, S. and Timothy, D. J. (2003) Tourism in Destination Communities. CABI Publishing, Oxford.
Fennel, D.A. (2006) Tourism Ethics, Channel View Publications, Clevedon.
Hawkins, D. E. and Mann, S. (2007) The World Bank’s role in tourism development, Annals of Tourism Research, 34(2): 348-363.
Howie, F. (2003) Managing the Tourist Destination. Thomson Learning, London and New York.
Mason, P. (2003) Tourism Impacts: Planning and Management, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford.
Mihalic, T. (2015) Tourism and economic development issues, [in:] Sharpley, D.J. and Telfer, R. (eds) Tourism and Development: Concepts and Issues, 2nd ed, Routledge.