module specification

LT6020 - Destination Management and Marketing (2024/25)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2024/25
Module title Destination Management and Marketing
Module level Honours (06)
Credit rating for module 30
School Guildhall School of Business and Law
Total study hours 300
 
81 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
200 hours Guided independent study
12 hours Assessment Preparation / Delivery
7 hours Placement / study abroad
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Group Coursework 20%   Group destination audit poster (1500 words)
Coursework 20%   Dragon's Den model business pitch (5 minutes)
Coursework 60%   Project bid application (3500 words)
Running in 2024/25

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
No instances running in the year

Module summary

‘Destination Management and Marketing’ guides students through principles of tourism destinations management and marketing, opening prospective career pathway into planning and developing tourism destination’s portfolio. Realistic understanding of obstacles facing destinations that seek to establish or improve destination product and image will be explored critically with reference to current issues and case studies from range of destination types: urban and rural, led by events, culture, business or niche tourism products.

As core module for Tourism and Events pathway, it aims to utilise links with Tourism Management Institute and develop graduates able to meet industry needs and pursue career in this, mostly public, sector of tourism industry.

Design is based on the model of work-simulation, as the module aims to offer students an opportunity to practice industry-specific skills and competencies; apply so far attained knowledge and develop teamworking and communication skills. During the course of the module, students apply principles to practice through ‘live’ examples, advising a particular British destination on improving its competitive advantage via typical for destination manager's practice tools: poster, business pitch and project bid.

Prior learning requirements

Marketing and Branding for Creative Industries

Syllabus

The syllabus guides students through principles of tourism destinations management, marketing and planning:
During the first stage, students will be familiarised to the concept of managing destination and will recognise how it differs from managing tourism enterprises. The role of destination management organisations and other stakeholders, including public and private bodies will be the introduced. Later on, the focus will move to the market research, planning and marketing audit and establishing destination’s image, potential and competitive environment using PESTEL and Porter’s diamond model of competitiveness. The crisis management strategies and operations in destinations will also be discussed. LO1


The following stage will examine differences in managing various types of destinations (including urban, rural, cultural, business, events, niche and UNESCO heritage sites) and adjustment of destinations for different types of visitors (e.g. the model of accessible destinations). Models of new tourism products development will be demonstrated, and focus will move on to applying the strategies of positioning and USP creation. LO2


In the final part of the module, investigation of extended marketing mix will serve as a medium to apply its principles and develop new or repositioned tourism products. Marketing concepts of branding, partnerships and facilitation strategies, segmentation and targeting will be modified to suit services and tourism destinations. Extended role of social media marketing will also be explored. Finally, the Discover England Fund will be used to determine the industry-specific process of project bid application. LO3

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

A third of the module is delivered via class contact, in the form of lectures, seminars, guest speakers, assignment tutorials and support sessions. Lecture sessions are available online (Weblearn) in written and audio-video form. Lectures use wide range of communication means, including videos, graphics, maps, hyperlinks and social media. Supporting readings (when possible due to copyright) are available in written and audio form.
Syllabus is built on the principle of feed-forward, where contents allow for systematic progress on assignment components and implementation of changes as a result of feedback. Field visit to the case study destination allows for reflection on secondary research findings.
Course recognition from Tourism Management Institute allows students to participate in organisation’s Annual Convention (additional to usual timetable) increasing opportunities for networking, career guidance and PDP (CPD certificates provided). Students are eligible for discounted student membership in TMI, and after successfully completing the module and course, graduates are automatically eligible for associate membership of TMI (ATMI).

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Critically evaluate destination’s tourism potential and interpret market trends relevant to destination’s development
2. Assess destination’s tourism product development options in order to propose and justify the choice of unique selling proposition
3. Design new, destination specific tourism product via creation of development plan that increases destination’s competitive position and demonstrates the application of strategic marketing principles

Bibliography

Core Texts:
• Kolb, B. (2017) Tourism Marketing for Cities and Towns: Using Social Media and Branding to Attract Tourists, Routledge: London.
• Morrison, A.M. (2013) Marketing and Managing Tourism Destinations, Routledge, Oxon.

Other Texts:
• Kozak, M., Baloglu, S. (2011) Managing and Marketing Tourist Destinations: Strategies to Gain a Competitive Edge, Routledge. London.
• Morgan, N. and Pritchard, A. (2010) Destination Branding: Creating the Unique Destination Proposition, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
• Pike, S. (2016) Destination Marketing: Essentials, Routledge. London.
• World Tourism Organization (2014) Handbook on E-marketing for Tourism Destinations, UNWTO: Madrid.

Journals:
Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research, Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, Journal of Vacation Marketing and Place Branding.

Websites:
Visit Britain corporate (https://www.visitbritain.org/)

Electronic Databases:
Global Data, MINTEL, Keynote Market Reports and Passport