LT6157 - Responsible Tourism (2026/27)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2026/27, but may be subject to modification | ||||||||||
| Module title | Responsible Tourism | ||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 147 | ||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2026/27(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
Tourism has evolved to be more than just a leisure activity of the privileged few, but alongside its exponential growth, contemporary nature, and increasing availability, a series of questions around negative impacts, unequal benefits, and the consumerist nature of tourism encounters arose.
‘Responsible Tourism’ introduces the complex issues related to contemporary mass tourism that overuses resources and diminishes the value of destinations, businesses, and human encounters in the name of never-ending growth. Responsible tourism philosophy offers a new perspective at tourism destinations that in first place aim to be great places to live, and only secondly a great place to visit. This balancing of the needs of all communities of interest, within the constraints of resources available within them is the key agenda in responsible travel.
This module will look at responsibility through the eyes of visitors (responsible tourists), business (responsible business management) and destinations (destination stewardship) to explore perspectives and tools that ensure all stakeholders benefit from tourism in all possible ways: ensuring that it is a viable source of income and employment opportunities for its residents; or that it drives investment in public utilities and transport infrastructure. Business owners would hope to sustain long-term profitable operations, supported by a network of linkages with other economic sectors. Women, young people, and indigenous communities in destinations should be empowered by tourism that stimulates pride in their own heritage and preserves and protects natural and cultural assets.
Prior learning requirements
No prerequisites. Available for Study Abroad? YES
Syllabus
• The concept of responsible tourism and its relation to ethics and sustainability
• Irresponsible tourism practices and responsible traveller dilemmas
• Invisible burden concept
• Responsible visitors, responsible businesses, responsible destinations – the destination stewardship model
• Social responsibility in tourism
• Environmental responsibility in tourism
• Economic responsibility in tourism
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
The module is delivered via on-site lectures (streamed online) and seminars. Lecture materials, which use a wide range of communication means, incl. videos, graphics, maps, hyperlinks, and social media, are available online (Weblearn) in written (slides) and audio-video (session recording) form.
Seminars utilise a series of discussions and role-plays, with case studies from around the world, to enable students to recognise environments familiar to them and reflect on topics in the context of their own experiences.
Students are expected to prepare for on-site teaching sessions by reading core materials and media case studies indicated in the module Reading List, as suggested for each week.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Discuss the meaning of responsibility from various stakeholder perspectives
2. Identify sources of inequality, poor planning, management, and the invisible burden tourism brings to communities, destinations, and visitors
3. Explain the role of each stakeholder in ensuring responsible tourism planning, management, and delivery
4. Apply the concept of destination stewardship to redirect tourism into a responsible pursuit