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2020/2021

Sustainable Tourism

Code: 105029 ECTS Credits: 3
Degree Type Year Semester
2501915 Environmental Sciences OT 4 0
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Francesc Romagosa Casals
Email:
Francesc.Romagosa@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites.

Objectives and Contextualisation

The course aims to be an introduction to the application of the concept of sustainability or sustainable development in the world of tourism. The analysis will address the principles of sustainable tourism and its practical application both from the point of view of tourism destinations and tourism companies.

One of the basic objectives will be to know the main instruments of environmental management and sustainability in the tourism sector.

Competences

  • Adequately convey information verbally, written and graphic, including the use of new communication and information technologies.
  • Analyze and use information critically.
  • Demonstrate adequate knowledge and use the tools and concepts of the most relevant social science environment.
  • Demonstrate concern for quality and praxis.
  • Demonstrate initiative and adapt to new situations and problems.
  • Develop analysis and synthesis strategies regarding the environmental implications of industrial processes and urban management
  • Quickly apply the knowledge and skills in the various fields involved in environmental issues, providing innovative proposals.
  • Teaming developing personal values regarding social skills and teamwork.
  • Work autonomously

Learning Outcomes

  1. Adequately convey information verbally, written and graphic, including the use of new communication and information technologies.
  2. Analyze and interpret environmental problems for territorial planning.
  3. Analyze and interpret environmental problems to deepen the territorial diagnosis and the changes to the landscape.
  4. Analyze and synthesize the environmental implications of planning and land management.
  5. Analyze and use information critically.
  6. Demonstrate concern for quality and praxis.
  7. Demonstrate initiative and adapt to new situations and problems.
  8. Identify geographic processes in the environmental surroundings and to value properly and originally.
  9. Know and apply the most relevant methodologies in the planning.
  10. Know the main territorial and landscape dynamics in Catalonia and Spain.
  11. Rate changes the landscape through spatial relationships on different territorial stairs through the relationships between nature and society.
  12. Recognize and explain the spatial relationships at different territorial stairs, physical, economic, social and cultural diversity of the territories.
  13. Teaming developing personal values regarding social skills and teamwork.
  14. Undertake spatial relationships on different territorial stairs through the relationships between nature and society in the field of territorial planning.
  15. Work autonomously

Content

1.- Tourism and sustainability: Background

      - Introduction to tourism

      - Sustainable tourism: definition, principles and implementation

2.- Tourism and the environment, a contradictory relationship

      - Tourism and the environment

      - The case of tourism and climate change

      - The case of ecotourism

3.- Management tools for more sustainable tourism

      - Tools for tourism destinations

      - Tools for tourism companies

Methodology

The contents of the course will be developed through the following activities:

- Follow up on the topics covered in the course (reading and studying the materials that make up the notes of the course).

- Reading books and articles as a complement to the notes (some of them available at Virtual Campus).

- Elaboration of assignments, with the tutoring of the professor.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Classroom activities 18 0.72 3, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 7, 6, 14, 8, 12, 1, 15, 13, 11
Classroom practical activities 7 0.28 3, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 7, 6, 14, 8, 12, 1, 15, 13, 11
Type: Supervised      
Tutorials 3 0.12 3, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 7, 6, 14, 8, 12, 1, 15, 13, 11
Type: Autonomous      
Practical assignments 20 0.8 3, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 7, 6, 14, 8, 12, 1, 15, 13, 11
Study 23 0.92 3, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 7, 6, 14, 8, 12, 1, 15, 13, 11

Assessment

The assessment of the course will consist of doing two partial exams that will evaluate the theoretical contents of the course and will count 50% of the final mark (25% + 25%), and of two practical / applied assignments (one of them realized individually, while the other in group), which will count the remaining 50% of the final mark (25% + 25%).

In order to be able to make the average mark and pass the course, it is mandatory that each one of the parts evaluated has obtained a mark greater than 4 out of 10. In the case of the exams, they must be done again on the final exam. Practical work is not able to be repeated. To participate in the recovery the students must have been previously evaluated in a set of activities whose weight equals to a minimum of 2/3 of the total grade of the course.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Partial exam 1 25% 2 0.08 3, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 6, 14, 8, 12, 1, 15, 11
Partial exam 2 25% 2 0.08 3, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 6, 14, 8, 12, 1, 15, 11
Practical assignment 1 25 % 0 0 3, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 7, 6, 14, 8, 12, 1, 15, 13, 11
Practical assignment 2 25 % 0 0 3, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 7, 6, 14, 8, 12, 1, 15, 13, 11

Bibliography

- FENNELL, D.A., COOPER, C. (2020). Sustainable tourism. Principles, contexts and practices. Bristol: Channel View Publications.

- FONT, X., LYNES, J. (2020). Corporate social responsibility for sustainable tourism. London: Routledge.

- FONT, X., MCCABE, S. (2018). Marketing for sustainable tourism. London: Routledge. 

- GIULIETTI, S., ROMAGOSA, F., FONS, J., SCHRÖDER, C. (2018). Tourism and environment in Europe. Towards a reporting mechanism. Bellaterra: ETC/ULS.

- HALL, C.M., GOSSLING, S., SCOTT, D. (Eds.) (2015). The Routledge handbook of tourism and sustainability. London: Routledge.

- HOLDEN, A. (2008). Environment and tourism (2nd ed.). London: Routledge.

- UNEP – WTO (2005). Making tourism more sustainable. A guide for policy makers. Madrid: WTO.

- UNEP – WTO (2012). Tourism in the green economy – Background Report. Madrid: UNWTO.

- SAARINEN, J. (2020). Tourism and Sustainable Development Goals. London: Routledge.

- SWARBROOKE, J. (1999). Sustainable tourism management. Wallingford: CABI Publishing.