Module code
BML250
Title
Transformational Sustainable Tourism Experiences
Programme
University of Chichester Business School
Level
4
Credits
15
ECTS*
7.5
Contact time
3hrs per week + tutorials
Acceptable for
Optional for BA (Hons) Sustainable Tourism Management - option module for other routes
Excluded combinations
n/a
Mandatory/Optional
Optional for BA (Hons) Sustainable Tourism Management - option module for other routes
Module Co-ordinator
Dr Jorge Gutic
Description In an changing world where there seems to be a constant stream of news headlines about terrorism, security and political challenges; frequent environmental disasters and threats of economic collapses, an increasing number of people have sought to react against the perceived negative of modern life by taking positive steps that seek to transform them and those communities where they visit, using travel and tourism as a vehicles to promote peace, prosperity and well-being. This module seeks to explore the different types of tourism that can transform human beings, such as educational, volunteer, survival, community-based, eco, WWOOF, extreme, polar, religious, spiritual, wellness, and mission tourism. By first exploring the causes and consequences of the ‘macro’ economic, social, political and environmental factors that affect modern societies, and the effects that these factors are having in human well-being, this module then provides an opportunity to explore different forms of tourism that are increasingly being associated with benefits that, when considered at a holistic level, can be described as sustainable due to providing identifiable, sometimes significant, benefits to the economy, environment and the society of the communities where it happens. The module will seek to examine each form of tourism by discussing their contributing factors, current operational issues, as well as the benefits and potential drawbacks that their implementation has brought on individuals, communities and societies. Outline Syllabus & Teaching & Learning Methods This module deals with the effects of transformational behavioural and travel trends as well as their sustainable interactions on socio-cultural, economic, political and natural dynamics of tourism and leisure destinations. The teaching approach comprises a series of initial, tutor-led lectures that lay out the foundations of the module in terms of defining the phenomena of transformational tourism, the philosophical and practical issues behind it and its relation with sustainability, but it will then follow a flipped-classroom approach which emphasises student initiative and peer learning. This is initiated by students first choosing which aspects of transformational tourism they wish to explore, which are then taken ownership by the students individually. The students will then research their chosen tourism experience in their own time and feedback their knowledge back to their colleagues in a ‘presentational’ format of their choice, but following a standard information template that highlights the same issues and characteristics in each form of tourism. The presentation format used by each student will be agreed in advance with the module tutor, but creative thinking beyond the use of a traditional PowerPoint-supported presentation is supported, with the use of video, website design, and practical demonstrations being some of the alternatives that students are encouraged to explore. The module will then provide students with the opportunity to have a hands-on transformational experience by visiting a site or venue that will enable them to experience first-hand the benefits and issues associated with one of the types of tourism discussed in class, with this field visit providing the experience over which the students will write a final reflective piece discussing both the visit’s transformational elements of their own personal experience, as well as providing management recommendations on how to improve both the visitor experience and improve the sustainable benefits derived from the activity’s implementation. Key areas in the module include: n n n n n
n
Change and instability in modern societies and its effects on human wellbeing and society in general. Defining sustainable transformational sustainable experiences – origins, philosophies and approaches. Seeking transformation: the different avenues for, and expressions of, transformational sustainable experiences. The role of authenticity, sustainability, emotions and memory in the development of transformative tourism experiences. Student-led focused presentations / discussions, usually covering some of the following: educational, volunteer, survival, community-based, eco, farm, extreme, polar, religious, spiritual, wellness, and mission tourism. Reflecting on personal experiences
Intended Learning Outcomes
How assessed**
On successful completion of this module students will be able to: §
Recognise, evaluate and assess the development, prevalence and significance of topical transformational events and trends for tourism behaviour and learn to assess the repercussions, adaptations and reactions that cause on the tourism industry
§
Recognise the relationship between sustainability and transformational tourism activities and behaviours
Both assessments
§
Research, analyse and interpret the details of a topical subject independently and then process the results and present them
Presentation
§
Develop effective presentation and discussion skills and improve them
Presentation
§
Develop effective reflective skills that lead to critical action and transformational improvement at personal and organisational level
Reflective discussion
§
Reference literature using appropriate conventions
Both assessments
§
Display appropriate creative presentation skills
Presentation
Assessment Scheme: Formative
Both assessments
Weighting %
Students will receive support and guidance through in-class discussions and peer reflection on how to approach the different elements of their assessment. Students will be encouraged to reflect on the topics discussed during the student-led presentation sessions and the way they can be related to the module’s learning outcomes. Opportunities for reflective thinking in terms of organisational improvement will be encouraged, both with case studies and practical examples. Assessment Scheme: Summative Evidence-based individual presentation on sustainable transformational tourism (50%) (1750 word equivalent) At the start of the module students will chose a type of transformational sustainable tourism activity from a list of topics and then work individually to collect, critically analyse and present a seminar to their peers in relation to the chosen tourism activity, using a ‘presentation’ format of their choice which should follow a standard information template, highlighting specific issues and characteristics in each form of tourism. The way in which the information is presented will be agreed in advance with the module tutor, but creative thinking in the use of presentation alternatives will be encouraged. Assessment Criteria • Relevance and quality of the chosen evidence to the chosen tourism topic • Ability to synthesise information to develop a coherent discussion argument • Evidence of reflection by relating discussed topic with wider transformational and sustainability issues • Ability to present information in a clear and structured format that meets assignment information template guidelines • Evidence of case studies and reference to the academic literature using appropriate citation and referencing conventions
0%
Weighting % 50%
Reflective discussion: (50%) (1750 word equivalent) Using a site or venue visit as the basis to inform their reflection, students will write a final reflective piece discussing a) how their own personal experience was influenced by the visit’s transformational elements, and b) what management recommendations they can provide in order to improve both the visitor transformational experience and improve the sustainable benefits derived from the activity’s implementation.
50%
Assessment Criteria • Appropriate evidence of reflection that influences both learning and professional development • Evidence of understanding of relevant sustainable transformational tourism management principles • Provision of suitable, relevant and feasible management recommendations to the organisation responsible of visited site • Clarity, coherence, structure, grammar and punctuation of discussed ideas Reassessment Scheme
Weighting %
Essay discussing the significance of each sustainable topic raised on the Reflective Blogs for the organisation on which the sustainable development initiative was based (3,500 words)
100%
Indicative Reading Lists/Key Texts/Websites/other resources Little, J. (2012) Transformational Tourism, Nature and Wellbeing: New Perspectives on Fitness and the Body. Sociologia Ruralis. 52(3): 257-271. Reisinger, Y. (2012) Transformational Tourism: Tourist Perspectives. CABI. Reisinger, Y. (2015) Transformational Tourism: Host Perspectives. CABI. Sharpley, R. 2011. The Study of Tourism Past, Trends and Future Directions. Routledge. Soren, B. (2009) Museum experiences that change visitors. Museum Management & Curatorship. 24(3): 233 - 252. Pine II, B. and Gilmore, J. (2014) A leader's guide to innovation in the experience economy. Strategy & Leadership. 42(1): 24 30. Taylor, S. (2013) The peak at the nadir: Psychological turmoil as the trigger for awakening experiences. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies. 32(2): 1 -13. Wahab, S. and Cooper, C. (2001) Tourism in the Age of Globalisation. Routledge.