TOU9170 Contemporary Issues in the Visitor Economy Module Handbook 2024-25

Module Synopsis 

This module will develop students’ understanding of contemporary issues in tourism,  hospitality and visitor experiences at Masters level. It aims to enhance and develop further  student appreciation of the 'context' within which tourism and hospitality businesses and  destinations operate and the comparative opportunities and constraints available in the  global tourism and hospitality economy. The module will focus upon the diversification of  the ‘types’ and ‘styles’ of tourism destinations, products and experiences. 

Contemporary debates will be used where appropriate to facilitate a critical discussion of  the philosophical contemporary issues of tourism and hospitality. Such debates will be  utilised to facilitate a critical understanding of issues like sustainability, climate change,  labour markets and tourism/hospitality, gender issues in hospitality/tourism/events, the  economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism, the digital movement, dark  tourism, the relationship between public and private sectors etc. The module seeks to  expose students to a critical debate of understanding some contemporary issues in tourism  and hospitality. 

Module Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to: 
LO1: Evaluate the tourism and hospitality industry’s response to regional, national and  global events; 
LO2: Assess the key issues in the national and international debate on the development  of tourism and hospitality in relation to economic, social and environmental  impacts; 
LO3: Analyze the complex inter-relationships between the public and private sectors in  tourism and hospitality development; 
LO4: evaluate key issues concerning the development of tourism and hospitality in  different cultures and societies. 

Assessment 

The visitor economy, destinations, communities and stakeholders face numerous  significant issues that will affect their future direction.  

Please select one contemporary issue that is relevant to your sector (i.e. tourism,  hospitality, events and cultural heritage management) and critically examine the issue, its  interrelationship with your sector and its management.  

Full assessment details are available in the Assessment Briefing(s) at the end of the  module handbook. This module uses Assessment Criteria Grids to provide feedback via Turnitin.  

Learning Resources  

The key text(s) for this module are: 

Hall, C. M. (ed) (2024) The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Tourism. Oxford: John Wiley &  Sons.  

Sharpley, R. & Telfer, D. (2023) Rethinking Tourism and Development. Cheltenham:  Edward Elgar Publishing. 

Sharpley, R. & Telfer, D. (eds) (2015) Tourism and Development: Concepts and Issues (2nd edition). Bristol: Channel View Publications.  

Lew, A; Hall, C. M. & Williams, A. M. (eds) (2014) The Wiley Blackwell Companion to  Tourism. Oxford: John Wiley & Sons. 

Other recommended reading for the module is: 

Lew, A.A., Cheer, J.M., Brouder, P. and Mostafanezhad, M. (eds) (2021) Global Tourism  and COVID-19. London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.

Contemporary Issues in the Visitor Economy (TOU9170) 

Cheer, J.M. & Lew, A.A. (eds) (2017) Tourism, Resilience and Sustainability. Taylor &  Francis Ebooks. 

Lew, A.A. (ed) (2017) Managing and Adapting to Global Change in Tourism Places.  London: Taylor & Francis Ltd. 

Lew, A.A. & Cheer, J.M. (eds) (2017) Tourism Resilience and Adaptation to  Environmental Change. Taylor & Francis Ebooks. 

Other more specific references are provided on the module Blackboard site and will be  signposted in class. You are also expected to read independently for this module: 

• Tourism Journals e.g., Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management and  Journal of Sustainable Tourism 

• Tourism Industry Insights & Updates e.g., WTTC, UNWTO, Visit Britain

Schedule of Activity 

Assessment Briefing: Presentation (formative) 

Module Title: Contemporary Issues in the Visitor Economy 
Module Code: TOU9170 
Assessment: Presentation 
Weighting: formative 
Deadline: Week 11 

Description of Assessment Task and Purpose:  

The visitor economy, destinations, communities and stakeholders face numerous  significant issues that will affect their future direction.  
Please select one contemporary issue that is relevant to your sector (i.e. tourism,  hospitality, events and cultural heritage management). 

You are required to design a poster presentation that critically examines the issue, its  interrelationship with your sector and its management.  

The poster presentation should:  

• Explain the issue show how it has evolved over time  
•  Assess the interrelationship between the issue and your sector (tourism, hospitality,  events, cultural heritage management)  
•  Identify actors and highlight their proposed strategies and activities to address the  issue at regional, national and global level 
• The poster presentation will be shared in an in-class mini-conference. 

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

LO1: Evaluate the tourism and hospitality industry’s response to regional, national and  global events; 

LO2: Assess the key issues in the national and international debate on the development  of tourism and hospitality in relation to economic, social and environmental impacts;

LO3: Analyze the complex inter-relationships between the public and private sectors in  tourism and hospitality development;

LO4 evaluate key issues concerning the development of tourism and hospitality in  different cultures and societies. 

Assessment Submission Instructions:

Your poster presentation will be shared in an in-class mini-conference in week 11 commencing Monday 2nd December 2024. 

Assessment Briefing: Essay

Module Title: Contemporary Issues in the Visitor Economy 
Module Code: TOU9170 
Assessment: Essay 
Weighting: 100% 
Deadline: Monday 13th January 2025 before 12pm 

Description of Assessment Task and Purpose:  

This assessment is an individual piece of work. 

The visitor economy, destinations, communities and stakeholders face numerous  significant issues that will affect their future direction.  
Please select one contemporary issue that is relevant to your sector (i.e. tourism,  hospitality, events and cultural heritage management) and critically examine the issue, its  interrelationship with your sector and its management. 

You are required to write a 4,000-word conference paper (in the form of an essay) that  critically examines the issue, its interrelationship with your sector and its management.  

The conference paper should:

• Explain the issue clearly and evaluate how it has evolved over time 
• Assess the interrelationship between the issue and your sector (tourism, hospitality,  events, cultural heritage management)  
  
• Identify actors and analyse the complexities involved in managing the issue
• Evaluate strategies and activities that are proposed and implemented to address  the issue at regional, national and global level 
  
• Examine the effectiveness of strategies and activities and conclude on how the  issue may present itself in future 
  

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

LO1:Evaluatee the tourism and hospitality industry’s response to regional, national and  global events; 

LO2: Assess the key issues in the national and international debate on the development  of tourism and hospitality in relation to economic, social and environmental impacts;

LO3: Analyze the complex inter-relationships between the public and private sectors in  tourism and hospitality development; 

LO4 Evaluate key issues concerning the development of tourism and hospitality in  different cultures and societies. 

Assessment Submission Instructions:

You are required to submit your conference paper before 12pm (midday) on Monday 13th January 2025 using the online assessment submission facility on the Module Blackboard  site.