Course syllabus

This course introduces the concept of sustainable tourism and explores what sustainable tourism can look like through a range of local and global examples. Tourism is then examined as a tool for development, enabling students to critically assess both its benefits and its potential negative impacts. The course also investigates the role of tourism in promoting sustainable planning and development.

The course further considers the importance of planning in sustainable destination development. Various planning approaches and frameworks are presented to illustrate the processes, challenges, and considerations involved in integrated destination planning. Alongside theoretical perspectives, the course adopts a practical approach in which students analyse real-world destinations and develop recommendations that destination managers or local authorities could use in designing comprehensive strategies for sustainable destination development.

By the end of the course, students will have gained an understanding of the complexities involved in tourism destination planning and development. They will also be able to critically evaluate different approaches and strategies for achieving more sustainable tourism outcomes.