Faculty of Business: Leisure, Sport and Tourism
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result Type: Grade and marks

Handbook description

This subject introduces conceptual and methodological approaches to the study of the experiences of the tourist. It seeks to develop an understanding of the tourist experience as distinct from the 'at home' leisure experience by exploring the unique, sociocultural and physical environment of the tourist. Approaches to managing tourist experiences are discussed in this subject. The content of this subject is largely based on contributions from tourism studies, anthropology, sociology, environmental psychology and social psychology.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Discuss the issues and practical problems involved in conceptualising 'the tourist' as a discrete subset of the broader set of 'travellers'.
2. Identify and understand the unique qualitative differences which distinguish the tourist experience from 'at home' leisure experiences.
3. Understand the social construction of the tourist experience.
4. Relate tourists as consumers to the supply of goods and services specific to tourists.
5. Understand the relevance and importance of knowledge of the tourist experience for management and policy making in tourism.

Contribution to graduate profile

The Tourist Experience builds on an understanding of the tourist as a distinctive type of leisure participant. It examines the tourist as the central and active element in the phenomenon of tourism and studies the social construction of the tourist experience. As tourists constitute the market for tourism services, knowledge of psychological and sociocultural factors underpinning their experience is central to the effective management and marketing of tourism.

Teaching and learning strategies

Teaching and learning strategies include: formal lectures, audio-visual presentations, tutorials and guest lectures. Content for this subject will be supported by UTS Online.

Content

• Conceptual and methodological approaches to the study of the tourist experience
• Tourist motivation
• Tourist types and diversity
• Tourists' interactions with tourists and hosts
• Tourists and the host culture
• Tourists and the physical environment
• Tourist satisfaction
• Management of the tourist experience.

Assessment

Fieldwork (Group)	20%
This addresses objectives 1-5.
Essay (Individual)	40%
This addresses objectives 3-5.
Examination (Individual)	40%
This addresses objectives 1-5.

The examination is conducted under University examination conditions, and hence thoroughly addresses concerns regarding secure assessment. Examination questions are updated each year. Fieldwork and essay topic areas are updated each year. Choice in essay topics encourages motivation in independent work.

Recommended text(s)

Student Reader with key articles to be prepared each semester.

Indicative references

Dann, G. (1996). The Language of Tourism, A Sociolinguistic Perspective. Wallingford: CAB International.

Dann, G. (2002). The Tourist as a Metaphor of the Social World. Oxon: CAB International.

MacCannell, D. (1999). The Tourist: A New Theory of the Leisure Class, Berkeley: University of California Press.

Urry, J. (2002). The Tourist Gaze. London: Sage Publications.