27323 Government and Policy for Leisure Sport and Tourism

Subject level: Undergraduate

Handbook description

This subject examines the rationale for government involvement in leisure, tourism, sport, the environment and the arts. It also examines political ideology and power processes in the community and methods of policy analysis, including performance indicators, cost benefit, economic impact analysis and performance appraisal. Lastly, the subject reviews policy initiatives.

Subject objectives/outcomes

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

1. demonstrate an awareness and an understanding of the range of political, philosophical and economic perspectives on the roles of the state in contemporary western societies, and how they impinge on leisure, sport and tourism
2. describe the historical development of leisure, sport and tourism related policies in Australia, and the impact of global developments on leisure, sport and tourism policy in Australia and overseas
3. apply concepts, theories and methods of policy-making and decision-making in the public sector
4. review policy initiatives that encourage business development in the leisure, sport and tourism industries.

Contribution to graduate profile

This core subject is designed for the Bachelor of Management in Events and Leisure and Bachelor of Management in Tourism students to equip them with understanding of public policy approaches and practice in the leisure/tourism area. It explicitly highlights the interplay of public interest and the mixed economy of providers of leisure, sport and tourism services and the relevant decision making techniques.

Teaching and learning strategies

Teaching and learning strategies will include lectures, tutorials and seminars, as appropriate, and use of current policy case studies and current affairs videos. An important part of the learning experience will come through participation in set exercises in relation to decision-making and evaluation methods. Content for this subject will be supported by UTSOnline.

Content

• The structure and form of the state
• Rationales for government involvement
• Political ideologies
• Pluralist politics, stakeholders and the process of policy making
• Decision-making and government
• Economic-based approaches to decision-making
• Organisational effectiveness
• Objectives and performance appraisal in the leisure, sport and tourism sector
• Government business interactions

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Mid-Semester Examination - Policy Analysis Theory (Individual)

Assessment item 2: Reflective Learning Journal (Individual)

Assessment item 3: Final Examination - Policy and Decision Making Techniques (Individual)

Required text(s)

Veal, AJ, 2002, Leisure and Tourism Policy and Planning, CABI Publishing: Wallingford Oxon, UK.

Recommended text(s)

Faculty of Business, 2000, Guide to Writing Assignments, Faculty of Business, University of Technology, Sydney

Morley-Warner, T, 2000, Academic writing is: a guide to writing in a university context, Centre for Research and Education in the Arts, Broadway, NSW

Indicative references

Davis G, Wanna J, Warhurst J and Weller P, 1993, 2nd edn, Public Policy in Australia, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

Fennell, DA, Dowling, RK and NetLibrary Inc. (2003), Ecotourism policy and planning (from http://0-www.netLibrary.com.library.newcastle.edu.au/urlapi.asp?action=summary&v=1&bookid=87375)

Hall, CM and Jenkins, JM (2003), Tourism and public policy, London: Thomson.

Pigram, JJJ and Jenkins, JM (2006), Outdoor recreation management (2nd edn), Abingdon, Oxf; New York: Routledge.

Elliot, J, 1997, Tourism: Politics and Public Sector Management, Routledge: London.

Henry, I, 2001, 2nd edn, The Politics of Leisure Policy, Macmillan, London.

Jeffries, David, 2001, Governments and tourism, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Leach, Robert, 1993, 2nd edn, Political Ideologies: an Australian introduction, Macmillian, Melbourne.

Papadakis, E, 1993, Politics and the Environment: the Australian Experience, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

Parsons, W, 1995, Public Policy, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, UK.

Smith, Rodney (ed) 3rd edn, 1993, Politics in Australia, Allen and Unwin, Sydney.

Stewart, B, (2004), Australian sport: better by design?: the evolution of Australian sport policy, London; New York: Routledge.

Stevenson, Deborah, 2000, Art and organisation: making Australian cultural policy, Queensland University Press, St Lucia, Qld