27735 Tourism and the Industry

Subject level: Postgraduate

Handbook description

This subject provides students with an essential underpinning and broad knowledge and understanding of the specific and general contexts within which management in, and management of, tourism are practiced. It systematically analyses all the essential elements of tourism, with particular emphasis on the structure and functions of the tourism industry. It also provides an overview of the nature of the interrelationships between tourism and the significant environments with which it interacts. The subject uses information and case studies from Australian and international contexts.

Subject objectives/outcomes

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

1. identify the approaches and purposes involved in the various conceptualisations and definitions of the tourism phenomenon, tourists and the tourism industry
2. describe the development of contemporary forms of tourism and its current scope, size and economic value
3. systematically and analytically investigate the various sectors of the tourism industry in terms of their functions, structures, operations, and interrelationships at all stages of the touristic trip process
4. identify the functions of key national and international organisations that regulate and/or manage tourism activity and growth.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject provides a systems-based overview of the tourism phenomenon and its associated industry, including an examination of the tourist and tourism's broader environments. Students will systematically analyse the essential elements of tourism in terms of their functional, structural, operational, and interrelational attributes. They will also be aware of the interrelationships between tourism and the significant environments with which it interacts. Students therefore develop knowledge and understanding of the specific and general contexts within which management in, and management of tourism are practiced, aspects which are developed further in other subjects in this course.

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is presented via one two-hour lecture session per week, supplemented by seminar discussions, and independent student research. Seminar discussions are based on prescribed readings and discussion questions supplied by students and the lecturer.

Content

• Introduction to tourism, its history, current size and scope
• General Systems Theory and its application in tourism studies
• Overview of tourism's environments and resulting influences and impacts
• Tourists and other travellers as a system element
• The tourism industry, analysed in terms of their functions, structures, operations and inter-relationships
• Tourist attractions — a conceptual analysis
• Destination management concepts and issues.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Theoretical literature-based essay (Individual)

Assessment item 2: Report (Group)

Assessment item 3: Examination (Individual)

Required text(s)

Weaver, D and Lawton, L, 2006, Tourism Management, 3rd edition, Wiley, Milton, Qld (note that this book will come in useful in other subjects in your tourism course as well).

Faculty of Business, 2006, Guide to Writing Assignments, Faculty of Business, UTS, Sydney (absolutely necessary, available at: www.business.uts.edu.au/resources/guide.html)

Indicative references

Ball, S, Horner, S, Nield, K, 2007, Contemporary Hospitality and Tourism Management Issues in China and India: Today's Dragons and Tigers, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, UK.

Burkart, A and Medlik, S, 1981 Tourism: Past, Present and Future, Heinemann, London

Cooper, C, Fletcher, J, Fyall, A, Gilbert, D, and Wanhill, S, 2005, Tourism: Principles and Practice (3rd edn), Pearson Education Limited, Harlow, Essex, England

Fyall A, Garrod B, Leask A (eds.), 2008, Managing Visitor Attractions, (2nd edn) Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, UK

Goeldner, C and Brent Ritchie, JR, 2009, Tourism: Principles, Practices and Philosophies,(11th edn) Wiley, Hoboken, NJ

Hall, CM, 2003, Introduction to Tourism; Dimensions and Issues, 4th edn, Hospitality Press, Frenchs Forest, NSW

Hall, C, Michael, 2007, Introduction to Tourism in Australia, (5th edn), Longman, Melbourne

Holloway, J, 2006, The Business of Tourism, (7th edn), Financial Times / Pearson Education, Harlow, England

Leiper, N, 2004 Tourism Management (3rd. edn) Pearson Education Australia, Sydney

Medlik, S, 1999, Understanding Tourism, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, UK

Medlik, S, 2000, Tourism and Hospitality in the 21st Century, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, UK

Medlik, S, 2002, Dictionary of Travel and Tourism, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, UK

Page S, Dowling R, 2002, Ecotourism, Pearson Education, Harlow, Essex, UK

Pearce, D, 1989, Tourist Development, (2nd edn) Longman, London

Pearce P, Morrison A, Rutledge, J, 1998, Tourism: Bridges Across Continents, Irwin-McGraw-Hill, Sydney, Australia

Theobald, WF (edn) 2005 Global Tourism (3rd edn), Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann, Boston

Urry, J, 1990, The Tourist Gaze: Leisure and Travel in Contemporary Societies, Sage Publications, London

Academic journals

Annals of Tourism Research

Current Issues in Tourism

Tourism Management

Journal of Travel Research

Cornell Quarterly Journal of Hotel Administration

plus others

Miscellaneous

You should also actively seek out annual reports, and other miscellaneous publications (including promotional materials) produced or published by tourism industry firms or organisations (particularly those from the government sector).

Particularly relevant organisations include:

Tourism Australia www.tourism.australia.com

Tourism Research Australia www.tra.australia.com

Australian Bureau of Statistics www.abs.gov.au

United Nations World Tourism Organisation www.unwto.org/index.php