Overview:

Tourism businesses face many challenges that threaten their economic viability and sustainability. This unit provides an understanding of the competitive environment in which tourism businesses operate, and the importance of incorporating economically sustainable principles and practice. This assessment is designed to assess students’ critical thinking by identifying the problem and possible solutions to enhance the sustainability of tourism businesses.

As a manager of a particular type of tourism business (eg a tour operator), you are required to prepare a 1500-2000 word staff memo that outlines, with references, one of the key challenges that your business may face in becoming economically sustainable. The memo should also describe how you plan to overcome this challenge by outlining the particular principle and/or practice you will introduce into your business operations. Key challenges or issues may include: triple-bottom line approach; corporate social responsibility; risk assessment; financial instability; identifying key markets; business planning or lack thereof; an environmental or community-based initiative; or human resources practice.

The memo should address the following:

· Clearly identify and analyse the key challenge being addressed, including references to the tourism literature

· Describe your proposed solution/initiative, and how this enhances your business’ sustainability

· Provide an example of this initiative that demonstrates how it enhances sustainability

Format of the memo:

· Memo title, including student name, student number, due date

· Memo should be between 1500-2000 words in length (excluding references)

· The memo can include pictures and other media where appropriate, to support the message

· References to sources used in the memo should be listed at the end in APA format (min. 5 academic references)

· Issue identification and evaluation – clearly identify and describe the sustainability issue using key terms

· Critical analysis and evaluation – outlining the proposed initiative, include examples/media to demonstrate critical thinking

· Content development – logical flow, critical analysis, clear, concise and cohesive, use of sources and evidence

· Style and conventions – formal and informal rules inherent in expectations for writing a business memo to staff

· Syntax and mechanics – sentence construction, grammar, punctuation and spelling, references formatted in APA

Overview:

The economic sustainability of businesses is vital to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of tourism destinations. Additionally, economic sustainability also enhances a business’s ability to apply sustainable business practices that promote environmental and socio-cultural benefits. This assessment is designed to assess students’ presentation skills, and their ability to formulate and communicate a clear and concise argument. Students are required to demonstrate their knowledge of theoretical sustainability principles and how these principles are applied by tourism businesses within the industry.

You are required to give a 10 minute presentation on a selected tourism business that you believe demonstrates the three core sustainability principles of the triple bottom line - economic, environmental and socio-cultural sustainability. During the presentation, you should also consider and discuss the role of governance in a business’s ability to achieve its sustainability principles and practices. You are also required to submit a hard copy of your visual aids (Powerpoint slides) and reference page.

The presentation should address the following:

· Clearly identify the tourism business being discusses/analysed

· Introduce theoretical concepts including sustainability principles

· Demonstrate how the tourism business has applied theoretical principles with practical examples

· Consider additional sustainability initiatives that the tourism business may inroduce

Format of the presentation:

· 10 minute presentation which may be supported with visual aids (eg Powerpoint slides)

· Copy of Powerpoint slide presentation

· Title page with name of tourism business, student name, student number, due date

· Reference page listing key sources of information referenced in APA format

Submission of the presentation:

· A copy of the Powerpoint slides, including a reference page, is to be submitted on the day of the presentation (hard copy).

· Identification and overview of tourism business being analysed

· Identification and understanding of theoretical sustainability principles - economic, environmental, socio-cultural and governance (including references)

· Critical evaluation of sustainability principles - demonstrate how these have been applied by the tourism business with examples

· Content development - logical flow and clarity of argument throughout presentation

· Style and conventions - formal and informal rules inherent in expectations for a presentation, including appropriate use of support materials (visual aids)

· Syntax and mechanics - of visual aids: sentence construction, grammar, punctuation and spelling, sources supported and referenced using APA format

Overview:

This unit examines how the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry and tourism destinations is reliant upon the economic sustainability of tourism businesses incorporating sustainable principles and practices into their business operations. This assessment is designed to assess students’ ability to apply theoretical understanding and sustainability principles, focussing on economic sustainability, in the development of a business plan for a sustainable tourism business.

In groups (2-3), you are required to prepare a business plan for a sustainable tourism business that you would like to start, have knowledge of or is fictitious. The business plan template is provided as part of the text book, with each topic of the unit incorporating key aspects that will be included in the business plan.

The business plan should address the following:

· Business description

· Products and services

· Marketing

· Management and legal structure

· Operations

· Financial management

Format of the report:

· Follow the template provided via the Moodle page

· No longer than 3000 words (excluding title page and references)

· Title page with business name, student name/s, student number, due date

· Main body of the report should be word-processed, with appropriate layout and use of headings/sub-headings, one-and-a-half line spacing (as per business plan template)

· Page of references at the end of the report that is correctly formatted using APA.

Submission of the report:

· Online – Business plans are to be uploaded to Moodle as a Word or basic text format.

· Identification and description of business - clear identification and explanation of the tourism business, products and services

· Identification and critical analysis of external environment, including market demand, competitive environment (SWOT), and risk assessment

· Identification and critical analysis of marketing, management, operational (including HRM) and financial practices that demonstrate sustainability

· Content development - logical flow, clarity and consistency of business throughout document

· Style and conventions - formal and informal rules inherent in expectations for writing a business plan

· Syntax and mechanics - sentence construction, grammar, punctuation and spelling, references formatted in APA