Tourism planning is conducted by a range of actors across a range of scales in tourism cities. At the site scale, tourism (and non-tourism) businesses are responsible for planning activities that directly influence the experience of tourists. At one end of the site scale is the tourist experiences of a cafe, while the other end of the scale could be an integrated resort, such as Atlantis the Palm in Dubai. At the destination scale, local governments or other government organisations are usually responsible for the management, planning and marketing of a place, but decision making is often disjointed because of the range of public and private sector organisations that have various planning requirements (eg fire service, local government planning ordinance, electricity providers and communications services). In a similar manner, planning at a regional scale is often disjointed because of conflicting priorities between local governments, the private sector and state and national governments. In Queensland for example, the mining industry would like to expand coal mining operations but at the cost of some damage to the Great Barrier Reef through dredging.

Using the example of a tourist city familiar to you, conduct a critical case study to identify six key issues for tourism development and planning. You are to identify two key issues at the site scale, two at the destination scale and two at the regional scale. Drawing on theories discussed in this unit, justify why these issues are significant and demonstrate how planning can be used to overcome these issues.

This assessment is to be written in essay format and should include subheadings where appropriate. The essay should be no longer than 2,500 words in length (excluding references) and include the following structure:

• Title page including the title of your assessment, your name, student ID, lecturer/tutor name, and unit name and code
• Detailed review of the case study, i.e. chosen tourist city and any background information
• Identification of six key issues for tourism development and planning
• Demonstrate evidence of research through the integration of relevant literature using theories/concepts from this unit
• Justification of why the issues are significant and recommendations on how planning can be used to overcome these issues
• Write a conclusion that sums up the main points
• Reference list including at least 15 academic references.

Penalties apply for late submission (5% mark will be deducted from the total mark for the assessment per day unless an approved extension has been granted).

A brief marking criteria is provided below. A more detailed marking rubric is provided on Moodle.

• Evidence of critical thought about the scales of tourism planning
• Justification of the selection of significant issues
• Application of tourism planning theories
• Use of suitable examples
• Evidence of research through appropriate academic references (minimum of 15)

Field trip report: Destination development

• On-campus students: Field trip will be subject to available locations/tourism operators in the light of Covid-19 restrictions. Field trip will be at the students' own expense.
• Distance students: select an urban destination in your area.

In Assessment 1 you identified a range of planning issues affecting a chosen destination. Drawing on the knowledge you gained from undertaking Assessment 1, the lecture material in this unit, your readings, and your notes and observations from the field trip, write a report that critically examines the current product mix in a destination and make recommendations for further development of the destination. You should consider the implications of your suggestions from a triple bottom line perspective. Identify what key businesses and/or services you think need to be established in your chosen destination and provide suggestions on where these may be located and who should be responsible for their funding. For example you may identify the need for additional CBD parking, pedestrian malls and more signage. Who should fund this, the local government authority or private sector investors?

The field trip report should be no longer than 2,000 words in length and include the following structure:

• Title page including the title of your assessment, your name, student ID, lecturer/tutor name, and unit name and code
• Introduction to the tourism setting and any background information
• Detailed review of the current product mix in the destination
• Demonstrate evidence of research through the integration of relevant literature using theories/concepts from this unit
• Make recommendations for further development of the destination
• Consider the implications of your recommendations from a triple bottom line perspective
• Write a conclusion that sums up the main points
• Reference list including at least 15 academic references.

Penalties apply for late submission (5% mark will be deducted from the total mark for the assessment per day unless an approved extension has been granted).

A brief marking criteria is provided below. A more detailed marking rubric is provided on Moodle.

• Evidence of critical thought about destination development, i.e. background of destination and review of product mix
• Effectively substantiate your argument with appropriate evidence, i.e. recommendations and implications of these
• Use of suitable examples
• Use of supporting evidence including figures, tables and links to source documents
• Evidence of research through appropriate academic references (minimum of 15)

Individual Presentation: Destination Management Plan Brief

Imagine you are a planner employed by a Destination Management Organisation (DMO) such as a local council. You are seeking tenders for a five-year Destination Management Plan (DMP) and have called a meeting of interested consultants to invite them to tender for the DMP.

You are free to select a destination of your choice. This will require a short overview of the destination when you are presenting the brief. You have 15 minutes to give an overview of your chosen destination, the type of development projects that you anticipate may occur within the next five years (new hotels for example), problems that you expect the consultants to consider (for example climate change, change in demand and access issues), some examples of other DMPs you think are worth looking at, and what you expect the DMP to contain as a final document.

You will need to prepare a two-page brief as a handout to be given out at the time of your presentation. The brief should contain all relevant information and references.

You are to present the brief using Powerpoint. The PPT slides for this assessment are due in Week 10. On-campus students will present in Weeks 10, 11 and 12. 

Distance students will present via Zoom with the lecturer and other distance students starting in Week 10. Distance students should discuss their preferred destination for this assessment with the lecturer by Week 6.

Penalties apply for late submission (5% mark will be deducted from the total mark for the assessment per day unless an approved extension has been granted).

A brief marking criteria is provided below. A more detailed marking rubric is provided on Moodle.

• An understanding of the key elements of a Destination Management Plan
• Innovative and/or insightful presentation, i.e. demonstrates knowledge of destination, current and future issues/problems, future development projects
• Use of suitable examples
• Use of appropriate supporting data including tables and figures
• Quality of written work, i.e. handout
• Evidence of research through appropriate academic references (minimum of 10)