Overview
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) identifies tourism as a key driver for socio-economic progress, and that particularly developing countries benefit from sustainable tourism. However the contribution of tourism to economic, environmental and community well-being depends on the quality of the destination products and management of the industry. This unit will build on your knowledge of the concept of sustainable tourism by examining tourism from a sustainable development perspective. Further advancing your understanding of this concept, you will explore management issues surrounding the economic, environmental and community aspects of tourism at the regional and destination level.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2021
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student evaluations
Incorporation of more examples to demonstrate theory
Introduce more examples to help students grasp theoretical concepts
- Investigate, analyse and synthesise a range of sustainable development theories
- Critically examine the role of tourism in sustainable development
- Evaluate and communicate tourism development strategies in the context of sustainable development theory and practice
- Identify, analyse and theorise the challenges for the tourism industry in achieving and managing sustainable development across a range of contexts.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
2 - Presentation - 30% | ||||
3 - Written Assessment - 40% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Knowledge | ||||
2 - Communication | ||||
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
4 - Research | ||||
5 - Self-management | ||||
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
7 - Leadership | ||||
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||
2 - Presentation - 30% | ||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 40% |
Textbooks
Tourism and sustainability: Development, globalisation and new tourism in the third world
Edition: 4th (2016)
Authors: Mowforth, M. & Munt, I.
Routledge
New York New York , NY , USA
ISBN: 978-1-138-01326-1
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.thompson@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to unit
Chapter
Journal article reading by Croce (2018). Go over the unit profile and assessment material. Preview of STDPs (Week 6).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Defining sustainable development
Chapter
Chapter 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Measures of development
Chapter
Chapter 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Agencies and communities
Chapter
Chapter 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Tourism as a strategy for sustainable development
Chapter
Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sustainable tourism development plans
Chapter
Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Case studies of sustainable tourism development
Chapter
Case studies provided on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Challenges for sustainable tourism development
Chapter
Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Assessing tourism development for sustainability
Chapter
Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Presentations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sustainable tourism and government policy
Chapter
Chapter 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Looking to the future
Chapter
Chapter 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Attracting tourists is sometimes considered as an option for boosting a destination’s economy and ‘developing’ a place. Whilst this can be true, there are many other facets to tourism development that need to be considered if it is to contribute to sustainable economic, social, cultural and environmental outcomes. Sustainable tourism development plans (STDPs) are used to strategically assess the true value of tourism to a destination’s development. This assessment task is designed to encourage you to think critically about key aspects of tourism as a strategy for sustainable development in specific, applied contexts.
You are required to develop a sustainable tourism development plan for a location of your choice. The STDP should consider how tourism, as an industry, can address the social, environmental and economic aspirations of the community, by identifying and analysing key issues to be aware of, and demonstrating why these elements are important. You should focus on those elements you think are important based on the destination the plan is for. For example, you might consider: what makes the place special; why sustainability is important in the destination; and how tourism will contribute to the development of the community.
This is an individual assessment with a maximum length of 2000 words (excluding references).
Any assessment with a ‘Turnitin’ similarity score of more than 20% will be checked by the marker for plagiarism although it may not necessarily mean that you have plagiarised. If there is a substantial similarity score in the ‘Turnitin’ report, your assessment could be forwarded to an appropriate office/authority for review.
Your assessment needs to address the following points:
Title page: student name, student ID number, unit code and unit name, campus, term and year, the title of the assessment task, and names of the unit coordinator or lecturer/tutor.
Introduction: The introduction section should provide background information of the chosen destination. It should also outline what the STDP should aim to achieve.
Discussion of key points of advantage over competitors: This section outlines the key points of attraction and advantage over competitors.
Discussion of key elements for the STDP: Discuss the key elements the STDP should focus on. Key elements could include:
- Could be principle based, e.g. natural, cultural, economic & social sustainable tourism development,
- Could be based on the UNWTO's pillars of sustainable tourism,
- Could be outcomes based, e.g. poverty alleviation, heritage preservation, ecological health,
- Could be economically based, e.g. principles of economic development, and how these produce sustainable outcomes.
There are many ways to approach this. Think about what would be best for the destination you are looking at. Explain why you are focusing on these elements based on the specific characteristics of the destination. Use of additional sources of information to help support the discussion is expected, i.e. existing tourism strategic plans and academic literature.
Set three realistic STDP goals: Provide three realistic sustainability goals that the STDP attempts to achieve including their timeframes.
Formulation of a detailed action plan: Outline what needs to be done to complete the sustainable tourism development plan. Consider what strategies need to be put in place to make the plan work, i.e. increasing tourists’ awareness of environmentally friendly tourism operators; upgrading of existing facilities; communication processes with community stakeholder; etc. Focus your discussion on desired outcomes, key actions and measures of success.
Conclusion: Include a summary of the key points. In your opinion, why do you think it will be possible to achieve each of your sustainability goals?
Evidence of research and references: Provide a list of at least 10 citations and references of some published academic and research papers, textbooks and authentic internet sources. Referencing should follow the APA style. The quality and integration of research in the write-up to support key points. This should include theoretical and empirical research findings from a combination of academic journals, textbooks and websites.
Presentation: Use of appropriate headings, sub-headings, cohesion of paragraphs is expected. Grammar, spelling and punctuation are expected to be of exceptional standard. Diagrams/figures/tables can be used where relevant.
Week 7 Friday (30 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
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).
Week 9 Thursday (13 May 2021)
- Introduction
- Discussion of key points of advantage over competitors
- Discussion of key elements the STDP should focus on
- Set three realistic STDP goals
- Formulation of a detailed action plan
- Conclusion
- Evidence of research and references
- Presentation
- Investigate, analyse and synthesise a range of sustainable development theories
- Critically examine the role of tourism in sustainable development
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
2 Presentation
Week 10 Friday (21 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
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).
Week 12 Wednesday (2 June 2021)
- Introduction
- Three key dilemmas
- Recommendations
- Conclusion
- References
- Presentation quality
- Evaluate and communicate tourism development strategies in the context of sustainable development theory and practice
- Identify, analyse and theorise the challenges for the tourism industry in achieving and managing sustainable development across a range of contexts.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
3 Written Assessment
The process of planning for tourism as a strategy for sustainable development is usually highly political and fraught with trade-offs between key stakeholders in the community, government authorities, investors, politicians and other industries. You are required to write a reflective, critical academic essay on the process of planning for tourism as a strategy for sustainable development. Key perspectives that could be considered are:
- The impact assessment process – environmental, social, economic, cultural
- Funding and investment strategies
- Community consultation in planning tourism as a strategy for development
- Statutory/legislative processes and influence
The essay should not exceed 2500 words (excluding references).
Your essay should include the following sections:
Title page: student name, student ID number, unit code and unit name, campus, term and year, the title of the assessment task, and names of the unit coordinator or lecturer/tutor.
Introduction: state what the essay is about, explain any key definitions, and outline what perspective you are considering the process from and why this is important. In addition, the structure of the essay should be presented.
Review of literature: include any key literature the essay is drawing from, i.e. what the literature says and how this relates to the perspective you are considering.
Critical reflection: explain your opinion (first person is ok) of the processes of planning for tourism as a strategy for sustainable development. Reflect on how it relates to the literature you have read. Do these align with your opinions or not? Why do you think this is the case?
Conclusion: outline what the essay was about by covering the main points from the literature and what your reflection is about.
Evidence of research and references: Provide a list of at least 10 citations and references of some published academic and research papers, textbooks and authentic internet sources in the write-up to support key points. Referencing should follow the APA style.
Presentation: Use of appropriate headings, sub-headings, cohesion of paragraphs is expected. Grammar, spelling and punctuation are expected to be of exceptional standard. Diagrams/figures/tables can be used where relevant.
All assessments should be submitted online through the TOUR20023 Moodle site. All reports will be checked by ‘Turnitin’ to compare the report to other sources and will provide students and lecturers with a similarity score for the report. Reports with a similarity score index of more than 20% will be checked for plagiarism by the marker (although it may not necessarily mean that the student has plagiarised).
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (9 June 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
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).
As this unit has no exam, the formal results for this last piece of assessment can only be released to students on the Certification of Grades date.
A brief marking criteria is provided below. A more detailed marking guide is provided on Moodle.
- Introduction
- Review of literature
- Critical reflection
- Conclusion
- Evidence of research and references
- Presentation
- Critically examine the role of tourism in sustainable development
- Evaluate and communicate tourism development strategies in the context of sustainable development theory and practice
- Identify, analyse and theorise the challenges for the tourism industry in achieving and managing sustainable development across a range of contexts.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.