Syllabus for In-Depth Analysis of Sustainable Destination Development

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course the student should be able to

• describe the complex systems and contexts within which destination development takes place, analyse these transgressively regarding the different dimensions of sustainability; economic, ecological and social,
• orally and in writing analyse and evaluate destination development and sustainability for a nuanced and faceted understanding of possible problem-solving for future sustainable destination development,
• discuss ethically, create nuanced pictures of, specify, apply and negotiate and create consensus among a variety of stakeholders around values, principles, goals and visions of sustainable destination development,
• create strategies, design and implement interventions, transitions, and transformative management and innovations for sustainable destination development, with consideration of various stakeholders and their needs,
• collaborate and create a positive learning environment and support common investigation of a problem-solving for sustainable destination development, and to communicate with various stakeholders orally and in writing.

Content

In-depth analysis of sustainability and the sustainability challenges that the tourism industry and destination development face. In-depth analysis of how social, economic and ecological dimensions of destination development are connected. Exercises in creating solutions to these challenges. In-depth analysis of visions and goals for sustainable destination development, and methods to realize them. In-depth analysis of the various stakeholders within destination development, and exercises in communication with these, and in how they may be motivated and negotiated amongst themselves. Introduction to the research front with sustainable destination development and the theories and methods used within it.

The course will expose students to a substantial volume of state of the art topics in sustainable destination development, including: resilience, recovery and adaptation, regenerative tourism, responsible tourism, participatory governance, de-growth and other alternative economies' perspectives, systems thinking, transformation, transdisciplinarity, co-creation, care, tourism in the new normal, hopeful tourism, more than human-perspectives, place-making and place attachment, knowledge tourism.

Instruction

Lectures, seminars, supervision of group work and excursions.

Assessment

Written examination (5 credits) and oral presentation of group work (2.5 credits).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding targeted pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.