Tourism is one of the world's largest and most dynamic industries contributing to GDP in many counties and is a key source of employment, income generation and government revenue. This module examines how tourism places have been created and are maintained. It discusses the rise and spatial diffusion of the modern tourism industry (or group of industries) and the geographies of this development. The recent history of international tourism is introduced with a particular focus on the role of scale from the largest tourism transnational corporations operating at a global level through
to small-scale tourism such as family-run guest houses or backpacker hostels. The module links to key geographical issues such as globalisation, mobility, production and consumption and changing physical landscapes. It also discusses the major role played by tourism in the less developed world where it is often seen an engine for economic development.
Contact Hours: 22
Private Study Hours: 128
Total Contact Hours: 150
BSc Human Geography (compulsory)
BSc Wildlife Conservation (optional)
BA Environmental Social Science (optional)
Also available as an elective module
Essay: 2,000 words (30%)
Presentation: 10 minutes (10%)
Exam: 2 hours (60%)
Reassessment Method:
Like-for-Like
*Exams will be in-person*
Cooper. C. et al. (5th Edition) (2013) Tourism Principles and Practice. Pearson, London.
Mowforth, M. and Munt, I. (2016) (4th edition) Tourism and Sustainability: Development, Globalisation and New Tourism in the Third World. Routledge, London.
Williams, S. and Lew, A. (2014) (3rd edition) Tourism Geography: Critical Understandings of Place, Space and Experience. Routledge, London.
Plus selected articles from leading international academic journals such as Annals of Tourism Research; Tourism Management; Tourism Geographies; Annals of the Association of American Geographers; World Development; Journal of Development Studies; Progress in Development Studies
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 Critically engage with theoretical questions and practical challenges posed by the conceptual, ethical and practical issues of tourism and sustainability
8.2 Demonstrate familiarity with the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism
8.3 Understand the concepts underlying tourism development and sustainability and how they can be critically evaluated
8.4 Understand how tourism environments and landscapes are the result of human activity and their spatial variations over time
University of Kent makes every effort to ensure that module information is accurate for the relevant academic session and to provide educational services as described. However, courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. Please read our full disclaimer.
