XTO-11306 Environment & Tourism

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

This course aims to 1) provide students with a basic understanding of some of the major contemporary environmental challenges; 2) discuss the main interactions between these environmental challenges and tourism; and 3) convince students to consider the (global) environmental implications of their actions throughout their future careers as tourism professionals.

Learning outcomes:

After completing the course, students should be able to:
- describe the background and meaning of the concepts of 'Anthropocene' and 'Planetary Boundaries';
- define and explain the main aspects of the following environmental issues: biodiversity (loss); water resources and pollution; climate (change); emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants; land use/cover change.
- explain and discuss how the global environmental issues relate to tourism, and apply concrete tools to assess these relationships;
- analyse the implications of global environmental issues for concrete tourism actors;
- critically reflect on the significance of global environmental change for tourism.

Activities:

- lectures;
- tutorials;
- individual assignement: essay writing.

Examination:

- written examination with open questions (65%);
- assignments (35%).

Literature:

Cunningham, W.P.; Cunningham, M.A. (2010). Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry and Applications. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. International student edition for use outside the U.S. 480 p. ISBN-10: 0071221867, ISBN-13: 978-0071221863.