XTO-11306 Tourism & Environment

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

In this course the basic theories of earth sciences (geomorphology, soil sciences, hydrology and climatology), ecology and landscape architecture are studied. The course introduces a systems approach that emphasizes the interrelationships between these sciences. It focuses both on the larger scale level of global environmental change and the regional scale level of landscape change. It explains the relationships between a-biotic, biotic and anthropogenic processes and interprets the impacts of tourism on global environmental change and regional landscape change.

Learning outcomes:

After the course the student is able to:
- compare and classify the work of classical and contemporary environmental scientists as far as they are relevant to explain the impacts of tourism practices to the environment;
- summarize contemporary debates in the environmental sciences and explain the relevance of these debates for the field of tourism;
- apply a systems approach in the context of global environmental change issues;
- recognize spatial and temporal scales issues related to global environmental change;
- identify the contribution of tourism to global environmental change;
- analyze the relationships between a-biotic, biotic and anthropogenic forces and regional landscape change;
- identify ways in which landscape change is affected by tourism.

Activities:

- lectures;
- tutorials;
- excursions.

Examination:

- written examination with open questions (75%);
- assignments (25%).

Literature:

- to be determined;
- reader with examples of research publications.