Sustainable Destination Planning and Development

After completion of the course the students shall be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Discuss and show an understanding of the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social and economic), including the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, in relation to tourism and destination development. (1)
• Demonstrate an understanding of what constitutes destination development and planning. (2)
• Explain different types of tourism development and the way in which these affect the industry and the local community. (3)
• Describe the steps that are involved and the considerations that need to be made when a tourism plan is being implmented. (4)
• Describe the political economy of tourism development and its relation to the environment and sustainability. (5)

Competence and skills

• Conduct a project on tourism development and planning a specific destination. (6)
• Demonstrate the use of various tools in the development and planning of a destination. (7)

Judgement and approach

• Critically assess different aspects of tourism development and its relation to the economy, the environment and the host community. (8)
• Do a critical analysis and evaluation of tourism development alternatives. (9)

In this course, students will learn about essential aspects of destination management, i.e. the sustainable development and planning of it. Students will be introduced to the principles of destination development and planning and the role of tourism as an agent of sustainable development. Development is examined from various perspectives to reveal the merits and deficiencies of tourism development and illuminate the various pathways to sustainable development. Tourism is presented as a developmental choice with impacts on the local and global level of the natural and socio-economic environment and its relation to sustainability is established.

The role of planning in sustainable destination development is discussed and various approaches in planning are presented to reveal the process and the considerations for an integrated destination planning.

The course uses various teaching methods including case studies, role playing and a group project to actively involve the students and transfer them the tenets as well as the practice of sustainable destination development and planning. In this way, the students will familiarise with tourism planning and learn how to conduct a tourism plan themselves.

Written assignement (5 credits)
Written examination (5 credits)
Group work (5 credits)

The Swedish grades A–F.