Tourism Geography (basic skills)

This course offers an advanced reflection on the most current issues addressed in Tourism Geography. More specifically, its main objective is to guide students in a critical understanding of the tourism phenomenon in its main manifestations, with particular attention to its spatial articulation and its impacts on territories.
The analysis will be oriented around the dualism of tourism and sustainability. Using a deconstructive approach, this dualism will be explored in its various dimensions (Environment, Society, Economy,
Culture, Politics) before questioning the relevance of the sustainability paradigm itself in light of the Anthropocene debate.
The theoretical reflection will be complemented by exemplary case studies and appropriate qualitative and quantitative analytical tools, enabling students to represent, discuss, and interpret key phenomena.

Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge of the main topics and key territorial dynamics of international and Italian tourism; understanding of intersectoral connections; awareness of the potential impact of tourism on territorial development.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Ability to critically use and analyze sources and statistics; ability to analyze tourism phenomena at different scales; ability to interpret and represent the phenomenon using primary and secondary sources.

Autonomy of judgment: Ability to formulate independent judgments; capacity for critical analysis of tourism phenomena; ability to assess the territorial impacts of tourism; ability to work in a team.

Communication skills: Mastery of geographical language; ability to communicate effectively and appropriately, using multimedia tools, the content of the work carried out and the results achieved.

Learning skills: Acquisition and application of an effective study method; ability to identify and interpret different issues.

- Lectures and practical exercises
- Individual and/or group project work

Attending students: Ongoing assessment through individual and group tests, both written and oral.

Non-attending students: Oral exam.

Both exam formats aim to assess: the acquisition and understanding of subject content and knowledge; communication, argumentation, and application skills related to the subject, even in contexts beyond those strictly linked to the course; autonomy in judgment and critical analysis.

Students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD) who wish to request individualized support for the exam must contact the University of Salento's Disability Integration Office at paola.martino@unisalento.it.

Attending students:

Study materials will be provided during the course. 

Non-attending students:

Saarinen J. (Eds). Tourism and Sustainable Development Goals. Research on Sustainable Tourism Geographies, 2020, Routledge.