Tourism, development and sustainability

The course focuses on the idea of sustainable tourism and sustainable development with emphasis on tourism in Global South. The course examines the conceptual and practical dimensions of sustainable tourism, its relationship with sustainable development in general and the applicability and problems associated with it.

The course’s basic concepts include the following: tourism and sustainable development, sustainable tourism, tourism impacts and sustainability at different scales (local-global) and environments, the roles of different actors (stakeholders) in sustainable tourism, tourism development plans and policies, methods to measure sustainability in tourism and tourism development, the role of sustainable tourist.

These concepts will be discussed both theoretically and in practice, highlighting their relevance in the Global South dimension and utilizing examples in different contexts. Some topical issues relating with the main theme sustainable tourism, such as pro-poor tourism and climate change will be covered in the Global South contexts. In addition, the student chooses one relevant topic to which she/he familiarizes.

Increase knowledge about the role and meaning of tourism in relation to development at different scales, and in different contexts, in the sustainability framework. Sustainability will be examined throughout the tourism system, at different scales and in diverse environments, with central focus on the development issues in the Global South.