Tourism: Society and Culture

An introductory course by WageningenX

"Tourism: Society and Culture" is an eye-opening introductory course that delves into the complex world of global tourism. This course takes a unique approach by exploring tourism from a social science perspective, focusing on its profound impacts on society, culture, and the environment. Unlike traditional tourism education that emphasizes growth and hospitality management, this course challenges students to critically reflect on the multifaceted nature of the tourism industry.

What students will learn:

  • A comprehensive understanding of tourism as a complex social and environmental phenomenon
  • The historical context of global tourism development
  • Various social science approaches to studying tourism
  • The scale and systemic development of the tourism industry
  • Analysis of the mutual relationships between tourism and its environment
  • Critical reflection skills on tourism phenomena
  • Sustainable tourism practices and their importance
  • The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the tourism industry
  • Skills to develop arguments for tourism development

Pre-requisites:

There are no prerequisites for this course, making it accessible to anyone interested in exploring the tourism industry from a critical perspective.

Course Coverage:

  • Introduction to tourism and its societal impacts
  • Historical development of global tourism
  • Scientific approaches and systemic observations in tourism studies
  • Key theories and global flows in the tourism industry
  • Environmental, economic, and socio-cultural impacts of tourism
  • Sustainable tourism practices and their potential for addressing industry challenges
  • The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism and tourist behavior
  • Critical reflection on tourism phenomena and development

Who this course is for:

  • Business owners in the tourism industry
  • Professionals working in tourism-related fields
  • Avid travelers interested in understanding the broader impacts of their activities
  • Students of social sciences, geography, or environmental studies
  • Anyone interested in sustainable tourism practices and their implementation

Real-world applications:

  • Developing sustainable tourism strategies for businesses or destinations
  • Improving decision-making in tourism policy and planning
  • Enhancing critical thinking skills for analyzing tourism impacts
  • Creating more responsible and sustainable travel experiences
  • Contributing to the transformation of the tourism industry towards more sustainable practices
  • Addressing environmental and social challenges associated with tourism development
  • Understanding and adapting to global transformations affecting the tourism industry

Syllabus:

Module 1: Introduction & Overview

Understanding tourism from a social sciences perspective

Module 2: History of global tourism development

Exploring the origins of contemporary tourism practices

Module 3: Scientific approaches and systemic observations

Examining social science approaches to tourism and their observations

Module 4: Key theories and global flows

Introducing theoretical concepts in tourism studies and global tourism developments

Module 5: Environmental impacts of tourism

Analyzing economic, socio-cultural, and environmental interactions and impacts

Module 6: Synthesis and looking forward

Developing arguments for tourism development and exploring sustainable tourism science

This course is part of the Professional Certificate Programme "Tourism in Transition: Exploring a Sustainable Future," which includes two additional MOOCs: "Sustainable Tourism: Rethinking the Future" and "Tourism and Climate Change." By completing this course, learners will gain valuable insights into the tourism industry's complexities and be better equipped to contribute to its sustainable transformation in the face of global challenges.