Teaching

The module is delivered by 15, 90 minutes sessions.

Key texts:
To be decided.
 

Teaching Schedule and Lecture Content 

Lecture 1: Introduction
Outline of module content. Book lists, articles, support teaching materials, appropriate hand-outs. Explanation of teaching styles, approaches to be adopted, expectations of and from students. Introduction to the concept of the region (definition, types – historical, geographic, statistical, administrative, cultural, political, economic). 

Lecture 2: World History from a Regional Perspective
This session elaborates in more detail on the rise and fall of major empires throughout history from ancient times to 19th century. The political, economic and cultural factors leading to regional cohesion and resctructuring are discussed. The lecture examines the role of heritage from and influences by preceding empires in shaping new regions.

Lecture 3: Regionalisation in the 20th Century
This lecture explores the development of global regions in our century with an outlook on trends toward the 21st century. Regional models in economic theory are analysed. The main political, economic, social, cultural, environmental characteristics of the major global regions are described, with special emphasis on the differences between the developed and the developing countries of the world.

Lecture 4: Tourist Regions in the World
The main tourist regions in the world are outlined, including major tourist flows and the most popular regions and destinations. The lecture examines the various – climatic, geographic, political, economic, infrastructural, social, administrative – factors that influence the development of tourist regions. 

Lecture 5: What is „Europe” ?
Is there distinct European identity ? Is Europe a political, cultural or economic entity ? Where are the borders of Europe ? Are Europe and the European Union the same ? Who is European? What kind of stereotypes are related to Northern/Western/Central/Southern/ Eastern Europe ? 

Lecture 6: Regional Organisations and Funds in the European Union
The lecture outlines briefly the development of the European Union. The main operating principles and objectives of structural policies related to regional development are discussed. The operation of organisations facilitating regional co-operation and development is explained.

Lecture 7: How to Become a Tourist Region ?
This session provides an overview of the basic elements of the tourist product that are prerequisites for the development of tourist regions. The role of the (local, regional, national, global) attractivity power of natural and man-made attractions and the process of the creation/development of a tourist region are discussed in detail. 

Lecture 8: Regional Organisations in a Given Country
The regional structure of the given country and the major political, economic, environmental and cultural governmental and non-governmental organisations are analysed. (The given country stands for the country where this module is taught.)

Lecture 9: Regional Tourist Organisations in a Given Country
The regional structure of tourism in the given country and the operation of and the co-operation between the major governmental and non-governmental tourist organisations are discusssed. (The given country stands for the country where this module is taught.)

Lecture 10: International Case Studies
Case studies on regional tourism development provided by the international participants of this module development programme.

Lecture 11: Field Visit Pack 1. Overview.
Introduction of the Field Visit Pack to students. (Formulating small student groups – groupwork is recommended.) Objectives, methods to be used and potential difficulties are discussed in detail.

Lecture 12: Field Visit Pack 2. Field Research.
Field visit and research. The identity of the selected region is analysed by the students based on information prepared by the lecturer and provided in advance (information covers the characteristics of the given region, the  history of tourism development in the given region and the regional organisations). The students evaluate the tourist supply of the region by various methods including attraction inventory, word assessment and attraction analysis. Apart from the information gathered during the field visit, further desk research is required for assessing the impacts of tourism and a the future development opportunities in the region.

Lecture 13: Field Visit Pack 3. Assessment and Discussion.
The findings of the field research are presented by student groups and discussed in detail.

Lecture 14: Regional Tourism Marketing.
Major issues of regional tourism marketing are outlined, including product formulation, positioning, the specific nature of pricing on regional level and applicable promotion and distribution methods. The session examines the role of regional image and the possibility of marketing Europe as a single destination.

Lecture 15: Overview.
The concluding lecture draws together the various elements of the module to provide an overview of Regional Tourism Development and Management.