Study Guide

Objective

Globalisation of the tourism industry increases the complexity of managing tourism destinations. Destination competitiveness is based on destination management that emphasises sustainable planning and development. Students understand the strategic concepts of destination environments and the significance of a multi-stakeholder perspective. Future-oriented adaptations, scenarios and best practise case studies of tourism destinations give students a holistic view of the success factors and challenges of destination management.

After completion of the course the student is able to
- describe and explain the concepts discussed in the destination management and marketing literature
- critically evaluate the multiple forms of understanding and conceptualizing destinations
- distinguish the success factors and challenges of tourism destination
- critically analyse the principles for promoting the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism destinations
- evaluate the role of strategy in developing and managing destinations
- form a holistic view of the competitive destination management.

Content

- Destination and Destination Management and Marketing Organisations
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Multi-stakeholder processes
- Destination development and competitiveness: success factors and challenges
- Destination Branding and Destination Marketing
- Destination experiences
- Digitalisation in destinations
- Destination management strategies incl. safety and risk management
- Foresight in destinations
- International case studies

Location and time

As it is online study unit, it can be studied anywhere.

Materials

WTO (2007). A Practical Guide to Tourism Destination Management. Wang, Y., Pizam, A. & Breiter, D. (2011). Destination Marketing and Management: Theories and Applications. CAB International Additional reading and/or learning material (mostly academic journal articles) will be published in the beginning of the study unit

Teaching methods

Online lectures, which will be recorded or the lectures are already recorded lectures.
Two online Open-book Exams
Self- (and peer) assessment

Employer connections

Recorded lectures from visiting lecturers from tourism industry

Exam schedules

Online Open-book Exams can be renewed

International connections

There are be also international visiting lecturers who have given recorded lectures.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Fail (0): Student has not participated in the compulsory contact sessions and has failed to perform the exam and/or one or more assignments according to instructions.

Satisfactory (1-2): Student has a satisfactory command of developing destination management related knowledge (DMO, strategic and quality planning, branding, marketing, digitalisation, experience design, PPP and competitiveness) and is able to apply it only partly or not at all in practical learning exercises. Student participates in the lectures seldom and shows very little or no analytical, reflective and critical approach in of his/her activities. All the assignments are not fully performed according to instructions, however the bachelor student has passed the exam.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good (3-4): Student has a good command of developing destination management related knowledge (DMO, strategic and quality planning, branding, marketing, digitalisation, experience design, PPP and competitiveness) and is able to apply it mostly in practical learning exercises. Student participates in the lectures quite actively and shows somewhat analytical, reflective and critical approach in most of his/her activities. All the assignments are performed mostly according to instructions.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): Student has an excellent command of developing destination management related core knowledge (DMO, strategic and quality planning, branding, marketing, digitalisation, experience design, PPP and competitiveness) and is able to apply it fully in practical learning exercises. Student participates in the lectures actively and shows analytical, reflective and critical approach in all his/her activities. All the assignments are performed according to instructions.

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment is based on the online open-book eExams which determine the grade. Self- and peer assessment is assessed as Pass/Fail.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

Fail (0)
The student has not participated has failed to perform the exams and/or one or more assignments according to instructions.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Satisfactory (1-2)
The student has a satisfactory command of developing destination management related knowledge (DMO, strategic and quality planning, branding, marketing, digitalisation, experience design, PPP, and competitiveness) and is able to apply it only partly or not at all in practical learning exercises. Student participates in lectures seldom and shows very little or no analytical, reflective, and critical approach to his/her activities. All the assignments are not fully performed according to instructions, however, the student has passed the exam(s).

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Good (3-4)
The student has a good command of developing destination management related knowledge (DMO, strategic and quality planning, branding, marketing, digitalisation, experience design, PPP, and competitiveness) and is able to apply it mostly in practical learning exercises. Student participates in the lectures quite actively and shows a somewhat analytical, reflective, and critical approach to most of his/her activities. All the assignments are performed mostly according to instructions.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5)
The student has an excellent command of developing destination management related core knowledge (DMO, strategic and quality planning, branding, marketing, digitalisation, experience design, PPP, and competitiveness) and is able to apply it fully in practical learning exercises. Student participates in the lectures actively and shows analytical, reflective, and critical approach to all his/her activities. All the assignments are performed according to instructions.

Further information

The course is jointly organised by the University of Lapland and the Lapland University of Applied Sciences.