Introduction to Tourism (BRL140)

This course will give the students an introduction to the tourism field. The various aspects of tourism as a phenomenon and as an industry will be presented. Tourism is a major business field of great societal impact. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to the many opportunities and challenges related to tourism as a modern and trendsetting industry.


Course description for study year 2024-2025. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

BRL140

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English, Norwegian

Content

Introduction to Tourism provides an interdisciplinary approach to tourism as a phenomenon and industry field:

The candidate will be familiar with the concept of areas and topics related to tourism as a field of knowledge and competence - tourism as an economic activity, marketing, product development, and as a business. Other key topics include: Travel history, tourism's sociology, and the role that tourism plays in modern society. Tourism geography and tourism's psychology, individuals' motivation to travel.The tourism industry and social corporate responsibility and sustainable tourism. The focus will be on tourism as a diverse commercial and community-related activity. This applies to internal matters of tourism, such as finance and the market, and related external factors that tourism relates to. The many products and services that exist within the tourism industry will be illustrated through examples within attractions, destinations, event arrangements, and other aspects of the tourism industry.

Learning outcome

After completed course the candidate is expected to have aquired the following knowledge, skill and general competance:

Knowledge

  • Throughout the course, the candidate shall achieve a wide, introductory knowledge in the field of tourism and its field of business.
  • This includes a basic understanding of destinations, tourism products, services, and experiences that tourism offers.
  • The candidate should be familiar with basic research and development in tourism management, including the history and knowledge of tourism's place in society.

Skills

  • After the course, the candidate will be able to explain and apply parts of the basic knowledge related to tourism as an industry.
  • This will also enable the student to reflect on their own understanding of tourism as a field of study.
  • The candidate will learn to use basic literature on the subject, and get a fundamental understanding of key activities and challenges.

General competency

  • The candidate will learn about key scientific and ethical challenges in the tourism industry.
  • Furthermore, the course provides an introduction to the project /group work, working with papers and homework assignments as part of the theoretical work.
  • The candidate should be able to convey basic subject material and sources used in today's tourism industry, which also points towards the development of new, innovative tourism packages and a more responsible and sustainable tourism.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Written exam 1/1 4 Hours Letter grades None permitted

Coursework requirements

Obligatorisk innleveringsoppgave i gruppe
The mandatory assignment (i.e. group report) must receive the grade "pass" in order for the student to be able to take the written exam. The group report is written in groups of students.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Åsa Helen Grahn

Head of Department:

Trude Furunes

Method of work

The course comprise of lectures, group work and discussions of practice issues. In addition, we organize an excursion to a selected tourism business in Rogaland county.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Tourism, society and individual (BRL120_1) 10
Introduction to Tourism (FXIRL100_1) 10

Open for

Tourism Management - Bachelor's Degree Programme

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital subject evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

The syllabus can be found in Leganto