International Tourism Management BSc Honours

This module provides you with the space to explore the social context of tourism and to think as a social scientist. This entails developing your skills in reading, critical thinking, and in written and verbal communication.

The approach adopted is ‘the world in a grain of sand’ in which we work outwards, starting with particular localised issues and using a wide set of concepts to explain them from a social and political perspective.

There is a focus on four projects – Hastings, Heathrow, an ethical issue, and London – used as a means for you to find out for yourself what the questions, the issues, the explanations and possible solutions are.

By encouraging you to work in ever-widening circles, it is hoped that you will discover the complexity of what may appear to be relatively simple situations and the layers of thought and meaning that each one expresses.

In order to do this, there is a particular emphasis on compiling bibliographies and identifying the different standpoints that writers adopt in discussing the topic.

This module is designed to provide you with an overview of key marketing concepts as they apply in a variety of organisations.

Through this module, you will develop knowledge and understanding of the core role of marketing in determining the growth potential of an enterprise, including the value of the marketing mix in ensuring successful marketing implementation and the significance of external and internal environment for marketing practice.

This module aims to provide an introduction to the key sectors that are integral to the tourism business, whilst exploring the dynamic relationships between them. It also acquaints you with significant stakeholders at both organisational and industry levels.

Through creating an awareness of relevant industry trends and happenings, the module provides an overview of the opportunities and challenges, along with a focus on vital skills and competencies needed by you to start a career in the tourism industry.

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of key economic concepts, theories and skills necessary to evaluate the economic impact of tourism.

It enables you to employ a data-driven approach to the evaluation of resources and opportunities in tourism as tourism professionals.

The fieldwork (physical or virtual) will introduce basic research skills and also allow you to link theory to practice.

This module aims to examine theories and practices of tourism management. It critically analyses the challenges faced by the tourism industry in the context of contemporary management functions and tourist/visitor behaviour which is a fundamental part of the module content.

This module also assists you in developing professional and entrepreneurial skills in this dynamic industry such as creativity, communication, problem-solving, teamwork, project management, research and logical reasoning through planning and developing a bespoke tour itinerary guided by consumer behaviour theories.

This module aims to develop your abilities to independently conduct – either in person or virtually – theoretically informed, ethically-rigorous data collection in mature tourism destinations.

You will be challenged to systematically analyse the datasets that derive from these collection processes, and to synthesise such findings with relevant secondary source material.

Furthermore, you will need to clearly communicate the findings generated via the above processes by way of a creative group presentation, and a written experiential learning narrative that conforms to professional, academic standards.

This module aims to develop critical awareness of a range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and techniques relevant to academic investigation of tourism industry issues.

It will also develop your ability to relate theory to real world case study material, distinguishing the links between theory, method and data.

Specific attention will be paid to exploration of key research methods and techniques and their applicability to a range of tourism-related research contexts.

Changes in approach, especially the rise of qualitative approaches and techniques, will be considered. The module will also seek to promote students’ ability to think critically – or critique – existing research.

This module is a group-based consultancy project. It aims to offer you a valuable opportunity to engage in a live brief commissioned by an external client, and to investigate real-world challenges faced by the client.

Based on the research findings, you will work in partnership with the module leader, who also acts as the project leader and the mentor providing support and guidance, to co-create solutions to improving the ways the client communicates and interacts with its customers and the public.

The primary aim of the work placement module is to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a period of work experience (minimum of 30 days) from which they learn about business in general and the organisation, and the sector within, which it operates as well as the critical drivers of business success.

The work placement will provide an insight into the world of work and appropriate conduct at work. The module will therefore facilitate you in becoming and staying employable through assertiveness, continuing development and reflection on their development and the link between theory and practice.

The module aims to enable you with little or no previous knowledge of Spanish to acquire basic language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) so as to be able to communicate at a basic level on everyday situations.

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Grasp the basics of the writing system and pronunciation, basics of conjugation and syntax,
• Good knowledge of the norms and conventions of everyday life in to be used in understanding and producing basic written Spanish, and
• Demonstrate a broad awareness of the diversity of some of the cultures where Spanish is spoken.

This module examines the dramatic shifts of the last decades in the world economy due to the rise of what is popularly known as 'emerging economies’.

China’s staggering rates of sustained economic growth, which is to a large extent the driving force of this transformation, is analysed.

The module shows how Latin America, apart from its huge economic potential, has the largest reserves of many natural resources (oil, gas, water, gold, minerals, arable land etc.) in the world.

The solid, long-term partnership between China and Latin America will have enormously positive consequences primarily for Latin America but also China, who requires natural resources in growing quantities is also analysed.

Through the study of a wide range of case studies from diverse geographical environments, this module aims to provide a broad critical understanding of the opportunities and constraints involved in developing more responsible and sustainable forms of tourism.

Alternative strategies for improving tourism sustainability will be examined. A key consideration is how to achieve the balance between the environmental, social and economic aspects of tourism.

The module builds on ‘The International Tourism Industry and Employability’ module in the first year to further develop the understanding of the significant aspects of the tourism business.

It aims to familiarise students with key theoretical concepts, evaluate them and apply them in practice.

Through identifying trends in the global tourism industry, the module also seeks to create awareness of major technological and digital developments, opportunities and challenges in the global tourism business.

The module aims to provide you with an understanding of tourism enterprise and the significance of the small businesses which dominate the tourism sector.

Enterprise-related concepts such as entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity will be analysed.

Revenue management theory and practice as well as the impact it has on tourism and hospitality businesses and customers is also a major component of this module.

You will gain the knowledge and skills required to make appropriate management decisions for sustainable financial success.

This module aims to generate critically informed understanding of the relationships between the tourism industry and key public passenger transport modes (including aviation, rail, coach and bus systems).

The current standing of these modes - in terms of public and private relations, industry funding and management arrangements, and demand trends - will be situated within their recent historical context.

The module will also directly address sustainability issues, and afford a strong focus to practical considerations relevant to securing employment in these sectors.

This module aims to develop your understanding of theories and business practice concerning building strong brands in travel and tourism.

You will learn how certain content in social media engages with target audiences and viewers in a compelling way and achieves branding agendas simultaneously, while even going viral online.

This module not only promotes creative thinking and problem solving skills but also develops your abilities to create branding solutions and a coherent plan in selected social media platforms.

This module examines some of the contemporary issues facing tourism through a global to local framework.

The module aims to provide a critical awareness and understanding of alternative policy and planning approaches and the institutions involved in formulating policy responses.

Case studies are used to explore the potential and limitations of different theoretical approaches.

The module aims to develop a critical understanding of customer service management as a key component of organisational culture and business strategy.

Theories and models used to shape the financial analysis, application and design of customer service will be explored.

You will gain practical and theoretical insight into the implementation, communication, management and measurement of customer service.

Consumer and market research theories and models to support customer relationship building will be examined and evaluated as will ways to promote customer service internally and externally.

The primary aim of these work experience modules is to provide you with flexibility to undertake a period of work experience without having to take an extra year of study. This is achieved by integrating your learning at work and your studies. You will attain a sandwich degree within three rather than four years. In the first year of study you will be required to record and reflect upon your learning at work and in the second year to reflect on how you have developed and built on your learning from the previous year and complete a report on the organisation you have worked in. The modules will therefore support you to process of reflect on your own development, integrate theory and practice, develop your commercial awareness and thus enhance your personal and professional development.

The module builds on learning from prior modules and provides you with a theoretical introduction to consulting and the idea of the learning organisation.

The module then provides an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to organisation practice by students working in small teams on a real-time consultancy project which takes place in a variety of public, private and voluntary sector organisations.

It gives you the responsibility of approaching and pitching to potential clients, managing yourself, your time, your team relationships and your relationships with external clients to achieve outcomes that make a real difference to the organisation.

The module provides a bridge between academic study and full-time employment by focusing on the significance and relevance of their consultancy experience. It aims to enhance your career following the completion of your degree programme.

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of social media and viral marketing and will incorporate owned, earned and paid tactics.

The practice of social media and viral marketing in today's marketing landscape will be outlined in addition to how social media and viral marketing facilitates and changes the behaviours of consumers in the marketplace.

In preparation for future employment, the module will allow you to apply taught theories to real-life organisations.

The module aims to enable you, once you have passed TOU2024: Tourism languages Spanish I to progress to lower Intermediate language skills in Spanish (speaking, listening, reading and writing) so as to be able to communicate at a basic level on everyday situations.

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Grasp the grammatical and syntactical elements of Spanish at lower intermediate level,
• Good knowledge of the norms and conventions of everyday life
in to be used in understanding and producing lower intermediate written Spanish, and
• Demonstrate a broad awareness of the diversity of some of the
cultures where Spanish is spoken.

This module aims to introduce you to the extent and variety of city tourism, to assess its impacts in different types of cities and to examine pertinent contemporary issues that have emerged around its expansion, such as gentrification, commodification, socio-spatial divisions and regeneration.

The module places urban tourism in the context of changes in the economy, in politics and in leisure in order to critically assess its impacts on its stakeholders, and evaluate its potential and the pitfalls.

The aim of this module is to develop a critical understanding of the events sector, the impacts, and legacy of events.

You will be introduced to a range of corporate, sporting, arts and cultural events and festivals, including community, hallmark and mega events.

This module will also cover different perspectives on events classification, origins, current and future trends.

The motivations and roles of the private, public and third sectors in the development and execution of events will also be discussed and analysed.

This module aims to develop an understanding of event planning, management and operations in all types and scales of events. Its focus is mainly on the practical considerations of running an event.

Throughout this module, you will develop your own event concept and implementation plan including: event concept, theme and design, venue selection, project management, event marketing, staging and logistics, human resource and financial management, risk management, health and safety and the legal context, and lastly evaluation of events.

This module aims to develop a critical understanding of the scope and current trends in the global hospitality industry including corporate profiles of key players.

Leadership and management theory and models will explained and analysed in the context of hotel, restaurant and management services.

This module will also examine operational management models relevant to hotels, including rooms division and food and beverage management, and to restaurants and managed services.

During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

• 4 hours of lectures
• 6.5 hours of seminars and workshops

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and exams.

Here is an indication of how you will split your time:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop the skills relevant to your degree from research and practical skills to critical thinking. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus, even over the weekend.

Your learning will be assessed regularly and is made up of 100% coursework.

Assessments

We'll test your understanding and progress with informal and formal tests.

The informal tests usually take place at least once per module, from which you’ll receive feedback from your tutor. The grades from these tests don’t count towards your final marks.

There are formal assessments are usually at the end of each module and will count towards your module and your final marks.

Assessments are reviewed annually and may be updated based on student feedback or feedback from an external examiner.

To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback.