Sustainable Tourism: Society & Environmental Aspects from edX

Tourism’s profound impact on the world Tourism continues to experiencing incredible growth. Of all the industries of major importance worldwide, Travel and Tourism directly contribute $1.4 trillion to the global economy and provides one out of ten jobs and that number is growing.

But tourism is more than just a powerful economic force. Tourist activities come with a host of social and environmental issues at tourism destinations. And return, tourism business itself is highly sensitive to global transformations such as changing consumer behaviour, economic developments, natural disaster, epidemics, or acts of terrorism. Tourism is in fact a complex phenomenon.

Introduction to tourism; an all-round perspectiveInstead of taking on tourism education’s customary approach – that of growth driven, applied and hospitality management – join us to explore the tourism industry and build your own reflections. You'll be exposed to a variety of insights throughout the course. These include tourism's historical background and a variety of social science approaches will be looked at, with a special focus on the human geography of tourism. You will be exposed to the negative impacts on natural resources, the cultural heritage of host communities and climate change related issues, such as carbon emissions. Which role can sustainable tourism development play to address both the tourism associated economic benefits as well as the collateral costs for key stakeholders?

Based on weekly reflection exercises, you'll be challenged to form your own argument for a tourism development of your choice. You'll also help others by providing and receiving meaningful feedback on their critical reflections of tourism phenomena.

The effects of Corona virus on the tourism industryThere is no doubt that tourism has been greatly affected by the Covid 19 virus outbreak. With the upcoming attempt to rebound post-Corona, all players in the industry face a choice: will it be business as usual or do we re-invent toward more sustainable practices? But also, how has Corona effected tourists and their behaviour? We will discuss these and other highly relevant questions throughout our tourism courses.

For whomWhether you are a business owner, work in tourism or an fervent traveller, join us for this MOOC for an science based understanding of what tourism does to our living environment, our behaviour and our cultural inheritance. Help drive sustainability in tourism. Subscribe now!

Professional Certificate Programme

This online course, ranked among the 10 best online courses in the world by Class Central, is part of the Professional Certificate Programme Tourism in Transition: Exploring a Sustainable Future, along with the MOOC Sustainable Tourism: Rethinking the Future, which was nominated for the annual edX® award in 2019 and the MOOC Tourism and Climate Change.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to view tourism as a complex social and environmental phenomenon
An overview of global tourism development in its historical context
Ways to distinguish differences in the social study of tourism

How to conceive of the sheer size and systemic development of tourism
To analyse mutual relationships between tourism and its environment

How to view tourism as a complex social and environmental phenomenon
An overview of global tourism development in its historical context
Ways to distinguish differences in the social study of tourism
How to conceive of the sheer size and systemic development of tourism
To analyse mutual relationships between tourism and its environment

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction & Overview What is tourism, and how can you study it from a social sciences point of view?

Module 2: History of global tourism developmentWhere does tourism come from? We go back in time to understand where our contemporary tourism practices originate.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Addresses complex and timely global issues in the tourism industry

Taught by experienced professionals who provide a unique global perspective

Explores the historical development of tourism, providing valuable context

Challenges learners to develop a comprehensive understanding of tourism's impact

Offers a multidisciplinary approach, integrating various social science perspectives

Suitable for individuals interested in tourism management, travel, or related fields

Reviews summary

Sustainable tourism: deep societal & environmental insights

According to students, this course offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of sustainable tourism, delving deep into its societal and environmental impacts. Learners particularly value the academic rigor and the emphasis on critical thinking, finding the reflection exercises highly beneficial for developing their own arguments. While some note its theoretical foundation, recent feedback highlights its relevance to current global events, including the impacts of COVID-19. The instructors' expertise is consistently praised, making complex topics accessible and engaging for both professionals and interested learners.

Addresses contemporary issues, including global crises.

"The inclusion of COVID-19's impact was very timely and made the content highly relevant."

"It kept pace with current events, discussing how the industry can re-invent itself sustainably post-pandemic."

"I was impressed by how current the discussions and examples were throughout the modules."

Taught by knowledgeable and engaging faculty.

"The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable and presented complex ideas clearly."

"Their passion for the subject really came through in the lectures, making them engaging."

"I felt the insights provided by the professors were top-notch and added significant value."

Encourages deep reflection and forming independent arguments.

"The weekly reflection exercises were a highlight; they really pushed me to think critically."

"I learned to analyze tourism phenomena and build my own well-reasoned arguments, which is invaluable."

"This course is perfect if you want to challenge your assumptions and develop a nuanced view."

Provides a deep, multifaceted understanding of tourism.

"This course gave me a truly holistic perspective on tourism's complexities, far beyond just economics."

"I appreciated how it covered history, social sciences, and environmental aspects in depth."

"It's a great foundational course for understanding sustainable tourism from many angles."

Emphasizes scientific and social science approaches.

"This course is definitely more academic and theoretical, less about 'how-to' practical business strategies."

"While insightful, learners seeking direct operational tools might find it less hands-on."

"It truly is a science-based understanding, so be prepared for rigorous conceptual frameworks."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Sustainable Tourism: Society & Environmental Aspects with these activities:

Join a Tourism Discussion Group

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Joining a tourism discussion group will allow you to engage with others interested in tourism and learn from their perspectives.

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Search for online or in-person tourism discussion groups.
Join the group and participate in discussions on a regular basis.
Share your own experiences and insights on tourism-related topics.

Review: Tourism Destination Management

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of tourism destination management.

View Advanced Introduction to Sustainable Tourism... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Identify the main challenges and opportunities facing tourism destinations.
Develop your own recommendations for improving tourism destination management practices.

Review Historical Context

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Reviewing the historical context of tourism will strengthen your understanding of the industry's evolution and development.

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Read scholarly articles about the history of tourism.
Identify key events and trends that shaped the industry.
Analyze the impact of tourism on different regions and cultures throughout history.

Four other activities

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Follow Tutorials on Tourism Marketing

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Following tutorials on tourism marketing will enhance your understanding of how to effectively promote tourism destinations.

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Identify reputable sources for tourism marketing tutorials.
Follow tutorials on topics such as target market analysis, content marketing, and social media marketing.
Practice applying the concepts learned in the tutorials to real-world scenarios.

Design a Sustainable Tourism Campaign

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Designing a sustainable tourism campaign will strengthen your understanding of how to promote tourism while minimizing environmental and social impacts.

Browse courses on Sustainable Tourism

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Research best practices for sustainable tourism.
Identify a specific tourism destination and target audience.
Develop a marketing campaign that promotes the destination's sustainable attributes.
Create a detailed plan outlining your campaign strategy and how it will be implemented.

Develop a Tourism Sustainability Plan

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Creating a sustainability plan will enhance your understanding of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism.

Browse courses on Sustainable Tourism

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Research best practices for sustainable tourism.
Identify potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism in a specific destination.
Develop strategies to mitigate negative impacts and enhance positive impacts.
Create a detailed plan outlining your strategies and how they will be implemented.

Contribute to a Tourism Open-Source Project

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Contributing to a tourism open-source project will provide you with hands-on experience in the tourism industry and allow you to make a meaningful contribution to the field.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find an open-source project that aligns with your interests in tourism.
Identify ways to contribute to the project, such as reporting bugs, translating content, or writing documentation.
Join the project's community and start contributing.

Career center

Learners who complete Sustainable Tourism: Society & Environmental Aspects will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Hotel Manager

Running day-to-day operations at a hotel is the duty of a Hotel Manager. The hospitality industry in its entirety revolves around the idea of tourism. Understanding the impacts of tourism on the environment is key. Also important is the idea of sustainable tourism development. Knowledge of these subjects as provided by this course can help you be a successful Hotel Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hotel Manager

Tour Operator

This role directly manages everything related to tourism for clients. A critical aspect is the planning of tours and activities. Tour Operators must be quite familiar with environmental issues as they relate to tourism so that they can make sound decisions about sustainable practices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tour Operator

Tourist Information Specialist

Answering questions about tourism activities is a primary responsibility of Tourist Information Specialists. They have a profound understanding of tourism's societal and environmental impacts and are able to communicate these to visitors who may not completely understand the effects of the tourism industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tourist Information Specialist

Travel Consultant

Getting people to their desired tourism destinations is the job of Travel Consultants. They work with clients to plan their itineraries and make all the necessary arrangements. Travel Consultants are able to advise clients on sustainable tourism practices and help them make choices that are less impactful to the environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Travel Consultant

Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists gather data and study the impacts of tourism on the environment. They also develop and implement plans to mitigate these impacts. Environmental Scientists who specialize in tourism need to be able to understand the social and economic aspects of tourism in addition to the environmental ones.

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Hospitality Manager

Heading up all hospitality operations for a particular organization is what a Hospitality Manager does. In the tourism industry, they work to ensure that guests have the best possible experience while also minimizing the environmental impact of their stay.

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Sustainability Manager

In tourism, Sustainability Managers are responsible for developing and implementing policies and practices that reduce the environmental impact of tourism operations.

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Environmental Economist

Environmental Economists assess the environmental impacts of tourism and develop policies to mitigate these impacts considering the economic costs and benefits involved in sustainable tourism.

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Anthropologist

Anthropologists study tourism's impacts on cultures and the experiences of tourism workers. For example, an anthropologist could investigate how different tourism development projects may impact local communities and their traditional ways of life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist

Urban Planner

Urban Planners work to create sustainable communities and can specialize in tourism planning. They need to be able to understand the economic and social benefits of tourism, as well as the potential negative environmental impacts.

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Geographer

Geographers study the physical and human aspects of the environment. They can specialize in tourism geography and study the environmental and social impacts of tourism development.

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Environmental Lawyer

Environmental Lawyers use their knowledge of the law to protect the environment. They can also work with governments and businesses to develop sustainable tourism policies and practices.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists communicate with the public on behalf of organizations or individuals. In the tourism industry, they may be responsible for promoting sustainable tourism practices or responding to negative publicity about the environmental impacts of tourism.

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International Development Specialist

International Development Specialists work to improve the quality of life in developing countries. They may work on projects related to tourism development and can use their knowledge of sustainable tourism to help communities benefit from tourism while minimizing the negative environmental impacts.

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Science Reporter

Science Reporters communicate scientific information to the public. They may cover topics such as environmental issues and sustainable tourism, helping to raise awareness of these important topics and promote informed decision-making.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Reporter