MODULE TITLE
European Tourism Field Project
Module Code
Semester of Delivery
State whether module is
Mandatory, Elective or
Option
Level (4/5/6/7)
Credit Points
Assessment Pattern:
Components & Weighting
Pre-Requisite Modules (if
applicable)
Breakdown of Student
Learning Hours by Type*
19-5T03-00S
1 and 2
Mandatory/ Elective: According to route
Module Leader & School
Module Banding
Will Module be offered via
Blackboard?
Date of Original Approval
Date of Next Review
1
5
20
100% Coursework
The Tourist or
The Tourism System
24 hours workshop
1 week field visit
self-study
Nicola Foster
School of Sport and Leisure Management
C
Yes
RATIONALE
Throughout this module, students investigate tourism in a specific
destination region, namely Barcelona and its surrounding region of
Catalonia (North East Spain). Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city that
has witnessed dramatic growth in tourism since hosting the 1992
Olympic Games. Catalonia has a highly developed tourism industry
and is particularly known for its coastal resorts. This module is unique
in the sense that students undertake an educational field visit to the
region and thereby have the opportunity to gain practical experience
and insight into tourism within Catalonia. Students develop both
academic and professional skills through an organised programme
including day excursions to rural, coastal, historic town and urban
destinations, presentations from Catalan tourism industry
representatives, and group projects and activities. Students carry out
assessed preparatory work in advance of the field visit to develop
critical awareness of tourism in Catalonia.
2
SUMMARY OF AIMS
The overarching aim of this module is to investigate the development of
tourism in Barcelona and the surrounding region of Catalonia, located
in north-east Spain, through preparatory activities throughout semester
3
one, an educational field visit to the destination and a series of
workshops taking place throughout semester two.
ANTICIPATED LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
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explain the development of tourism in Catalonia as well as interpret
and evaluate future development prospects (KU, C);
review and investigate the supply-side of the Catalan tourism
industry and its effective management (C);
examine and compare urban, coastal and rural destinations and
their products (C);
recognise and assess the effects of internal, external and
competitive business environments operating within the Catalan
tourism industry (S);
discuss the demand-side of the region's tourism industry (C);
identify and apply the impacts of tourism to the Catalonia region
(KU, C);
practise fieldwork research skills during the visit to Catalonia (K).
LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY AND METHODS,
INCLUDING RESOURCES
The main strategy for teaching and learning on this module is an
educational field visit to Catalonia. The module is also taught through a
series of workshop sessions during semester two and some
preparation meetings and work throughout semester one. The field
visit component of the module involves an organised programme of
daily excursions, industry speakers and group work activities,
encouraging students to put theory into practice and to develop
professional skills. Group tasks are based upon observational work
and tourism fieldwork research methodologies. Regular feedback
sessions throughout the field visit concentrate on group discussions
and informal presentations. A small proportion of the module is taught
in semester one and content focuses on preparing students for the field
visit (which takes place towards the end of this semester). During
semester two, a series of interactive, student-led workshops are held
and these concentrate on developing students' first hand knowledge
and experience of tourism in Catalonia. This module encourages
student-centred learning through an interactive web site and CAL
project, designed by CTTC staff.
5
ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK STRATEGY AND METHODS
The learning outcomes are 100% coursework assessed through use of
two formative assignment components and one summative piece of
work. All coursework components are based on tourism development
and the tourism industry within Catalonia. The first assignment
involves teamwork and students undertake investigative research into
the field study region. This assignment has a dual purpose in that it
encourages students to develop an awareness of the field study region
in advance of the field visit, and it develops their group working skills.
Students are given formative feedback on assignment one before the
field visit takes place. In turn, students use the knowledge that they
have acquired, through completion of this assignment, throughout the
field visit. The main foci of the second and third assignments are the
fieldwork and observational activities that students conduct whilst within
Catalonia. Students draw upon their fieldwork experience for
assignment two and work in teams to design and present short break
holiday brochures for specific tourism products and market segments.
The third assignment is essay based and summative in nature. It
concentrates on students' fieldwork experience in conjunction with their
theoretical awareness of tourism at the field study destination region.
This summative assessment provides students with the opportunity to
illustrate their wider understanding of tourism issues in Catalonia.
6
SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Student achieving a pass in this module will demonstrate:
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the ability to present work to degree standard at level two;
in-depth knowledge of tourism issues affecting the field visit region;
that wider research and self-study has taken place;
the ability to critically evaluate relevant theory, issues, concepts
and examples;
effective working with others in team based assignments;
correct referencing techniques where appropriate in assignments;
verbal and written skills in effectively communicating ideas.
INDICATIVE CONTENTS, READING LIST AND RESOURCES
Indicative content
The following curriculum will be covered within the module:
 the evolution of tourism in Catalonia, current developments and
future prospects;
 the supply-side of the Catalan tourism industry and its effective
management;
 urban, coastal and rural tourism destinations and products;
 business environments operating within the Catalan tourism
industry;
 the demand-side of the region's tourism industry;
 environmental, economic, socio-cultural and political impacts of
tourism within Catalonia;
 fieldwork research skills.
Reading list and resources
Ashworth, G.J. and Dietvorst, A.G.J. (Eds.) (1995), Tourism and Spatial
Transformations: Implications for Policy and Planning, CAB
International. (Chapter 3: Priestly, G.K. Evolution of tourism on the
Spanish coast)
Barke, M., Towner, J. & Newton, M.T. (Eds.) (1996), Tourism in Spain:
Critical Issues, CAB International: Wallingford. (This book contains
many relevant chapters to the module).
Cococossis, H. and Nijkamp, P. (Eds.) (1995), Sustainable Tourist
Development, Athenaeum Press Ltd. (Chapter 13: Priestly, G.K.
Problems of tourism development in Spain)
Law, C.M. (Ed.) (1996), Tourism in Major Cities, International Thomson
Business Press. (Chapter 5: Priestly, G.K. City Tourism in Spain: a
recently discovered potential)
Pompl, W. & Lavery, P. (Eds.) (1993), Tourism in Europe: Structures
and Developments, CAB International: Wallingford. (Chapter 14:
Albert-Pinole, I. Tourism in Spain)
Richards, G. (Ed) (1996), Cultural Tourism in Europe, CAB
International. (Chapter 15: Maiztegui-Onate, C. and Areitio Bertolin,
M.T. Cultural Tourism in Spain)
Williams, A. & Shaw, G. (1998), Tourism and Economic Development European experiences, Third edition. Wiley. (Chapter 3: Valenzuela,
M. Spain: from the phenomenon of mass tourism to the search for a
more diversified model)
Priestly, G.K., Edwards, J.A. and Coccossis, H. (Eds) (1996),
Sustainable Tourism? European Experiences. CAB International.
(Chapter 5: Morris, A. Tourism and local awareness: Costa Brava,
Spain. Chapter 7: Priestly, G.K. Structural dynamics of tourism and
recreation-related development: the Catalan coast)
Smith, V.L. (Ed.) (1989), Hosts and Guests: The Anthropology of
Tourism, University of Pennsylvania Press. (Chapter 10: Pi-Sunyer, O.
Through native eyes: tourists and tourism in a Catalan maritime
community)
Garcia, S. (1991), Urbanisation and the Functions of Cities in the
European Community. European Institute for Urban Affairs.
Hughes, R. (1992), Barcelona. Harvill/Vintage.
Jensen-Butler, C., Schachar, A. and Van Weesep, J. (Eds) (1997),
European Cities in Competition. Aldershot: Avebury. (Chapter
7:Sanchez, J. Barcelona: the Olympic city)
Sharpe, L. J. (Ed) (1995), The Government of World Cities: The Future
of the Metro Model, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. (Chapter 3:Grimaldos, A.
and Ferrer, C. The Barcelona Metropolitan Area)
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MODULE BANDING OTHER THAN A
C