CRE28 Fundamentals of Tourism

University College Prague – University of International Relations and Institute of Hospitality Management and Economics, Ltd.
summer 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Ing. Anna Ulrichová, PhD. (lecturer)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives (in Czech)
Aim of the course: The objective is to introduce tourism as a global and fast growing phenomenon and examine its social, economic and environmental effects. The course provides information on the current trends in the global as well as European hospitality industry. This course looks at what the tourism industry is and does, and why it is such an important global business.
Learning outcomes (in Czech)
Students will be provided with the state-of-the-art knowledge and concepts of the tourism industry. Upon successful completion of this course students will be familiar with major principles of destination marketing and management and will understand the specifics of distribution channels and the impacts of new technologies. The course encompasses information on all travel sectors: accommodation, catering, attractions, travel organizers (tour operators and travel agents), food and beverage, events and conferences and the transportation sector. Students will understand the importance of the transportation sector, which enables travelling and therefore connects tourist generating areas with tourist destinations. Insights into the role of different modes of transport such as water, land and air will be provided. Students will acquire knowledge about the roles and the importance of the accommodation and catering industries in tourism. Particular attention will be paid to building knowledge of the travel trade sector which encompasses operations of tour operators and travel agencies. Knowledge of specific forms of tourism such as MICE tourism and Health and Spa tourism will be also provided during the course.

In addition, students will recognize the importance of natural resource conservation and sustainable tourism development. They will be provided with the knowledge of ecotourism and its benefits as well as dangers and limitations toward the life of local population. Special attention will be also paid to the future development of tourism and its growing role in international trade in services as well as its effects toward economic development and understanding foreign cultures.

The course also includes fundamentals of Tourism Geography. The concept of the UNWTO and general information about regional geography including tourist destination countries in Europe, Asia, Americas and Africa and the Middle East. The course comprises key elements of the geography of tourism such as geographic location, climate and tourism, the geographic distribution of resources for tourism, the geography of demand for tourism, the geography of transport flows.
Syllabus (in Czech)
  • Course description:
  • 1. Introduction and theoretical background
  • 2. The history of tourism
  • 3. The structure and organisation of the travel and tourism industry
  • 4. Tourism market - supply and demand in tourism. The economic impacts of tourism
  • 5. Tourism services- basic sectors of tourism (accommodation and catering services, transport services).
  • 6. Tourism services - additional services (guide, financial, animation etc.)
  • 7. Intermediaries in the tourism
  • 8. Tourist generating regions. Geography basics
  • 9. Destination development and management; the management of visitors
  • 10. Tourism marketing. Public sector involvement in tourism
  • 11. The social, cultural and environmental impacts of tourism
  • 12. Health and Spa Tourism, MICE
  • 13. Tourism and the future, tourism in numbers (statistics on tourism)
Literature
    required literature
  • GOELDNER, Ch., RITCHIE, B.: Tourism: principles, practices, philosophies, John Wiley and Sons,Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, 2011, ISBN 978-1-118-07177-9
    recommended literature
  • ALASTAIR, M. and MORRISON. Marketing and managing tourism destinations. 2013.
  • GODFREY, K. and CLARKE, J. The tourism development handbook : a practical approach to planning and marketing. London : Continuum, 2000.
  • Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic: Tourism Development Strategy of the Czech Republic 2021-2030
  • INKSON, C and L MINNAERT. Tourism Management, an Introduction. Sage, 2012. ISBN 978-1-84860-870-2. info
Teaching methods (in Czech)
Lectures, class discussion, group projects, presentations by professionals in the sectors.
Active participation in class expected.
Assessment methods (in Czech)
Class participation in discussions, case studies, presentations.
Grade based on average mark of written test (min. 70% to pass).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
  • Enrolment Statistics (summer 2024, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.ucp.cz/course/ucp/summer2024/CRE28