Policy Planning For/In Sustainable Tourism

Spring 2015 Syllabus

HMGT 5560

Policy Planning for/in Sustainable Tourism

Tuesdays, 05:30 pm - 08:20 pm

Course Description:

This course is a graduate interdisciplinary course designed to increase your understanding of issues in policy and planning in (for) sustainable tourism. Course utilizes work published in top journals in the fields of tourism, community studies, human geography or anthropology (among others) as the major base for in-class discussions. During the semesteryou will learn to critically evaluate policyfor sustainability and planningfor sustainable tourism.

Note: this course applies two main approaches to analyse contemporary policy and planning for sustainable tourism: discourse approach/critical theory.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, students will:

Understand tourism development in sustainability context

Recognize Elements of Global Sustainability Policy

Recognize components of tourism governance

Evaluateprocess of policymaking

Evaluate planning for tourism

Discuss forms of tourism in the context of environmental discourse

Learn to develop research inquiries

Learn to develop a comprehensive literature review

REQUIRED BOOK:

The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses By John S. Dryzek (2012) (3rd Edition)
New York: Oxford University Press

“The Politics of the Earth provides an accessible and engaging introduction to thinking about the environment by looking at the way people use language on environmental issues. Leading scholar John S. Dryzek analyses the various approaches, which have dominated environmental issues over the last three decades and which are likely to be influential in the future, including survivalism, environmental problem solving, sustainability, and green radicalism. This new edition includes more on global environmental politics, as well as updated and expanded examples including more material on China. Dryzek looks at the most modern discourses, including discussions surrounding climate change, and has reworked the material on justice and green radicalism to include more on climate justice and new developments such as transition towns and radical summits. An engaging writing style and helpful boxed material make this complex subject accessible to students.”

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

In class and Online Class Decorum:

Please be professional in all verbal discussions, questions, responses, and conversations in this course. No abusive or offensive language is permitted (as determined by instructor). This also applies to all written communication. Failure to comply with these rules will result in removal of access to the course until the issue is resolved with the instructor.

Studentbehaviour:

Pay attention to the lectures, guest speakers, videos, and discussions, write down any relevant notes, and participate in assignments and class discussions.
Complete the assigned readings before the scheduled class begins.
Prepare to actively participate in Think-Tanks
Attend all classes, recognizing that absences will adversely affect the final grade.
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period unless otherwise stated.
Submission of Written Assignments: Assignments should be submitted via TURNITIN unless specified otherwise. Assignments after due date won’t be accepted.
Be a good teammate for your group members (if assigned).
Academic dishonesty is not tolerated

Plagiarism will adversely affect the final grade.

Exhibit classroom behaviour that does not infringe on other students' right to learn.

Eat your meal before the class or during breaks. Note: chewing in front of other destructs them

Ask valuable questions as much as you wish.

YOUR FINAL GRADE WILL REFLECT:

Weekly Reaction Papers(10 points each)(10% of your grade)

Each week students are required to submit a 1-2page reactionpaper (single space, Times New roman, 12 pt. font,APA,1 inch margins)

All reactionpapers will be due at the beginning of each class.

The reaction paper elements include:

SUMMARY/SYNOPSIS – What are you reacting to?
GOAL: Show that you understand the thesis, main ideas, and supporting
ANALYSIS/EVALUATION--What are the strengths and weaknesses of the piece?
Goal: Show that you understand what the author does well and what he or she does not do so well.
YOUR REACTION--How do you react to the piece on a personal level? How does the piece relate to your experience?

Literature Review-Research Paper: Literature Review (90 points) + Research Question(10 points)(60% of your grade):

References include at least 15 journal articles from top rated journals (Annals of Tourism Research, Journal of Travel Research, Tourism Management, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Sustainability,…).
Length 7-10 pages SINGLE SPACE (Times New Roman, 12)
Sections: Introduction/ Opening stating your topic-> Main Section-> Research Inquiry focused on proposed research.

A literature review may consist of simply a summary of key sources, but it usually has an organizational pattern and combines both summary and synthesis, often within specific conceptual categories. A summary is a recap of the important information of the source, but a synthesis is a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that information in a way that informs how you are planning to investigate a research problem. The analytical features of a literature review might:

Give a new interpretation of old material or combine new with old interpretations,
Trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates,
Depending on the situation, evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant research, or
Usually in the conclusion of a literature review, identify where gaps exist in how a problem has been researched to date.

The purpose of a literature review is to:

Place each work in the context of its contribution to understanding the research problem being studied.
Describe the relationship of each work to the others under consideration.
Identify new ways to interpret prior research.
Reveal any gaps that exist in the literature.
Resolve conflicts amongst seemingly contradictory previous studies.
Identify areas of prior scholarship to prevent duplication of effort.
Point the way in fulfilling a need for additional research.
Locate your own research within the context of existing literature [very important].

… more here:

TEAM Research Project(20 % of your grade):Under the conceptual leadership and supervision of Dr. Strzelecka, the students will conduct independent research(100 points)

Develop literature review

Design survey questions
Collect quantitativedata

In-Class discussion(10%of your grade)(100 points)

It is essential that you are prepared for and participate in discussion.

SCHEDULE

Week 1 (20 January 15)

Syllabus/ Introduction to Policy & Planning for Sustainable Tourism (Priscilla Connors)

MODULE ONE: TOURISM & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DISCOURSE / GLOBAL POLICY

Week 2 (27 January 15) Environmental Discourses/ Introduction

Readings:

Dryzek (2012) The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses: CHAPTER 1(Introduction); CHAPTER 2 (Looming Tragedy: Limits, Boundaries, Survival)
Saarinen, Jarkko (2014) Critical Sustainability: Setting the Limits to Growth and Responsibility in Tourism. Sustainability, 6, 1-17: doi:10.3390/su6010001:

Think-Thank:

Think about tourism development as a part of development discourse. How do policies reflect tourism within development discourse?
Find 1-2 documents/ strategies for tourism development that reflect limits of growth approach in tourism. Think how the limits of growth discourse would be reflected in in tourism policies (global) and development strategies concerned with tourism.
While reading the chapters, please find some good “quotes” for class discussion

TEAM Research Project:

Study goals developed
Tentative Research Question proposed
Survey Questionnaire discussed: What is the goal of our Survey, which concepts we want to investigate
Consent signed

Literature Review Research Paper:

Topic/ Quality Expectations discussed

Week 3 (3 February 15) Social transformations to sustainability

Readings:

Elliot J. (2013). An Introduction to Sustainable Development. (Fourth Edition). CHAPTER I What is Sustainable Development ? pp. 9-56
Dryzek (2012) The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses. Chapters 9 - 11

Recommended:

Edward Barbier (2011). The policy challenges for green economy and sustainable economic development. Natural Resources Forum, Special Issue: Green Economy and Sustainable Development, 35 (3), 233–245: DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2011.01397.x

Think-Thank:

Is sustainable tourism as a part of sustainability discourse? How? Why yes/no? Discuss examples
Discuss Millennium Development Goals in relation to sustainable tourism:

TEAM Research Project:

Literature Review Draft Due
IRB Draft Due: Revised in Class

Week 4 (10 February 15) Social transformations to sustainability continues

Readings:

Making Tourism More Sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers: CHAPTER FIVE: Instruments for more sustainable tourism; CHAPTER FOUR: Shaping Sustainable Tourism

Think-Tank

Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria for sustainable tourism:
New Zealand Tourism Industry Association Tourism policies for a sustainable tourism industry:
Costa Rica:

Week 5 (17 February 15) Sustainable Tourism

TEAM Research Project:

Draft of Survey Questionnaire due – to be revised in class

Use existing scales where possible

Make sure to keep references to source of your questions

MODULE TWO: TOURISM GOVERNANCE

Week 6 (24 February 15)Tourism Governance conceptualized

Readings

Michael Hall (2011) A typology of governance and its implications for tourism policy analysis. Journal of Sustainable Tourism …
Dredge D., Jenkins J., Whitford M. Tourism Planning and Policy: Historical Development and Contemporary Challenges. In Dredge D. & Jenkins J.(eds)(2011). Stories of Practice: Tourism Policy and Planning

Think Tank

Role of tourism in development policies:

TEAM Research Projects:

Draft of Survey Questionnaire Due – to be revised in class

Literature Review - Research Paper

Topic/ abstract / outline/ references due

Week 7 (3 March 15) Public Participation/ Participatory Approaches

Reading

Strzelecka, M. and Wicks, Bruce E. (2010). Engaging residents in planning for sustainable rural- nature tourism in post-communist Poland, Community Development, 41 (3), 370-384
Strzelecka, M. and Wicks, Bruce E. (in print). Community Participation and Empowerment in Rural Post-Communist Societies: Lessons from the Leader Approach inPomerania, Poland. Tourism Planning and Development
Strzelecka, M. Empowerment in Tourism Governance (draft). 2015

Think Tank

Provide justification for community involvement in tourism planning/decision-making
Provide justifications for not involving community in tourism planning/ decision-making

TEAM Research Project

Progress Report

Week 8 (10 March 15) Public Participation/ Participatory Approaches continues

Readings

Robin Nunkoo & Haywantee Ramkissoon (2012) Power, Trust, Social Exchange and Community Support. Annals of Tourism Research, 39 (2), 997–1023
Cevat Tosun & Dallen J. Thimothy (2003). Arguments for Community Participation in the Tourism Development Process. Journal of Tourism Studies,14 (2), 2-15
Cevat Tosun(2000) Limits to community participation in the tourism development process in developing countries. Tourism Management, 21, 613-633

Literature Review - Research Paper

Draft I Due

Week 9 (24 March 15) Public-Private Partnerships:

Readings:

María José Zapataa & C. Michael Hall (2012) Public–private collaboration in the tourism sector: balancing legitimacy and effectiveness in local tourism partnerships. The Spanish case. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events 4 (1), 61-83

Think Tank

We will discuss feasibility of public-private partnerships in different socio-political context
“Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development”The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the auspices of the joint United Nations programme:

TEAM Research Project

Progress Report

Literature Review - Research Paper

Feedback/Draft I

Week 10 (31 March 15) Local/ecological knowledge vs. expert knowledge

Berkes. F. Sacred Ecology. 1999.

Chapter One:Context of Traditional Ecological knowledge

Chapter Two:Emergence of the field

Chapter Three:Intellectual Roots of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Resource Management

Think Tank

The role of ecological knowledge in tourism development and management

Literature Review - Research Paper

Draft II due – students submit a complete paper before final edits

MODULE THREE: RESILIENCE THINKING

Week 11 (7 April 15)

Readings

Cutter, Susan L. Barnes, Lindsey Berry, Melissa Burton, Christopher Evans, Elijah Tate, Eric Webb, Jennifer (2008) A place-based model for understanding community resilience to natural disasters. Global Environmental Change 18(4), 598-606

TEAM Research Project

Progress Report

Week 12 (14 April 15)

Readings

Ruiz-Ballesteros, Esteban (2011) Social-ecological resilience and community-based tourism. Tourism Management 32(3), 655-666
Gunderson, L. 2010. Ecological and Human Community Resilience in Response to Natural Disasters. Ecology and Society 15(2): 18. Retrieved from

TEAM Research Project

Progress Report

Literature Review - Research Paper

Feedback on drafts II
Discussion

Week 13 (21 April 15)

Readings

Week 14(28 April 15)

Readings

TBA: Students (3 groups) select and present reading pertaining to discuss tourism policy and community resilience

Group Research Project:

Final Draft of Literature Review and Research Questions due
Data collected is due

Think-Tank

Discussing Research Project Experience
Sustainability in small-town vs. big city: hopes, challenges, future

Recommended Literature:

Krutwaysho Bramwell (2010)Tourism policy implementation and society. Annals of tourism research 37(3), 670-691
Dredge D. & Jenkins J.(eds)(2011). Stories of Practice: Tourism Policy and Planning

School of Merchandising & Hospitality Management

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Academic Status

This term is used as an indication of a student’s academic standing with the university. Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing.
A graduate student is placed on academic probation at the end of any enrollment period in which the CGPA drops below 3.0.

ACADEMIC ADVISING

CMHT Graduate Faculty Advisor

CMHT MS students: plan to contact your assigned graduate faculty advisor at least once a semester, preferably twice. After the degree plan is completed, provide updates specifically on any change related to your degree plan. This includes changing the classes selected on the degree plan, change of minor or change in choice of thesis or non-thesis option.
CMHT Graduate Academic Certificate students: contact Dr. Kennon, Graduate Coordinator at least once every semester to verify certificate program progression.

Degree Plan

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Non-Degree Students

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Application for Graduation

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Specific details of all deadlines and events are found at this UNT website:

STUDENT EVALUATION OF TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS (SETE)

The Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness (SETE) is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. This short survey will be made available at the end of the semester to provide students a chance to comment on how this class is taught. Student feedback is important and an essential part of participation in this course.

ACADEMIC ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Understanding the academic organizational structure and appropriate Chain of Command is important when resolving class-related issues. When you need problems resolved, you should start with your individual faculty member who will then help you navigate the Chain of Command shown below:

University of North Texas

CMHT Academic Chain of Command

Individual Faculty Member

Department Chair

Associate Dean, CMHT

Dean, CMHT

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QUALIFIED STUDENTS UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OR SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973

The College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism cooperates with the Office of Disability Accommodation to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. If you have a disability for which you will require accommodation, please present your written accommodation request by the end of the first week and make an appointment with the instructor to discuss your needs.

COURSE SAFETY STATEMENTS

Students in the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism are urged to use proper safety procedures and guidelines. Students should be aware that the University of North Texas is not liable for injuries incurred while students are participating in class activities. All students are encouraged to secure adequate insurance coverage in the event of accidental injury. Students who do not have insurance coverage should consider obtaining Student Health Insurance for this insurance program. Students who are injured during class activities may seek medial attention at the UNT Health and Wellness Center at rates that are reduced compared to other medical facilities. If you have an insurance plan other than Student Health Insurance at UNT, please be sure that your plan covers treatment at this facility. If you choose not to go to the UNT Health and Wellness Center, you may be transported to an emergency room at a local hospital. You are responsible for expenses incurred there.