Syllabus Information

1. General information

The subject aims to understand, from a geographical approach, the complex relationships and impacts between tourism and the territory. To this end, the main tourist destinations worldwide will be analyzed from a geographic perspective (cities and population, climate, main orographic and hydrographic resources, transportation, socio-demographic, socio-cultural, economic, geopolitical aspects , etc.). The factors of tourist location and the geographic particularities of the destinations according to their functionality and typology (Sun and Beach, Urban, Rural, Nature, Snow and mountain) will be understood. At the same time, students will acquire skills in the management of international databases and of geovisualization resources for the exploration and cartographic representation of tourist destinations and attractions.

These approaches and goals are aligned with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030 ( https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/), in such a way that the acquisition of the learning results of the subject provides training and competence to contribute to some extent to the achievement of Objective 11.4 and 12.2.

2. Learning results

- Describe with examples the nature and factors that affect spatial and temporal changes in tourism activities.

- Know and understand the main tourist destinations in the world from a geographic perspective.

- Carry out theoretical tests and solve practical cases on the tourism system.

- Manage qualitative and quantitative techniques to adequately interpret and plan geographic information and its relation to tourism activities.

3. Syllabus

• Unit 1. Geography and tourist destinations: elements and interrelationships.
• Unit 2. Tourism location factors. Spaces and tourist typologies.
• Unit 3. Geographical analysis of the main tourist destinations on a global scale:
  • Europa
    • Southern Europe and Mediterranean
    • Western Europe
    • Northern Europe
    • Central and Eastern Europe
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South and Central America
  • • Central America and Caribbean
    • South America
  • Asia
    • East Asia and Pacific
    • South Asia
    • Southeast Asia
  • Middle East
  • Africa
    • North Africa
    • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Oceania
    • Australia and New Zealand
    • Pacific Islands

• Unit 4. Sustainable tourism and global issues.

4. Academic activities

Attendance to theoretical classes: 45 hours

Theoretical-practical sessions where the contents of the course will be explained

Attendance to practical classes: 6 hours

Database management and geographic technologies

Attendance to tutorials: 6 hours

Individual or group tutorials to deepen knowledge

Preparation of theoretical work: 30 hours

Autonomous work of the student. Geographical analysis of a tourist region of the world (Theoretical section)

Preparation of practical work: 20 hours

Student's autonomous work. Geographical analysis of a tourist region of the world (Practical section) Other activities: 9 hours

Seminars or programmed activities

Exam preparation: 30 hours

Conducting examinations: 4 hours

5. Assessment system

The student must obtain a minimum of 4 (out of 10) in all the theoretical or practical tests in order to obtain an average (If the student does not reach a 4 in any of the parts, he/she will never obtain more than a 4 in the finalaverage ).

Assessment criteria for continuous and global assessment: Clarity and order in writing, assimilation of concepts, handling of techniques used in class, participation and ability to issue opinions and conclusions, good presentation and layout of results.

Important: The originality of the contents is required (plagiarism or intellectual non-originality of any test of theoretical or practical assessment will result in the failure of the subject)