Intro

Page 1: Course Introduction

  • Instructor: Aurélie Giovine

  • Email: Aurelie.giovine@heldb.be

  • Course Presentation:

    • Introduction to the course and instructor

    • Student expectations for the course

    • Assess pre-existing knowledge in social sciences (sociology, anthropology)

    • Differences between sociology and anthropology

Course Objectives

  • Analyze the evolution of tourism from its origins to present day

  • Understand the socio-cultural impact of tourism on populations/regions

  • Analyze the functioning and transformations of tourism in contemporary society

Course Content

  • Capacity to analyze socio-cultural issues related to tourism

  • Develop critical reflection on the tourism sector and its stakeholders

Learning Outcomes

  • Gain insights on the social and cultural implications of tourism

Teaching Methods

  • Lecture-style teaching divided into thematic chapters

    • Mandatory: Syllabus available on digital campus

    • Recommended: Bibliography at the end of the syllabus includes relevant books & scientific articles

Sources and Evaluation

  • 3 ECTS credits for 30 hours of course; assessments are 100% written exams in January and June

  • Opportunity for formative evaluation during the course

Recommendations for Success

  • Attend classes regularly: listening aids learning success

  • Participate in class to enhance retention and test your knowledge

  • Bring syllabus and documentation to each class (paper copies can be provided upon notification)

  • Having a laptop is highly recommended

  • Note-taking is strongly encouraged

  • Create a glossary with definitions and examples early on

  • Summarize each section at the end

  • Complete formative assessments: beneficial for comprehensive understanding

  • Communicate concerns promptly and avoid last-minute preparations

Page 2: Introduction to Tourism

Definitions of Tourism

  • Key Characteristics:

    • Origin of tourists (national vs international)

    • Mode of transportation

    • Duration of the stay

    • Nature of the stay: individual vs organized

  • Tourism involves voluntary movement with diverse purposes impacting the host country in various ways.

  • Importance of clear and precise definitions to avoid confusion and misrepresentation of statistics due to broad interpretations.

Types of Tourism

  • Cultural and Business tourism (e.g., major cities like London, New York, Paris)

  • Religious tourism (e.g., pilgrimage sites like Santiago de Compostela, Mecca)

  • Coastal tourism

Components of the Tourism System

  • Tourism System:

    • Origin (tourist's permanent residence)

    • Transit itinerary (route to the final destination)

    • Destination (place visited, temporary residence)

    • Environment (socio-economic and natural elements encompassing previous components)

Page 3: Understanding Tourists

Defining a Tourist

  • Tourist Characteristics:

    • Engages in temporary mobility away from their habitual environment voluntarily.

  • Parameters Used by OMT:

    • Motives of Stay:

      • Work-related travel excluded from statistics

      • Touristic motives: leisure, visiting family/friends, health needs, business, personal reasons, religious purposes, events (e.g., sports).

    • Stay Duration:

      • Excursionists: No overnight stay

      • Tourists: At least one overnight stay

Page 4: Motivations for Travel

Factors Influencing Destination Choice

  • Considerations for selecting a vacation destination:

    • Desire for a relaxing getaway (

      • e.g., a pleasant or rural location)

    • Curiosity and desire for cultural experiences

    • Maintaining or expanding social and economic networks.

Constraints Affecting Mobility

  • Factors limiting travel choices:

    • Financial: Sufficient resources for basic needs during travel

    • Temporal: Availability of time for travel

    • Administrative: Possible need for travel authorizations (passport, visa)

    • Health: Physical condition affecting travel capabilities

    • Security concerns impacting destination and mode of transport choice

    • Family obligations influencing travel decisions

Page 5: Scope of Tourism Studies

Analytical Questions

  • Key questions to understand the tourism field:

    • How to analyze tourism?

    • What methods to use?

    • What are the underlying challenges and issues?

Tourism as a Major Phenomenon

  • Understanding that tourism has evolved into a significant modern phenomenon through various stages.

  • Researching tourism includes several crucial factors:

    • Operational systems involving actors, locations, and norms (businesses, regulations)

    • Tourism shaped by an imaginative quest for authenticity and exotic experiences

    • Influenced by developed marketing strategies and often analyzed economically or geographically.

    • Acknowledges tourism's role in societal cultural practices and its evolution over time.

    • Recognition of negative perspectives, including touristophobia.

Page 6: Course Specialization

Focus of the Course

  • The course aims to answer critical socio-anthropological questions regarding tourism:

    • What social and cultural factors influence tourism practices and their impacts?

    • How do local societies embrace tourism phenomena?

    • What role does tourism play in power dynamics at local, national, or transnational levels?