Course Description
This course introduces the concepts and principles associated with sustainable tourism development, emphasizing on their implications for management and planning purposes. Topics to be addressed include: concept, justification and evolution of sustainable development; socio-cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable tourism; positive and negative impacts of tourism development; and principles conducive to sustainable tourism planning and community development. Given that each case of tourism development is unique, examples from the U.S. and around the world will be used to examine and discuss issues and practices of sustainable tourism development within different geo-cultural contexts. This course adopts the Problem-Based Learning Format, which promotes and enhances students' analytical skills, problem solving skill and team working skills. It also adopts TH!NK intellectual standards to encourage critical and creative thinking in evaluating the work of others, solving problems related to sustainable tourism, and reflecting on personal thinking (i.e., metacognition). Junior or senior standing.