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Objective

This course aims to deepen your understanding of the management of tourism destinations and the importance of the different sub-areas of the tourism business in developing a destination's competitiveness. You will study tourism destination management from the perspective of a tourism actor, such as a DMO, entrepreneur, employee, and destination developer. You will improve your strategic thinking, research and analysis skills and connect with tourism industry representatives. You can utilize the course content to boost your career plans and, for example, on development tasks in the tourism business.

Competences
Proactive development, sustainable development, tourism business

Learning goals
You understand the concept of the competitiveness of the tourism destinations and how the destinations are developed. You can identify the destination's strategic development challenges and opportunities. You can also identify the destination's stakeholders and networks and understand the meaning of responsible planning.

You know the requirements of the destination branding process. You recognize the value of historical, geographic and cultural attractions and services in tourism. You also understand the destination management system and evaluate companies' and stakeholders' roles and involvement. You conduct research, analyze a destination and create development ideas and recommendations.

Content

- Destination development
- Responsible tourism planning
- Networks, stakeholders
- Destination management system
- Destination branding
- Destination research and analysis

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1 (Sufficient)
You have a basic understanding of the different concepts and factors related to tourism destination development, branding, planning, and value creation. You are able to list the roles of stakeholders and define their involvement. Additionally, you can state your knowledge in analyzing a destination.

2 (Satisfactory)
You have a good understanding of the various concepts and circumstances related to the development, branding, planning, and value creation of tourism destinations. You are able to describe the roles of stakeholders involved in the destination and their involvement. Furthermore, you can apply your knowledge to analyze a destination in practice.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3 (Good)
You are able to showcase various concepts, situations, and obstacles that arise during the development of tourism destinations, including branding, planning, and value creation. Additionally, you can illustrate how stakeholders play a responsible role and are involved in the destination's networks. You can also apply research-based knowledge and theory when analyzing a destination.

4 (Very Good)
You are able to examine different concepts related to destination development, planning, branding, and value creation. You can also analyze the challenges and opportunities that arise in the strategic development of a destination. Furthermore, you can evaluate the responsible actions of stakeholders and their involvement in tourism networks. Your ability to argue theory- and practice-based destination analysis is strong.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5 (Excellent)
You can critically argue for the concepts and circumstances used in responsible tourism destinations' development, planning, branding, and value creation. You can also reason about and develop the stakeholders' responsibility and involvement in tourism networks. You can take a critical and innovative approach to theory- and practice-based destination analysis.