Challenges and Opportunities for Rebuilding Tourism: A Sustainable Approach - Case Study

One Planet Vision for the Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector

Assignment Task

The UNWTO claims that the pandemic crisis reinforces the need to strengthen the ‘resilience’ and ‘sustainability’ of the tourism sector.  Accordingly, it has called for a ‘responsible’ recovery of the tourism sector from the COVID-19 crisis. To this end it has published a report - One Planet Vision for the Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector which aims to support the development and implementation of recovery plans which contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement.

Building on the preliminary review and analysis given in your presentation (Assessment) please provide a full analysis of the challenges and opportunities for rebuilding tourism in a destination of your choice. In your report you should emphasise and explain the necessary steps that should be taken to ensure that should be taken in order to help rebuild the destination along more resilient and sustainable lines.   

Assignment Instructions

Your report should include the following:

• A clear and concise outline of your chosen destination; its principal assets/attributes, including relevant economic and tourism data, key resources and attributes, key indicators related to the existing scale and composition of tourism provision, infrastructure and amenities.
• A concise summary of the principal effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the destination.
• Identify specific areas where critical intervention and reform are needed in order to help rebuild the destination along more resilient and sustainable lines.   
• Awareness of governance and planning system and identification of any key reforms and planning actions that need to take place in order to implement your recommendations (this may include the evaluation of any existing sustainable tourism strategies/plans).
• Evaluation of challenges that might hinder progress towards sustainable tourism and how these might be overcome.
• Integrate the above with at least two of the priority lines of action identified in the UNWTO Report and relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals(s).
• Synthesis and Summary of Key Recommendations.
• IMPORTANT: your report should be underpinned by academic research and the application of relevant concepts and theories related to sustainable tourism development and planning. Failure to do so will result in a loss of marks. (NB: Please read the assessment criteria carefully)

Presentation guidelines

The report should be word processed in accordance with the following:

• A title page with the title of your report, module code/name, your student number and the submission deadline.
• The executive summary should be a condensed version of your report.
• A table of contents
• A reference list (at the end).
• Appropriate headings and sub-headings
• Tables and figures can be included in the main body but if they are large then please use Appendices
• Font style: Any “normal” style (such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri); font size: 11 or 12
• Pages should be numbered.
• Your student number should be included on every page as a header/footer

Skills advice

Please make sure that you have conformed to academic conventions. You may find our study support and skills materials useful:

Your answers must include citations as well as a reference list at the end.  Unreferenced work will fail.

References must be accurately provided in the text using the Harvard Referencing System from Cite Them Right. Cite Them Right is the standard Harvard referencing style at UEL for all Schools apart from the School of Psychology which uses the APA system. This book will teach you all you need to know about Harvard referencing, plagiarism and collusion.  The electronic version of Cite Them Right: the essential referencing guide (9th edition), can be accessed whilst on or off campus, via UEL Direct.

Your word count should not include your abstract or reference list. You should provide your word count on the front sheet. Exceeding the word count by more than 10% may result in a penalty of 10% of your marks for your work. If your work is significantly shorter, then you will probably have failed to provide the level of detail required.

Learning Outcomes assessed in this assignment:

1.Demonstrate appropriate knowledge and critical understanding of the major theoretical and conceptual debates and ideas related to tourism development and sustainability; and their relationship.

2.Identify and critically discuss the major economic, political and environmental forces shaping tourism development in a number of destinations.

3.Evaluate and critique a range of policies, strategies and management approaches designed to achieve sustainable tourism.

4.Analyse and critically evaluate the factors contributing to the success or failure of sustainable tourism development and management, and make appropriate recommendations to address these.

5.Appreciate and critically assess the advantages and disadvantages associated with various forms of tourism development in relation to destination economy and environments.

6.Appreciate and develop strategies to address the challenges and opportunities of making the case for sustainability and CSR in a business and/or destination setting

7.To develop a reasoned and coherent argument, comparing and contrasting a range of theoretical viewpoints in relation to empirical evidence.