TOURISM ECONOMICS

1. Knowledge and understanding (Conoscenza e capacità di comprensione). The unit aims to provide knowledge of the main economic aspects related to tourism and their implications for economic growth.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding (Capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione). The unit aims to develop skills in applying information, using appropriate methods, concepts and theories regarding selected economic aspects of tourism and their impacto on growth to the analysis of real-world cases.
3. Making judgments (Autonomia di giudizio). Successful students will be able to select a proper economic model in order to analyse both theoretical and real-world cases.
4. Communication skills (Abilità comunicative). Successful students will be familiar with both the terms and the narrative related to the subject. Furthermore, they will be able to communicate to a variety of audiences including experts, practitioners, and the general public.   
5. Learning skills (Capacità di apprendimento). Successful students will be able to understand which theoretical concept is appropriate to deal with specific problems in the field of tourism economics.

In-class lectures and seminars held in English.

Please be advised that the actual delivery of the unit might differ from what here stated as a consequence of eventual risk mitigating measures in response to the ongoing pandemic.

A basic background in both microeconomics and macroeconomics is recommended.

Highly recommended.

Economics of Tourism, Economics of Destinations, Tourism Studies and Other Related Issues. Definitions and Key Concepts. The Economics of Tourism Destinations. The Consumer Theory Applied to the Tourist. Tourism, Development, and Growth. The State Intervention and the Public Organization of Tourism. Sustainable Tourism. 

Candela, G., & Figini, P. (2012). The economics of tourism destinations. In The economics of tourism destinations (pp. 73-130). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

This unit will be assessed by means of two pieces of assessment: an essay and an oral exam. The former consists in a 3000-word essay that examines real-world cases related to the content of the unit. During the oral exam, each student will have the opportunity to discuss her/his own report and will be invited to answer open-ended questions. The report and the oral exam will be weighted equally. The essay will be assessed according to the following criteria: general presentation, grammar, vocabulary, text building, critical thinking, and the use of ICT resources. The oral exam will assess the relevance of the answers with respect to the question, its content, the ability to create proper links to additional topics, the ability to report examples, the use of proper technical language, and the overall communication skills.

The Demand for Different Types of Tourism. The Pricing Policy of the Destination. The Choice of the Tourist as a Consumer. The Tourism Expenditure Multiplier. The Phases of Tourism Development in a Regional Economy. Adding Tourism to Growth Models. The Evolution of the Relationship Between Tourism and the Environment. Sustainable Tourism.