CIEE Barcelona, Spain
Course title: Sustainable Tourism
Course code: (GI) MGMT 3006 BASP
Programs offering course: Business and Culture, Economics and Culture, Global Architecture and
Design, Language and Culture, Semester in Barcelona
Open Campus Track: Business
Language of instruction: English
U.S. semester credits: 3.00
Contact hours: 45.00
Term: Spring 2025
Course Description
Students explore the development and management of tourism in a way that is environmentally, socially,
culturally, and economically responsible. Using criteria established by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council,
students define the global baseline standards and principles for sustainability and tourism, and discuss best
practices in sustainable tourism management. They explore key goals of sustainable tourism, including economic
development, poverty alleviation, sustainable management of natural and cultural resources, social
responsibility, and rescuing and protecting cultural heritage. Students investigate cases where tourism has
impacted the local community. Along the way, they make tangible suggestions for how best to manage tourism
for optimizing economic and social gains while assuring the lasting integrity of the environment, infrastructure,
and cultural heritage that supports it.
Learning Objectives
By completing this course, students will:
Analyze environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts of tourism and ways these impacts can be
managed.
Describe the principles and practices of sustainable tourism and their role in promoting local sustainable
development.
Identify and evaluate challenges and successes from examples of sustainable tourism locally and around
the world.
Critique the role of government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations in the development
and management of sustainable tourism.
Develop skills and knowledge to measure and monitor the impact of tourism on local communities and the
environment, using metrics like the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s guidelines.
Apply tools and strategies to plan, implement, and manage sustainable tourism, including the development
and application of sustainable tourism policies and regulations.
Course Prerequisites
None, though previous business management coursework is suggested.
Methods of Instruction
Students will learn through lectures, discussions (online and in person), case studies, writing, group projects,
self-reflection, community-based instruction, site visits, and guest lectures. Class sessions are activity-based and
rely on completion of previous work out of class.
Assessment and Final Grade
1. Quizzes 20%
2. Sustainable Tourism Assessment 20%
3. Sustainable Tourism Management Plan 20%
4. Case Study Presentations 20%
5. Engagement 20%
TOTAL 100%
Course Requirements
Quizzes
Periodic quizzes, either online or in person, will cover material since the previous quiz. Though not designed to
be comprehensive (including material from previous quizzes), material covered will be built on previous course
content. Quizzes will include T/F, multiple choice, short answer, and short essay formats. Each quiz will take
approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Sustainable Tourism Assessment
Each student will profile a local touristic business and perform a 750-word management assessment. This
assessment must quantify the impacts on local community and environment according to Global Sustainable
Tourism Council guidelines.
Sustainable Tourism Management Plan
Continuing with the same touristic business as for the Sustainable Tourism Assessment, students will develop a
1200-word management plan to improve economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects of the business.
Case Study Presentations
In small groups, students will present case studies provided by the instructor. Each presentation will be 10
minutes. The presentation should include a PowerPoint or similar visual presentation format.
Engagement
Engagement is defined as meaningful contribution throughout the course, using the resources, experiences, and
materials presented to students. Engagement will be measured objectively throughout the course with a series
of formative assessments. Students will be assessed on preparedness in advance of each class, regular
engagement with course resources, discussions, reflective assignments, co-curriculars, and all other learning
activities.
Attendance
CIEE promotes experiential learning that requires class attendance. Students should notify their instructor and
CIEE academic staff of foreseen absences. Accommodations for missed classes, if any, will be determined by the
course instructor and CIEE academic staff. Chronic absences may result in Withdrawal or Failure. Please see your
Academic Manual for more details.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is essential to a positive and inclusive teaching and learning environment. All students are
expected to complete coursework responsibilities with fairness, respect, and honesty. Failure to do so by seeking
unfair advantage over others or misrepresenting someone else’s work as your own can result in grade penalties
or disciplinary action. See the CIEE Student Academic Manual for further information on academic integrity.
N.B. Course schedule and co-curriculars are subject to change. The final duration and distribution of
content and assignments will be determined and presented to students at the onset of the course.
Weekly Schedule
Week 1
Class: 1.0 Tourism vs. Sustainable Tourism
Students define tourism and describe elements key to sustainable tourism. They quantify the
importance of tourism in the global context. They explore different subsets of tourism for which
sustainability is particularly important: ecotourism, geotourism, archaeological tourism, cultural
tourism, and others. They discuss responsible tourism and its application to sustainable tourism.
They review and then present case studies highlighting different forms of tourism and how they
approach sustainability.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 1 A Philosophical Approach to
Managing Sustainable Tourism
Watch:
Lansky, D. 2019. How to Save Tourism from Itself. TEDx Talks
Class: 2.0 A History of Sustainable Tourism
Students trace sustainable tourism from prehistory to today. They examine the role of innovations
in transporting goods and people, the place of cultural tourism in the ancient world, the role of
onboard naturalists and anthropologists as nations navigated the seas, and the more recent
aknowlegement of the impact tourism has on local economies, society, and culture.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 2 Worldly Travelers and a Sense of the
History of Sustainable Tourism
Watch: Stainton, H. 2021. The History of Tourism – Travel and Tourism from the Ancient Years to
Postmodern Times and Beyond
Due: Quiz 1
Week 2
Class: 3.0 Sustainable Tourism Today
Students investigate the origins of key concepts and ideas aimed at thoughtful management of
sustainable tourism today. In doing so, students trace how definitions of sustainable tourism
continue to change, and what they are today. They assess current guidelines by the Global
Sustainable Tourism Council and apply them to different case studies.
Class: 4.0 Sustainable Tourism in the Local Context
Co-curricular 1: Visit to National Tourism Board
Students will visit to their local National Tourism Board or similar organization to know more
about the official tourism strategy locally, regionally, and nationally, including any sustainability
initiatives.
Week 3
Class: 5.0 UN Millenium Development Goals and Sustainable Tourism
In this session, students explore the United Nation’s Millenium Development Goals and 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development in the context of sustainable tourism. They extend goals
beyond protection of biodiversity, environmental integrity and cultural preservation to challenges
of poverty, equitability and economic development.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 4 The United Nations Millennium
Development Goals and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Watch:
Greene, M. 2015. How We Can Make the World a Better Place by 2030. TED Talks
Due: Quiz 2
Class: 6.0 Current Challenges in Sustainable Tourism
Students define and discuss overtourism, undertourism, experiential tourism, sports tourism, and
adventure tourism. They look at emerging trends in tourism and anticipate sustainability
challenges with each. Students also investigate how climate change and global warming are likely
to impact tourism and applying sustainable management practices to adapt and mitigate.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 5 New Concepts in Sustainable Tourism
Practices
Watch:
Overtourism – Is Sustainable Tourism Possible? 2020. Currently Hannah
Week 4
Class: 7.0 Rural vs. Urban Development through Sustainable Tourism
Students contrast the challenges of touristic development and sustainability in rural and urban
environments. They discuss principles and practices to help mitigate some of the difficulties in
these areas. Students explore and present case studies of sustainability in urban and rural
environments to look for commonalities and unique opportunities.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 6 Rural Tourism Development and
Sustainability
Maxim, C., 2015. Drivers of success in implementing sustainable tourism policies in urban areas.
Tourism Planning & Development, 12(1), pp.37-47.
Watch:
How Mass Tourism is Destroying Cities. 2020. TRT World
Due: Quiz 3
Class: 8.0 Field Class to Local Districts and Sites Impacted by Tourism
During this co-curricular site visit to areas in the host city most impacted by tourism, students
observe firsthand the challenges and successes of implementing sustainable tourism practices.
They evaluate economic, social, and environmental impacts of tourism on the local community
and infrastructure, and propose strategies to enhance sustainable management.
Week 5
Class: 9.0 Sustainable Tourism, Peace, Stability, and Prosperity
Students investigate international organizations advocating peace through tourism. At the same
time, they examine international conferences and accords linking tourism to political stability,
peace, and ecnomic prosperity. They examine case studies where tourism supports positive and
peaceful relations with neighbors and rivals. Likewise, students discuss how tourism leads to
cultural understanding and tolerance.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 7 Sustainable Tourism and the
Prospects of Peace
Watch:
Sarah, A.A. 2015. For More Tolerance, We Need More…Tourism? TED Talks
Class: 10.0 Policy and Strategic Planning for Sustainable Tourism
In this session, students investigate the critical role of policy and strategic planning in promoting
sustainable tourism by examining global sustainability standards and successful case studies.
They analyze and create effective tourism policies and strategic plans that balance economic,
environmental, and social objectives.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 8 Policy and Strategic Planning toward
Sustainable Tourism Development
Watch:
Nino, S. 2019. How the Tourism Industry can be Responsible for Its Ecological Footprint. TedX
UBud
Week 6
Class: 11.0 Implementing a Strategic Planning for Sustainable Tourism
Using a strategic sustainable tourism planning process, students will develop a vision statement, a
mission statement, planning goals, develop planning tactics, and form a proposal to implement a
strategic plan for a local touristic area/site or organization.
Due: Quiz 4
Class: 12.0 Guest Speaker: Protecting Our Heritage
During this guest speaker session, students consider real world complexities of managing a
popular but fragile touristic site. The speaker will discuss the challenges and strategies involved in
balancing visitor demand with the preservation of environmental, cultural, and social integrity.
Students will also explore the role of community engagement and policy development in creating
sustainable tourism practices for fragile destinations.
Week 7
Class: 13.0 Marketing Sustainable Tourism
Students explore how tourism is a competitive business. Further, consumers want to know how
their tourism dollars and activities support local sustainability efforts. In this session, students
discuss sustainable tourism policy to support marketing goals. They develop a strategic plan for
marketing a local sustainable tourism product in ways that promote sustainability goals.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 9 Marketing the Sustainable Tourism
Product
Watch:
Andre, J. 2021. Rebuilding through Sustainability: Destination Marketing. Skift
Class: 14.0 Marketing Sustainable Tourism: Local Case Studies
In this session, students explore the role of marketing in promoting sustainable tourism through
the analysis of local case studies. They identify and apply effective marketing strategies that
highlight sustainability efforts while engaging tourists and stakeholders. Students develop skills to
create marketing plans that support sustainable tourism initiatives and contribute to the
preservation of local resources and culture.
Week 8
Class: 15.0 Leadership and Policies for High Quality Sustainable Tourism
Students define leadership qualities and existing policy changes needed to assure a high quality
experience for both tourist and local community. They discuss the ever-changing tastes,
turbulence, conflict, surprise, challenge, and possibility of today’s world and sustainable tourism’s
place in it. They investigate and summarize key management policies from sustainable tourism
organizations.
Reading:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 10 Transformative Leadership and
Policies toward Sustainable Tourism
Class: 16.0 Co-curricular to Local Sustainability NGO
During this co-curricular visit to a local NGO focused on sustainable tourism, students consider
local grassroots efforts in promoting sustainability within the tourism sector. They will learn about
the NGO's initiatives, challenges, and successes in balancing tourism growth with environmental
and cultural preservation. Students enhance their understanding of community-based sustainable
tourism practices and discuss innovative solutions for local sustainable tourism management.
Due: Sustainable Tourism Assessment
Week 9
Class: 17.0 Heritage Tourism and Sustainability
Students discuss heritage tourism, where people travel to connect to their own heritage. They
come up with ways to protect the local culture and its evolution while offering a genuine heritage
experience for the traveller that avoids stereotype or deceptive representations.
Readings:
Kim, S., Whitford, M. and Arcodia, C., 2019. Development of intangible cultural heritage as a
sustainable tourism resource: The intangible cultural heritage practitioners’ perspectives. Journal
of Heritage Tourism, 14(5-6), pp.422-435.
Class: 18.0 Preserving and Rescuing Heritage through Sustainable Tourism
Students examine the role of sustainable tourism in preserving and even bringing back local
culture, including language. Students examine case studies provided by the instructor and critique
them for their management of sustainable tourism in this context.
Readings:
Nomnian, S., Trupp, A., Niyomthong, W., Tangcharoensathaporn, P. and Charoenkongka, A., 2020.
Language and community-based tourism: Use, needs, dependency, and limitations. Austrian
Journal of South-East Asian Studies, 13(1), pp.57-79.
Lor, J.J., Kwa, S. and Donaldson, J.A., 2019. Making ethnic tourism good for the poor. Annals of
Tourism Research, 76, pp.140-152.
Watch:
Seyfeddinipur, M. 2018. Endangered Languages – Why It Matters. Tedx Talks
Week 10
Class: Semester Break
Week 11
Class: 19.0 Managing Sustainable Tourism in the 21st Century
Students review current sustainable tourism principles and practices and how they resonate with
sound sustainable management philosophies moving forward. They discuss tourist carrying
capacity and what to do when it is exceded. Students outline ways to recognize sustainability
threats and warning signs. They review special case studies that exemplify best practices in
sustainable tourism management.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 11 Managing Sustainable Tourism in
the 21st Century
Class: 20.0 Managing Sustainable Tourism in the 21st Century: Group Presentations
In this session, students present their group collaborations on various aspects of managing
sustainable tourism in the 21st century. They explore contemporary challenges and innovative
strategies for achieving sustainability in tourism, focusing on economic, environmental, and social
dimensions. Through these presentations, students develop practical solutions for current and
future issues in the industry.
Due: Case Study Presentation
Week 12
Class: 21.0 Opportunities in Sustainable Tourism Management
In this session, students discuss how management decisions in sustainable tourism create
opportunities for positive economic, environmental, social, and cultural benefits. They explore the
importance of strategic planning and decision-making in maximizing these opportunities.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 12 Future World Issues that will Impact
on Managing Sustainable Tourism
Class: 22.0 The Future of Sustainable Tourism Management
Students share perspectives on how to develop the exploding tourism industry in a way that lifts
up the impoverished, protects local culture, expands environmental protections, assures social
integrity, all with adequate infrastructure, policies, and sustainable management strategies.
Readings:
Edgell, D.L. 2020. Managing Sustainable Tourism, Chapter 12 Future World Issues that will Impact
on Managing Sustainable Tourism
Week 13
Class: 23.0 Sustainable Tourism Management Plans
In this session, students present their Sustainable Tourism Management Plans, showcasing their
ability to integrate sustainability principles into tourism development. They demonstrate their
understanding of balancing economic, environmental, social, and cultural goals through strategic
planning and innovative solutions. Students receive feedback and refine their plans, preparing
them for real-world applications in sustainable tourism management.
Due: Sustainable Tourism Management Plan
Class: 24.0 Final Thoughts and Reflections
In this final session, students share their thoughts and reflections on what they have learned
about sustainable tourism management throughout the course. They discuss key insights gained,
new challenges they foresee, and share some innovative solutions they have developed. This
reflective discussion aims to build on their understanding and inspire an ongoing commitment to
sustainable practices in their future careers.
Course Materials
Readings
Edgell Sr, D.L., 2020. (3rd ed) Managing Sustainable Tourism: A legacy for the future. Routledge.
Baloch, Q.B., Shah, S.N., Iqbal, N., Sheeraz, M., Asadullah, M., Mahar, S. and Khan, A.U., 2022. Impact of
tourism development upon environmental sustainability: a suggested framework for sustainable ecotourism.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, pp.1-14.
Kim, S., Whitford, M. and Arcodia, C., 2019. Development of intangible cultural heritage as a sustainable tourism
resource: The intangible cultural heritage practitioners’ perspectives. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 14(5-6),
pp.422-435.
Lor, J.J., Kwa, S. and Donaldson, J.A., 2019. Making ethnic tourism good for the poor. Annals of Tourism
Research, 76, pp.140-152.
Maxim, C., 2015. Drivers of success in implementing sustainable tourism policies in urban areas. Tourism
Planning & Development, 12(1), pp.37-47.
Nomnian, S., Trupp, A., Niyomthong, W., Tangcharoensathaporn, P. and Charoenkongka, A., 2020. Language and
community-based tourism: Use, needs, dependency, and limitations. Austrian Journal of South-East Asian
Studies, 13(1), pp.57-79.
Richards, G., 2018. Cultural tourism: A review of recent research and trends. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism
Management, 36, pp.12-21.
Online Resources
Global Sustainable Tourism Council https://www.gstcouncil.org/what-is-sustainable-tourism/
Sustaining Tourism Resource Page https://sustainabletourism.net
