Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE TTC1103

 
TITLE The Business Environment of Tourism and Culture

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Tourism Management

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit will serve as an introduction to the tourism operation, by providing a solid background to the environment of the tourism business activity. The first part of the study-unit will discuss the way in which business organisations act as a transformation process and the way in which a business may structure its activities. It will introduce the student to the complexity and uniqueness of the organisation's environment and introduce the student to the nature of the external environment (PEST), including the analysis of change and its implication on business activity.

The second part of the study-unit will focus on the structure and organisation of tourism businesses, by classifying businesses, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of different forms of organisations, small and large firms, public, private and social tourism enterprises.

The third part of the study-unit will focus on the competitive and political environments facing tourism businesses. Students will be introduced to mechanisms to be utilised in assessing businesses, such as SWOT and Porter's Five Forces, the various forms of competition and how governments affect or hinder the growth of a tourism activity.

The fourth part looks at the macro-economic environment on business, and how different economies can influence tourism businesses.

The fifth part look at globalisation and tourism activity and in the sixth and final part, students will be introduced to socio-cultural influences and technology on business decisions.

Study-unit Aims:

The purpose of this study-unit is to provide an overview of the business environment as it affects organisations involved in tourism and travel and to introduce different approaches to analysing that environment. As well as helping one develop an understanding of the factors that influence business operations, this module will also encourage students to develop more practical skills related to information gathering, problem solving and team work.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the interdependencies between an organisation and the environment in which it operates;
- Cmprehend the industry and markets in which tourism and travel businesses operate and the key trends that influence those industries and markets;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the key analytic frameworks that can be used in the development of business plans;
- Comprehend the link between theoretical and empirical work on tourism management.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will:
- Be able to use critical thinking, analysis and synthesis;
- Be able to conduct research on both country and case-study material;
- Be able to apply business models to business problems and phenomena;
- Have self-awareness, openness and sensitivity to diversity in terms of people, cultures, business and management issues.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Evans, N., Campbell, D. and Stonehouse, G. (2014): Strategic Management for Travel and Tourism. Butterworth Heineman, Oxford (ISBN 13: 9780415837279; ISBN 10: 0415837278).

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Independent Study & Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation (15 Minutes) SEM1 Yes 20%
Report SEM1 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Etienne Dalli
Alfred Mifsud

 

 
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit