Introduction

From a thematic perspective, this course emphasizes three fundamental fields: 

1. tourism, with a specific focus on tourism planning, which involves the strategic development of tourism initiatives that consider both market demand and sustainability; 
2. geography, particularly the geography of tourism, which examines the spatial aspects of tourism, including how geographical features influence travel patterns and destination attractiveness; and 
3. cultural and natural heritage, which explores the significance of preserving and interpreting cultural landmarks and natural landscapes as vital components of the tourism experience.

Through a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, this course provides a multidisciplinary and

transdisciplinary approach aimed at fostering a comprehensive understanding of the tourism industry. Ultimately, it

is designed to equip students with the specific training needed for the design and planning of tourist itineraries,

empowering them to develop the professional competencies necessary for success in various roles within the

tourism sector.

By the end of the course, students will be well-prepared to navigate the complexities of tourism planning,

contribute to sustainable tourism development, and enhance the overall visitor experience through innovative and

culturally sensitive approaches.

There are five learning units in this micro-credential:

• Unit 1. Design of tourism itineraries.
• Unit 2. Use of geotechnologies in the design of tourism itineraries.
• Unit 3. Strategies for interpreting tourism itineraries.
• Unit 4. Digital marketing strategies for the promotion and commercialization of itineraries.
• Unit 5. Project presentation.

For achieving the micro-credential certificate, learners must graduate all four learning units in a successive order:

Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, and Unit 4, each unit being a prerequisite for the next one (Unit 1 for Unit 2, and so on).

Learning outcomes

Component: Tourist Itinerary Design (1.5 ECTS)

1. Learning Outcome 1: Students will develop the skills to create comprehensive and well-structured tourist itineraries, considering various factors such as territorial tourism resources and the interpretation of cultural and natural heritage.
2. Learning Outcome 2: Students will evaluate a variety of destinations and activities, integrating cultural, historical, and natural elements to design engaging and memorable travel experiences.

Component: New Technologies (1.5 ECTS)

1. Learning Outcome 1: Students will learn to craft effective digital marketing strategies tailored to the tourism sector, with a focus on enhancing online visibility and executing impactful social media campaigns.
2. Learning Outcome 2: Students will gain proficiency in utilizing geotechnology tools, including Google Maps, Google Earth, and similar mapping software, to effectively create and optimize tourist itineraries.

Practical informations

Study domain: Arts and humanities; Tourism geography

Related HUB: HUB 4 : Cities, Territories, Mobilities

Target audience: Master, Lifelong Learners

Language: English

ECTS: 75h, 3 ECTS

Coordinator: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)

Partners:

• Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
• University of Bucharest (Romania)

Contact: Carmen Hidalgo Giralt, carmen.hidalgog@uam.es

Assessment

The course evaluation will be conducted using various systems to ensure a comprehensive assessment of students' understanding and skills. 

Firstly, online quizzes will be utilized, focusing on the theoretical content covered throughout the course. These quizzes will help gauge students' grasp of key concepts and principles.

Secondly, rubrics will be implemented to evaluate the performance in practical activities. These rubrics will provide clear criteria for assessment, allowing for a more objective evaluation of students' abilities and engagement in hands-on tasks. 

Together, these methods aim to provide a holistic view of each student's progress and areas for improvement.

The evaluation of the course will be structured to provide a comprehensive assessment of student performance,

distributed as follows: 

• Continuous assessment will account for 75% of the total grade. This will include a final project, which will comprise 50% of the overall evaluation, allowing students to demonstrate their understanding and application of course concepts in a practical context.
• Online quizzes (or similar activities) will contribute 25% to the continuous assessment. These quizzes will serve both as learning tools and evaluative measures, helping to reinforce key theoretical content throughout the course.
• Final exam will constitute the remaining 25% of the total grade, which will also take the form of an online quiz. This exam will assess the students' overall grasp of the material covered in the course, ensuring that they have a solid understanding of the key concepts before completion.

Grading system (Ex.: 0 to 10, where 5 is the minimum passing grade; Pass / Fail) Indicate how students will be graded, the minimum grade for passing, and if applicable, specify the passing grade or grading criteria. 

Example: students must achieve a minimum grade of 70% to pass the micro-programme / micro-credential. Each subject is graded on a scale from 0 to 10 points. To pass a subject it is necessary to get at least 5 points.

The final grade for the course will be assessed on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being the lowest score and 10 the highest. A passing grade is set at 5.

Requirement

This course is designed for students from various fields, including geography, tourism, history, art, in general humanities.

Professors

• Carmen Hidalgo Giralt. Professor of Human Geography at UAM
• Benjamin Wayens, senior Researcher at Brussels Centre for Urban Studies
• Cristian Ioja, Senior researcher at Faculty of Geography of University of Bucarest