ATD4140

Cultural tourism

David Dunstan and Peter Spearritt

8 or 12 points -One 2-hour seminar per week -Second semester -Clayton

Objectives Students who succesfully complete this course should have a critical awareness of the issues and developments in the field of cultural tourism. Students should be able to develop an understanding of cultural tourism, have an appreciation of the role of cultural tourism in the general tourism industry and be able to evaluate the various concepts and models of cultural tourism. Students should also be able to critically examine the role of cultural tourism in relationship to the culture it purports to represent.

Synopsis Cultural tourism has been hailed as the spearhead of a successful tourism industry in Australia. But what is this phenomena which seeks to package an 'authentic' Australian experience from such diverse sources as ecology, heritage, the arts, cuisine and sport? This subject aims to give context to the emergence of cultural tourism as a recognised strand in mainstream tourism through examination of trends, theory and practices carried out by the tourism industry, government bodies and others. There is a strong emphasis on the role of social/environmental impacts and related policy issues in modifying the future of cultural tourism in Australia. Underscoring the themes of the subject are fluctuating notions of Australian cultural identity as portrayed through the industry and government. Students without a history or cultural studies background are advised to read R White Inventing Australia Sydney, 1981 or J Rickard Australia: A cultural history Longman 2nd edn, 1996.

Assessment (8 points) Class paper (1000 words): 25% -Research essay (3000 words): 40% -Take-home exam: 25% -Class participation: 10%
Assessment (12 points) Class paper (2000 words): 25% -Research essay (5000 words): 40% -Take-home exam: 25% -Class participation: 10%

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