Environmental Management in Tourism

N/A

Teaching and learning methodologies combine theoretical and practical approaches. Concepts necessary for the development of the student’s analytical capacity will be explored, identifying relevant sources of information and stimulating research and analysis of cases. This approach will be complemented with the analysis of best practices in the context of tourism development. Group works will be prepared on the different subjects, encouraging students’ self-training and critical thinking in areas that comprise the integrated analysis of sustainable tourism management. Two types of evaluation are foreseen. Assessment by final exam consists of a single knowledge assessment test (100%). Continuous assessment results from the following assessment parameters:
a) Theoretical test (50%)
b) Group work/case studies (30%)
c) Participation/attendance/worksheets and discussion in class (20%)

The learning outcomes for this curricular unit are centered on providing a key set of skills that prepare the students as responsible citizens and future professionals that will be able to:

1- Understand the reasons for the necessity of adopting responsible approaches at different levels considering the main challenges posed to tourism development.
2- Identify the main national and international guidelines aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, focused on circular economy, carbon neutrality as to indorse sustainable tourism, ethics, and corporate social responsibility.
3- Promote the rational use of resources by identifying impacts and response models. integrating responsible management practices that consolidate the competitiveness of tourism enterprises and destinations.
4- Recognize the main trends regarding sustainable tourism and distinguishing the main certification systems applied to the tourism sector.

1. Environment, tourism and sustainable development
1.1. Concepts and institutional framework
1.2. Principles and strategic guidelines for sustainable tourism
1.3. Tourism and climate change: the challenge of carbon neutrality
1.4. Pressures from tourism-impacts-responses

2. Sustainability as a competitive tool in tourism
2.1. Environmental management key areas
2.2. Environmental certification systems and eco-labels
2.3. Sustainability indicators

3. Sustainable tourism products and destinations: best practices

• - Frequency - 50.0%
• - Individual and/or Group Work - 30.0%
• - Attendance and Participation - 20.0%

• - Exam - 100.0%

NAO

CARETO, H. & LIMA, S. (2006/2007). Turismo e Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Vols. I e II. Lisboa: GEOTA.
Carvalho, N. (2007). Da emergência do problema ambiental à emergência do ambiente na sociologia. Revista Barlia, Nº 3/4, pp. 7-27.
Crossley, E. (2020). Ecological grief generates desire for environmental healing in tourism after COVID-19.Tourism Geographies, 22:3, 536-546.
European Environmental Agency (2018). Tourism and the Environment – Towards a reporting mechanism in Europe. Barcelona: ETC/ULS.
Geerts, W. (2014). Environmental certification schemes: Hotel managers’ views and perceptions. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 39, pp. 87-96.
LIMA, S. (2008). A Gestão Ambiental no Sector Hoteleiro. Lisboa: GEOTA.
Turismo de Portugal (2022). Business: Sustentabilidade e Turismo: http://business.turismodeportugal.pt/pt/crescer/sustentabilidade