Pilot GCSE: Optional Unit 4 - Travel and Tourism
In this unit Alan Marvell (Bath Spa University College) offers candidates an opportunity to explore the relationship between travel, tourism and geography. Alan focuses on the interconnectivity between places, not only in the movement of people but also how places are promoted and perceived by others. Two contrasting locations are explored in order to demonstrate diversity in the type of tourism that takes place, the effects of tourism and the motivations and experiences of tourists.
Travel and tourism destinations is described as being ‘predominantly vocational’ in its approach, as it relates to the travel and tourism industries. While the unit is not truly ‘vocational’ in terms of training an individual for a specific role in the industry it provides a general appreciation of the geographical issues associated with travel and tourism.
Information on the context, content and assessment objectives are provided in the full Travel and Tourism Destinations unit, together with its associated planning grid can be downloaded below.
Resources
There are many resources available to support the teaching of the Travel and Tourism Destinations unit. Relevant examples and case studies can be drawn from existing GCSE Geography and GCSE Leisure and Tourism texts.
Assemble a bank of resources from a variety of sources including newspapers, magazines, travel guides, brochures, publicity material, industry reports, maps and atlases and the internet. Keep them up to date because tourism trends and destination information change relatively quickly. Ask a travel agent for brochures or other relevant documentation (e.g. gazetteers) that have been replaced, rather then sending candidates into travel agents. A vast array of travel information is now provided via the internet.
Although the internet is a useful source, candidates will need to look beyond promotional websites to more impartial opinions offered by travel guides. Candidates should check for bias on websites (i.e. whether bias exists, the extent to which it exists, why it exists and identify the techniques used to present partial ‘truths’ about an area).
<<< Back to Optional Units
Comment on this page
Comments made by GA members appear instantly - make sure you're logged in!
Guest comments will be sent to a moderator for approval.
Current conversations
What our website visitors are talking about.