Module Directory

Special Interest Tourism (SIT) has emerged as a valuable niche market for tourism destinations in the past decade. Throughout the module, students will explore unique tourism types of travel activities and interests that go beyond standardised, mundane travel experiences.

SIT will explore the personalisation of the individual travel experience and identify how these forms of tourism contribute to local economies and communities. The module focuses on contemporary and unique tourism topics and their associated travel activities to identify and demonstrate the valuable niche market for both multi-product and single-product destinations.

The aims of this module are:

• To demonstrate the depth and breadth of niche tourism markets, activities, and types:
  
  
  
  • To provide an understanding of varied tourism market spaces, products, and services.
  
  
  • To explore the range of activities within the context of Special Interest Tourism (e.g., sustainability, film, slum tourism, etc.).
  
  
  
  


• To identify tourists’ individual needs, motivations, and behaviours:
  
  
  
  • Explore varied theoretical models to understand tourists needs and wants (e.g., Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Cohen’s Tourist Typologies, etc.,).
  
  
  • Critically evaluate and explore motivations and behaviour of Special Interest Tourists (e.g., the psychology of tourist behaviours).
  
  
  
  


• To critically evaluate socio-cultural, economic, and environmental effects of special interest tourism (SIT):
  
  
  
  • To identify how tourist behaviour impacts local environments and communities.
  
  
  • To adopt sustainable models (e.g., UNSDGs) to evaluate the effects of special interest tourists.
  
  
  
  


• To critically evaluate unethical tourism activities involving vulnerable populations including marginalised groups, communities, and individuals:
  
  
  
  • Critically evaluate the differences and implications of non-community-based tourism.
  
  
  • Assess and evaluate the unethical tourist activities within the context of special interest tourism.
  
  
  
  

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate the depth and breadth of niche tourism markets, activities, and types.


2. Identify special interest tourists’ needs, motivations, and behaviours.


3. Critically evaluate socio-cultural, economic, and environmental effects of special interest tourism (SIT).


4. Critically evaluate unethical tourism activities involving vulnerable populations including marginalised groups, communities, and individuals.

This module will be delivered via:

• Lectures, seminars, and workshops.

You will be expected to access and prepare for such sessions using the EHS online virtual learning environment and resources. Group and /or individual tutorials will be used to support the development and learning of the module content.