Module Details

Module Code: TOUR7007
Title: Visitor Attractions Management
Long Title: Visitor Attractions Management
NFQ Level: Intermediate
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2017/18 ( September 2017 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 8120 - Tourism
Module Delivered in: 2 programme(s)
Module Description: The module allows students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nature of the visitor attractions sector and its management. To develop an appreciation of the issues involved in planning, developing and managing successful visitor attractions. To appreciate the important issues relating to the visitor experience, including the role of technology, interpretation and visitor management. To raise awareness of key challenges facing the visitor attraction industry.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Examine the nature, role and characteristics of visitor attractions in a social and cultural context, and their links with the operating environment and the wider tourist industry.
LO2 Analyse the process and challenges of developing visitor attractions and discuss the key reasons for the sucess and failures of attractions
LO3 Explain the key managerial and operational issues in visitor attractions
LO4 Examine the importance of interpretation, authenticity and the role of education in the visitor experience.
LO5 Examine challenges encountered by visitor attractions and investigate techniques of overcoming these challenges.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
The Visitor Attraction Product
The important role of the visitor attraction in urban and regional settings. The nature and characteristics of different types of visitor attractions. Understand different ownership and management of different types of attractions. Attraction attributes. Understand the external and internal business environment that applies to visitor attractions.
The Planning and Development of Visitor Attractions
Attraction development, public and private sector role and management. Implement a feasibility study and identifying sources of public and private sector funding. Identifying potential success criteria for visitor attractions and applying future measures to ensure continued success. Examine, using case studies the reasons behind the failure of some attractions.
Managing Visitor and Heritage Attractions
Key management functions in attraction management, marketing the visitor attraction through collaboration. Staffing, training and volunteering development. Quality assurance and enhancing the visitor experience. Overcoming visitor impacts using both demand and supply techniques. Secondary services and income generation, retail/food and beverage/ special events and exhibitions/ secondary use of venue and location. Managing temporal variation in visitor attractions.
Presentation, Interpretation and Authenticity
The role of presentation and interpretation in visitor attractions. Data presentation and design, static and interactive presentation. The role of the visitor attraction as an educator or as entertainment. Conservation, restoration and preservation. Ethics in interpretation, authenticity while enhancing the customer experience. The growth of experiential cultural tourism.
Challenges and Future Development of Visitor Attractions
Growth in scale and complexity of visitor attractions, key issues in attraction development internationally, best practice international attractions. New technologies and up to date marketing. Exploiting new markets.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework40.00%
End of Module Formal Examination60.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 40
Timing Week 7 Learning Outcomes 1,2
Assessment Description
Comparative analysis of two tourism attractions visited as part of a field trip
End of Module Formal Examination
Assessment Type Formal Exam % of Total Mark 60
Timing End-of-Semester Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5
Assessment Description
End-of-Semester Final Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Classroom based Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Reading/Study Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Classroom based Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Reading/study Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • [edited by] Alan Fyall... [et al.]. (2008), Managing visitor attractions, 2nd. Amsterdam ; Butterworth-Heinemann, 2008., [ISBN: 9780750685450].
  • Isabelle Frochot & Wided Batat. (2013), Marketing and Designing the Tourist Experience, 1st. Goodfellow Publishers, Oxford, UK, [ISBN: 978190899946].
  • Peter Robinson, Michael Lèuck, Stephen Smith.. (2013), Tourism, 9, Wallingford; CABI, UK, [ISBN: 9781780642970].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Swarbrook,J.. (2002), The development and management of visitor attractions, Butterworth - Heinemann, [ISBN: 9781136410604].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Isabelle Frochot & Howard Hughes. (2000), HISTOQUAL: The development of a historic houses assessment scale, Tourism Management, vol. 21, p.157.
  • Garrod, B., Fyall.A., Leask, A.. (2002), Scottish visitor attractions: managing visitor impacts, Tourism Management, vol. 23, p.265,
    http://www.sciencedirect.com/
  • Connell, J. et al. (2015), Visitor attractions and events: Responding to seasonality, Tourism Management, vol. 46, p.283,
    http://www.sciencedirect.com/
Supplementary Article/Paper Resources
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_FTRSM_8 Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Tourism Management 6 Mandatory
CR_FTOUR_7 Bachelor of Business in Tourism Management 6 Elective