Tourism Operational Environments (5 cr)

Objective

The students are able to describe the differences between tourism regions in Finland and how pull factors (attractions) differ in various parts of the country. Using research material, they will be able to describe how foreign tourists spend their time in Finland and where tourists go abroad.

Content

Finland as a tourist destination
Tourism regions in Finland their key pull factors
International tourism into Finland and from Finland abroad
The world tourism region
Tourism of the future

Materials

Material provided by the lecturer, Visit Finland webpages

Teaching methods

Lectures, group work, workshops, student presentations

Employer connections

Study trip to the Helsinki Travel Fair (Matka)

Student workload

Study trip and Travel Fair task - 2 cr
Active participation in lectures - 1,5 cr
Individual online test - 0,5 cr
Online course: Cultural Sensitivity in Arctic Tourism - 1 cr

Content scheduling

Finland as a tourist destination
Tourism regions in Finland their key pull factors
International tourism to Finland and from Finland abroad
The world tourism regions
Overtourism
Sustainability in tourism
Changes in the operational environment

Evaluation scale

0 - 5

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The students can extensively and comprehensively identify the tourism regions of Finland and their key differences and can extensively describe how Finland is divided into tourism regions and the pull factors of these regions. They are able to extensively describe and analyse tourist behaviour using research. The students are able to connect the tourism programme service sector to form a tourism cluster. The students are able to determine which nature, sports, culture and wellbeing tourism programme service modes of service are suitable for Kainuu and Koillismaa (North East Finland). The students are able to work as members of a group to further and develop the work of the team and can critically apply professional ethical principles in their work.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The students can identify well the tourism regions of Finland and their key differences and can describe in detail how Finland is divided into tourism regions and the pull factors of these regions. They are able to describe and analyse tourist behaviour well using research. The students are able define and describe the programme service sector. The students are able to define and describe the special features of nature, sports, culture, adventure and wellbeing tourism programme services. The students are able to work as members of a group to achieve common goals and they are able to justify their work according to professional ethical principles.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students can identify the tourism regions of Finland and their key differences and can describe to a shallow degree how Finland is divided into tourism regions and the pull factors of these regions. They are able to describe and analyse to a satisfactory degree tourist behaviour using research. The students are able classify nature tourism (key summer activities: hiking, Nordic walking, cycling, horse riding, wildlife, canoeing, and fishing; key winter activities: skiing, snowshoeing, winter fishing), sports and exercise tourism (active and passive), adventure tourism (different levels of adventure), culture tourism (empowerment and resources offered by culture) and wellbeing tourism (wellbeing tourism in the field of health tourism) programme services. The students are able to work as members of a group taking others into account and they are able to work according to professional ethical principles.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The students can extensively and comprehensively identify the tourism regions of Finland and their key differences, as well as extensively describe how Finland is divided into tourism regions and the pull factors of these regions. They are able to extensively describe and analyse tourist behaviour using research. The students are able to connect the tourism programme service sector to form a tourism cluster. The students are able to determine which nature, sports, culture and wellbeing tourism programme service modes of service are suitable for Kainuu and Koillismaa (North East Finland).
Furthermore, the students can explain problems deriving from overtourism, the defining points of sustainability in tourism as well as changes in the tourism operating environment. The students are able to work as members of a group to further and develop the work of the team and can critically apply professional ethical principles in their work.

Toteutuksen arviointikriteerit, hyvä (3-4)

The students can identify the tourism regions of Finland well and their key differences, and they can describe in detail how Finland is divided into tourism regions and the pull factors of these regions. They are able to describe and analyse tourist behaviour using research. The students are able to define and describe the programme service sector. The students can state the problems deriving from overtourism, the main points of sustainability as well as the most important changes in the tourism operating environment. The students are able to work as members of a group to achieve common goals and they are able to justify their work according to professional ethical principles.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students can identify the tourism regions of Finland and their key differences and can describe to a shallow degree how Finland is divided into tourism regions and the pull factors of these regions. They are able to describe and analyse to a satisfactory degree tourist behaviour using research. The students can name several problems related to overtourism, a few aspects of sustainability and some changes in the tourism operating environment. The students are able to work as members of a group taking others into account and they are able to work according to professional ethical principles.