Principles of Tourism (3 cr)

Objective

The student can explain the key concepts of tourism and knows the main features of the historical development of tourism. He understands the concepts of push and pull factors and recognizes the key tourism areas in Finland and the world. The student recognizes different tourist segments and knows how to classify tourists based on theoretical models. He can explain the connection of the tourism industry to other industries and the regional economic importance of tourism with the help of a tourism cluster. The student also gets to know key organizations in the tourism industry. He knows how to define the key features of tourism services.

Content

Basic concepts of tourism
Starting areas, routes and destination areas + push and pull attraction factors as concepts
Portrait of a tourist (tourist segments)
Tourism products and services
Tourism motivation factors
Tourist cluster and regional economic impacts
Central organisations

Location and time

Online course, nonstop
You can complete the course according to your own schedule on 1.1. - 31 December 2025.

Materials

To be announced in the Study period

Teaching methods

The course consists of online studies completed independently.

Exam schedules

No exam

Completion alternatives

There are no alternative execution methods

Student workload

The course requires approximately 80 hours of independent work

Content scheduling

The course consists of online tasks that are done independently according to your own schedule.

Definition and history of tourist and tourism
Tourism now and in the future
Tourist roles and attitudes
Attraction factors, tourism product and sustainable tourism

Further information

For more information about the course, please contact mika.pietarinen@kamk.fi

Evaluation scale

0 - 5

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student understands and can commendably and competently name and describe the basic concepts of tourism, starting areas, routes and destination areas as well as push and pull factors. He also commendably knows how to describe the portrait of a tourist and the motivational factors of tourism. The student has an expert knowledge of tourism products and services as well as key organizations and the economic importance of tourism. The student can critically analyze the phenomena of the tourism field.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The students understand and are able to name and describe well the basic concepts of tourism, areas of departure, routes and destination areas and tourism push and pull factors. They are able to describe well a portrait of a tourist and motivation factors in tourism. They have good knowledge of tourism products and services and the main tourism organisations and the economic significance of tourism.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students understand and are able to name and describe to a satisfactory degree the basic concepts of tourism, areas of departure, routes and destination areas and tourism push and pull factors. They are able to describe to a satisfactory degree, a portrait of a tourist and motivation factors in tourism. They have perfunctory knowledge of tourism products and services and the main tourism organisations and the economic significance of tourism.

Assessment methods and criteria

The course is evaluated based on assignments.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

The student can't name and describe the basic concepts of tourism, starting areas, routes and destination areas, as well as push and pull factors. He also doesn't know how to describe the portrait of a tourist and the motivational factors of tourism.
The student doesn't know the economic importance of tourism products and services, key organizations and tourism.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student understands and can commendably and competently name and describe the basic concepts of tourism, starting areas, routes and destination areas as well as push and pull factors. He also commendably knows how to describe the portrait of a tourist and the motivational factors of tourism. The student has an expert knowledge of tourism products and services as well as key organizations and the economic importance of tourism. The student can critically analyze the phenomena of the tourism field.

Toteutuksen arviointikriteerit, hyvä (3-4)

The students understand and are able to name and describe well the basic concepts of tourism, areas of departure, routes and destination areas and tourism push and pull factors. They are able to describe well a portrait of a tourist and motivation factors in tourism. They have good knowledge of tourism products and services and the main tourism organizations and the economic significance of tourism.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students understand and are able to name and describe to a satisfactory degree the basic concepts of tourism, areas of departure, routes and destination areas and tourism push and pull factors. They are able to describe to a satisfactory degree, a portrait of a tourist and motivation factors in tourism. They have perfunctory knowledge of tourism products and services and the main tourism organizations and the economic significance of tourism.