99907 - Green Transition for Sustainable Destinations

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to enable students with theories, concepts and applications related to sustainable destination policies. In the context of tourism planning, key issues and challenges of green transformation of destinations through local and international examples are explored within the course. Existing tourism development models and frameworks will be reviewed to understand the relationship between tourism and sustainable development. Several approaches will be discussed to decrease the negative effects of tourism on cultural, social, economic and environmental dimensions. A special focus will be designated to CO2 reduction practices, given the crucial contribution of the emission to the climate crisis. In particular, the course will examine the implementation of sustainable mobility for tourist use and assess green initiatives proposed by hospitality and other tourist services. In this regard, the role of accreditation programs that certify firms’ engagement in corporate social responsibility practices will be evaluated. Regarding the demand side, the course will discuss concepts related to the attitude-behaviour gap, tourists’ acceptance of sustainable practices and willingness to pay for green products will be analysed. Overall, the course will lead to the identification of adequate strategies for stakeholder cooperation and destination management in the context of sustainability.

Course contents

Net-zero and tourism

Valuing the environmental impacts of tourism

Economic instruments to address tourism’s environmental effects

Economic growth and sustainable tourism development

Sustainable tourism indicators and SDG's in relation to tourism

Green behaviour of tourists

Readings/Bibliography

Dwyer, L., Forsyth, P., & Dwyer, W. (2020). Tourism economics and policy. Channel View Publications (Second Edition).

Hawken, P. (2021). Regeneration: Ending the climate crisis in one generation. Penguin UK.

McKercher, B., & Prideaux, B. (2024). Understanding Tourism: Concepts and Theories. Goodfellow Publishers Ltd.

Nikolova, M. S. (2020). Behavioral Economics for Tourism: Perspectives on Business and Policy in the Travel Industry. Academic Press.

References to journal articles will be provided with the lecture notes.

Teaching methods

Lectures, in-class exercises and group works.

Assessment methods

The final mark is based on a written exam and group works.

The range of grades for both components (written exam and group works) are as follows:

• <18 not sufficient;
• 18-23 sufficient;
• 24-27 good;
• 28-30 very good;
• 30 Lode excellent.

Teaching tools

All materials can be found on https://virtuale.unibo.it/ 

Office hours

See the website of Judit Zoltan