Class Introduction to Tourism

The curricular unit of Introduction to Tourism is a curricular unit that aims to provide an introduction to the concepts that characterize the large area of tourism. The objective is to give the student an overview of an economic and social activity resulting from modern societies and which currently implies paradigm shifts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.  As an introductory course, it is intended that students acquire basic concepts that will be taught, in more depth, in other curricular units in the study plan. Through exposure to themes, study visits, and seminars held with professionals in the tourism sector, the student will contact the main concepts and techniques of tourism operation and will be sensitized to socio-professional integration in order to develop their skills and personal preferences, for the different valences of tourism activity.

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1.Concepts, classifications and types of tourism The conceptual elements on leisure time, leisure and tourism The classification of tourism activities and types of tourism Tourism as a sector of economic activity 2.The system of relationships in tourism Tourism as a system and its functionality The interrelationships of tourism The multidisciplinary nature of tourism 3.The genesis of tourism Brief review until today The position of the Portuguese tourism in relation to world tourism and its trends 4.Structural elements of tourism activity Tourism supply and demand Accommodation: from local accommodation to traditional hotels (operation models) Tourism transports Information technologies 5.Institutional Organization of Tourism Political-administrative organization of tourism in Portugal The central-regional and local organization of tourism Strategic plans of tourism: National Tourism Plan 86-89; PENT 2007-2015; Tourism Strategy 2027  

During the course of the lessons, students will have the chance to experience the real world, through contact with specialists who work in tourism and hospitality companies, companies, both international and national, in order to develop creative skills and the ability to the ability to solve progressively more complex problems. In this way, there will be seminars and study visits. The Inverted Classroom methodology will also be applied through group work to solve problems, case studies and learning. solve problems, case studies and peer learning.

Capocchi, A., Vallone, C., Amaduzzi, A., & Pierotti, M. (2019). Is ¿overtourism¿a new issue in tourism development or just a new term for an already known phenomenon?. Current Issues in Tourism , 1-5. Fletcher, J., Fyall, A., Gilbert, D., Wanhill, S. (2018). Tourism: Principles and Practice (6 th Edition). Edinburgh, United Kingdom: Pearson. Li, G., & Wu, D. C. (2019). Introduction to the special issue: Tourism forecasting¿New trends and issues. Page, S. J., & Connell, J. (2020). Tourism: A modern synthesis . Routledge. Patuleia, M. (2017). Abordagens sobre o turismo residencial e resorts integrados, in Umbelino, Jorgee Dias, Francisco (Eds) Planeamento e Desenvolvimento Turístico, Oeiras: Lidel.