Digital Tourism and Hospitality

Course Description

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ ability to critically analyse the role of technology within the tourism and hospitality industry, including the evaluation of the impacts of new and emerging technology on organisational operations. Learners will consider the emergence of the digital concept and analyse the influence of social media from both consumer and organisation perspectives.

Course Objectives

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ ability to critically analyse the role of technology within the tourism and hospitality industry, including the evaluation of the impacts of new and emerging technology on organisational operations. Learners will consider the emergence of the digital concept and analyse the influence of social media from both consumer and organisation perspectives.

Key Topics

1. LO1: Understand the impact of technology on the development and growth of the tourism and hospitality industry.
2. LO2: Understand the emergence of the digital tourism concept and its associated theories.
3. LO3: Understand the impacts of social media on the tourism and hospitality industry.
4. LO4: Understand the legal and ethical implications of technological change in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Course Outline

Learning Outcomes

1. LO1 Understand the impact of technology on the development and growth of the tourism and hospitality industry.
2. 1.1 Evaluate the impact of technological change on the historical development of the tourism and hospitality industry.
3. 1.2 Critically analyse the impact of contemporary technological developments on the future growth of the tourism and hospitality industry.
4. LO2 Understand the emergence of the digital tourism concept and its associated theories.
5. 2.1 Review the emergence of the digital tourism concept.
6. 2.2 Evaluate how Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and meta-search engines impact the development of the tourism and hospitality industry.
7. 2.3 Analyse how consumers and businesses make use of the internet in the tourism marketplace.
8. LO3 Understand the impacts of social media on the tourism and hospitality industry.
9. 3.1 Evaluate the importance of social media for international tourism marketing.
10. 3.2 Review the impact of social media on destination marketing.
11. 3.3 Critically analyse the impact of social media and social review sites on tourism and hospitality organisations.
12. LO4 Understand the legal and ethical implications of technological change in the tourism and hospitality industry.
13. 4.1 Analyse the importance of security in the implementation of technology for the tourism and hospitality industry.
14. 4.2 Critically assess the importance of data protection to the implementation of technology in the tourism and hospitality industry.