Rethinking sustainable tourism in geographical environment. Theory and practice

Timetable

Thursday, 15.00-16.30, start of classes October, 2025

Collegium Geographicum, room L 307

B. Krygowskiego 10 Street, 61-680 Poznan

Module aim (aims)

The course aims to equip students with a deep understanding of the anthropogenic impact on both the natural and social geographical environment, particularly in the context of tourism. Given the involvement of multiple stakeholders—including tourists, entrepreneurs, and tourism institutions and organizations—the course explores the complex interactions within the industry.

Additionally, the course introduces participants to key challenges in sustainable tourism development, addressing pressing global issues such as climate change and other grand challenges of the 21st century. Students will also gain insight into essential steering parameters that can help foster a more sustainable world. These considerations apply across different levels: individually (e.g., assessing the carbon footprint of air travel), organizationally (e.g., implementing sustainable practices in catering), and systemically (e.g., transitioning the energy sector toward renewable sources).

Both the course content and teaching methods are carefully designed to prepare students to tackle these critical challenges as future leaders in business and society. By providing a strong foundation in sustainable business principles, the course imparts systems thinking, goal-setting strategies, and transformative knowledge essential for driving social and economic change.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

No.

Syllabus

1. What is tourism? Diversity of contemporary tourism.
2. Why Sustainability? The Concept of Sustainable Development
   Effects of tourism development (natural, social, economic; positive and negative).
3. Overtourism - causes and consequences.
4. Environment strategy.
5. Accessible tourism - development conditions, recommendations and good practices.
6. Challenges of Managing Common Resources. How to measure and monitor sustainable tourism.
7. Corporate Sustainability, social Innovation and Sustainable Consumption.
8. Sustainability in a Digital Context.
9. Policy Instruments. Strategy for sustainable tourism.
10. The Future of Sustainable Business: The Circular Economy.

Reading list

Fischer M. et al., 2023, Sustainable Business. Managing the Challenges
of the 21^st Century. Springer Briefs in Business, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25397-3_1 open access publication

Buhalis D., Darcy S., Ambrose I. (ed.), 2012, Best Practice in accessible tourism. Inclusion, Disability, Aging Population and tourism. Chanel View Publications, Bristol

Zajadacz A., 215, Evolution of models of disability as a basis for further policy changes in accessible tourism. Journal of Tourism Futures, Vol. 1 Iss: 3: 189 - 202.

Zajadacz A., (ed.) 2024, Rethinking sustainable tourism in geographical perspective – theory and practices. Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-72130-4.