To enable students to:
1. examine and make reasoned judgement about the impact of travel and tourism on the environment, the socio-cultural aspect and the economy of the community;
2. develop an awareness of the close relation between cultural heritage and a country’s tourism development;
3. appreciate the need for maintaining and conserving the cultural heritage of a country for the benefit of the people and the visitors;
4. develop awareness and respect for different cultures, and a positive attitude towards the conservation of cultural heritage throughout the world;
5. identify the link between tourism industry and other social and economic activities;
6. acquire a basic awareness on the concept of sustainable tourism development, and develop a positive attitude towards it.
Syllabus Content Explanatory Notes Learning Objectives / Instructional Guidelines Suggested Learning Activities
After completing the unit, students should be able to
3.1 The impact of tourism on
(a) the socio-cultural aspects of communities
(i) Changes in the social structure, behaviour, and roles
- cross-cultural understanding 1. show awareness of the cross-cultural barriers that may exist among different nationalities.
Using TV programmes on travel and tourism or quoting personal experience as tourists, discuss how travel and tourism promotes the exchange of knowledge and ideas.
2. show awareness of the impact of
tourism on the promotion of communication among people of different cultures, and the ways it
Case study of a popular tourist destination. Find out the beneficial and harmful impact of tourism on the lifestyle of people in the host community.
knowledge, ideas and views.
- negative demonstration effects 3. examine the possible effects of stereo-typing of different nationalities.
Interview 3 or 4 friends or relatives to find out their impression on certain nationalities. Discuss in the class the information collected & analyze the possible effects of stereo-typing certain nationalities.
4. recognize the harmful impact of tourism on the culture of a host community, e.g. culture drift caused by imitation of the culture of tourists.
Case study of Hong Kong-Macau-Shenzhen-Guangzhou-Zhongshan-Zhuhai. Find out the negative demonstration effects on the host community by the visitors.
(ii) Impact on cultural heritage - renaissance / conservation of
cultural heritage
5. recognise the importance of tourism management in preserving,
conserving and restoring the cultural heritage of a country.
Based on a planned heritage trip for tourists, discuss the need of and cost in conserving cultural heritage.
6. identify the ways in which tourism may encourage the preservation and development of cultural attractions.
Visit a local historical building in the list of Declared Monuments and report on how such buildings have been conserved and developed
into tourist attractions.
- renewal of cultural pride 7. identify the beneficial impact of tourism on the lifestyle in the host community, e.g. enhancing a sense of belonging and helping to preserve traditional arts & crafts.
Library work: Collect information on a specific place, identify the cultural factors leading to its development into a tourist destination and discuss how cultural pride could be renewed.
- loss or deterioration of traditional arts and culture
8. identify the ways in which cultural heritage may be damaged and the possible ways of their protection.
Look at a tourist-oriented shopping centre concentrating on clothes shops, food shops, restaurants and craft shops. What evidence can you find about the influence of other cultures on the goods on sale?
(iii) Community problems 9. identify the community problems that may be resulted from the
development of tourism, e.g.
prostitution, drug abuse, alcoholism, crime, etc.
Debate: Hong Kong should set up casinos to attract tourists.
(b) the economy of the host community
(i) Employment and income
- creating jobs 10. identify and assess the impact of Using the annual reports of the Hong Kong
- improving the balance of payments
- generating income and the linkage effect
community, making reference to the range of jobs created by tourism, the direct and indirect taxes related to tourism and how these affect a country’s / place’s balance of payments.
Report, find information on the income raised by tourism in Hong Kong. Discuss the impact of tourism on Hong Kong’s economy.
11. demonstrate an understanding of the linkage effect and its application to tourism.
Discuss the following statement:
“One person takes a trip and numerous benefit.”
(ii) Economic growth (iii) Living standard
(iv) Opportunity costs - leakage
- high consumer and land prices - over-dependence
- others
12. explain how travel and tourism lead to the rise of living standard in the tourist destinations and how domestic tourism is stimulated.
Based on statistical information on tourism-related jobs, tax revenue and visitor spending, discuss why so many countries spend money trying to further develop tourism.
(c) the physical environment
(i) Positive impact
- preservation / restoration of the environment
13. recognize the ways in which tourism and the environment can benefit from each other.
- conservation of the environment
- enhancement of the environment
- increasing environmental awareness
14. identify the significance of attraction development, creation of national parks, etc. on the enhancement of the environment.
(ii) Negative impact
- carrying capacity problems - physical deterioration of both
natural and man-made environments
15. identify the ways in which tourism can harm the environment.
Case study of (1) a national park or game reserve in Africa / South East Asia and (2) a seaside resort. Find out the ways in which tourism can benefit or harm the environment.
3.2 Sustainable tourism development
(i) The concept of sustainable tourism
development
16. recognize the concern for sustainable tourism development, particularly the HKTA report on “Environmentally Sustainable Development Strategy for the Travel and Tourism Industry in Hong Kong” (1999) and its impact.
Draft a press release for the HKTA report on
“Environmentally Sustainable Development Strategy for the Travel and Tourism Industry in Hong Kong” (1999), highlighting the main ideas formulated at the report.
17. demonstrate an understanding of the concept of sustainable tourism development.
Slogan design: sustainable tourism development.
(ii) The importance of the participation of all parties concerned
18. tell the importance of different participating bodies in sustainable tourism development.
Role play: Students representing a local farmer, an agriculturalist, a logger, a nature tourism operator and a conservationist at a meeting to consider the opening up of a tropical rain forest in South America.
(iii) Successful and less successful cases
19. analyse the successful and less successful cases of sustainable tourism development.
Video show on a tourist destination. Discuss how the government could make tourism development more sustainable.
3.3 Case study of tourist destinations
(a) the Pearl River Delta in China (Hong Kong- Macau- Shenzhen-
Guangzhou-Zhongshan-Zhuhai)
(i) The development of tourism in the Pearl River Delta
(ii) The impact of tourism on the Pearl River Delta’s economy,
environment and socio-cultural aspects and how this changes with time
20. identify and assess the impact of tourism, both beneficial and harmful on the economy, environment and culture during recent decades in the Pearl River Delta in China (Hong Kong-Macau-Shenzhen-Guangzhou-Zhongshan-Zhuhai).
Project – Recent development of tourist resorts/
facilities of the region in the last decade.
21. apply knowledge acquired in 3.1 to the study of the Pearl River Delta and tourist destinations outside the region.
Field Study: Visit a tourist resort in the Pearl River Delta. Find out the efforts made to promote tourism and the impact it has on the environment.
(b) a destination outside the Pearl River Delta
(i) A case study of one of the following tourist destinations:
a. urban tourism: Tokyo, Singapore, New York;
b. leisure tourism: Cebu, Phuket, Maldives
c. cultural-based tourism:
Beijing, Luxor, Rome
22. describe a specific destination and show what makes it special.
(ii) The study should include the following details concerning the destination:
a. why it is classified as a / an urban / leisure / cultural-based tourist destination
b. its geographical background c. its tourism development d. the impact of tourism on its
socio-cultural aspects and how this changes with time
Unit Four Working in the Travel and Tourism Industry
Aims
To enable students to:
1. acquire knowledge about the range of jobs and services, the employment opportunities and job specifications within the tourism industry;
2. acquire a basic understanding of the process of communication and factors affecting the interpretation of messages within the travel and tourism context;
3. develop basic social and communication skills to facilitate effective communication in the tourism industry and interaction in common tourist situations;
4. inculcate confidence and positive attitude when communicating with tourists;
5. develop an awareness of the attributes, personal qualities, types of technical skills required in various sectors in the tourism industry, and the types of training available to prepare people for related jobs;
6. develop a positive attitude towards working in the tourism industry.
Syllabus Content Explanatory Notes Learning Objectives / Instructional Guidelines Suggested Learning Activities
After completing the unit, students should be able to
4.1 The range of jobs / services in the travel and tourism industry
(i) Core services and related services
1. identify the structure and range of jobs and services within the tourism industry.
Group discussion - list as many different jobs as possible and discuss which of these are related to the tourism industry.
2. distinguish between the two different categories of services listed below:
a. core services such as accommodation, transportation, travel agencies, tourist attractions etc.;
b. related services such as hotel and restaurant suppliers, taxi services,
telecommunications, credit cards, banking service and money exchange, retailers, and shopping malls, museums, cultural activities and entertainment etc.
Make a list of jobs related to tourism, and divide them into core services and related services.
(ii) Job specifications (including job descriptions, working
3. have a clear understanding of the job descriptions, working conditions and service
Discussion - discuss the particular characteristics of tourism employment and name other industries
conditions and environment) and the nature of the service
nature which are unique to tourism industry:
a. work around the clock;
b. seasonal work;
c. interact with people from different areas, countries & cultures;
d. work in an atmosphere of enjoyment;
e. fringe benefits such as concessionary air-tickets, free meals provided in hotel sector, etc.
which share the same characteristics. Make comparison with the working conditions of other professions, e.g. teaching, and discuss which characteristics and working conditions sound more attractive.
Visits to hotels, airlines, travel agencies etc. can be arranged.
A talk on the work environments of the tourism industry may be given by any person who has work experience in the industry.
4.2 Communication and the travel and tourism industry
(i) A basic understanding of the process of
communication
4. describe the basic concepts and the process of communication.
Make dialogues between parents and children, teachers and students, salesperson and customer.
Analyse the dialogue and make a short description of the attitudes of the sender and receiver and the content of the message.
Talk with each other on a topic for 2-3 minutes and discuss how you feel about your partner’s
communication skills.
5. distinguish between one-way and two-way communications.
List various types of one-way and two-way communications and discuss their differences in effectiveness.
(ii) Factors affecting the interpretation of messages
6. identify and analyse factors influencing the interpretation of messages, e.g. selection and organisation of content, style of presentation, the use of jargons, choice of channels, difference in opinion or attitude between sender and receiver, preconceived ideas, and physical environment etc.
Prepare a short speech to the class and invite comments from classmates.
Describe to the class your personal experience of the serious consequences of message being misinterpreted.
Extract part of a drama from a TV programme.
Analyse the factors affecting the interpretation of messages and discuss the ways to improve delivery of such messages. Role play the situation again and find out the difference.
(iii) Verbal and non-verbal strategies used to communicate effectively
7. identify the verbal and non-verbal strategies used to communicate effectively.
Play a game on the delivery of messages.
Different kinds of restrictions are imposed each time to illustrate the factors which affect effective
communication.
8. describe some elements of active listening Discuss the importance of the following components
skills such as showing interest, concentrating, use of gestures, asking questions etc.
of good listening:
- paying attention - maintaining eye contact
- not interrupting or taking over the conversation - giving cues for the person to continue
- listening for feelings as well as content
Role play a poor listener and then a good listener to show the importance of good listening.
Discuss : “A good communicator is a good listener”.
9. use non-verbal skills (including the use of signs, gestures and body language) to convey one’s ideas, messages and meaning, taking into consideration cultural differences.
Mime games :
guess the meaning through gestures, postures, signs, facial expressions and body language.
(iv) interpretative facilities available at sites
10. explain why it is important to provide interpretative facilities at sites such as museums, buildings of historical interest, architectural heritage etc.
Using travel books or magazines about countries famous for their cultural heritage such as Britain, China and Egypt, list the facilities available at sites.
be available at these sites. visits the Space Museum of Hong Kong. Group Two visits the Science Museum of Hong Kong. Make a list to show the facilities they have. Compare the two sites and discuss findings in class.
12. categorise different types of interpretative facilities available in tourist attractions / places of interest / points of interest, such as publications, static displays, interactive displays and real life experience.
Select a local cultural site. Make a visit to it and suggest methods to upgrade the interpretative facilities.
(v) The use of communication skills to deal with common tourist situations
13. find appropriate ways to deal with common tourist situations, e.g. going through
immigration and customs, in a restaurant, getting lost, seeking medical help, booking a hotel room, buying a souvenir, changing currencies.
Role-play: Booking a hotel room - phone the hotel to reserve a room suited to his needs, wishes and pocket.
Develop dialogues about different tourist situations.
Comment on the appropriateness of how problems are solved in each of these situations.
4.3 Education, training and career in travel and tourism
(i) Travel and tourism education and training institutes in Hong Kong
14. acquire information about the education and training courses offered by different
organisations such as technical institutes, colleges and universities for the tourism
Collect prospectuses of technical institutes, colleges and universities and identify the tourism related courses for Secondary 5 and 7 graduates and in-service personnel.
profession in Hong Kong.
15. show awareness of the in-service training opportunities available and the organisations providing such training , e.g. HKTA, TIC, etc.
With reference to ‘Hotel, Catering and Tourism Courses Directory’ published by the HKTA, discuss whether adequate training is provided for the tourism profession and suggest or design some new courses.
Research - check some major establishments to see if any company training centre is set up for their staff.
(ii) The attributes and personal qualities employers look for
16. identify the special attributes and attitudes of, and develop personal qualities required for, people who work in tourism, e.g. a mature and pleasant personality, sense of humour, being helpful and courteous, etc.
Find the advertisements on tourism employment.
Note down the qualities the employers look for.
Discuss how personal qualities affect the
performance of an employee in the tourism industry.
(iii) Types of technical and social skills required in various sectors in the travel and tourism industry
17. identify the different types of technical and social skills which are essential in the travel and tourism industry :
a. technical skills: occupational skills,
Give examples of types of skills required for certain jobs in tourism, e.g. tourist information centre assistant, in-flight attendants, travel agency counter clerk, hotel receptionist, etc.