Visit 9 tourist destination cities on the Northern Adriatic Coast in 3 different countries - Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia
HOSP 401 - Field Studies in Hospitality Management (3 credits)
Program Description: This study abroad program will offer students an opportunity to study the lifecycle of tourism destinations on the Northern Adriatic coastline using the Butler (1980) and Plog (1974) tourism development models. Tourism development refers to the growth and maintenance of the tourism industry in a destination.
Study abroad dates: May 24 - June 3, 2022
Lifecycle of Tourism Destinations: The Case of Northern Coastal Adriatic
Summer 1 Faculty Led Study Abroad Program
Weeks of May 23 and June 3, 2022 (field trip)
May 24 Depart Indianapolis for Venice, Italy
May 25 Arrive in Venice - Transportation to Portoroz, Slovenia
May 26 Lecture Day at Turistica and tour of city of Piran and Portoroz, Slovenia
May 27 Lecture Day at Turistica and tour of the city of Izola and Koper, Slovenia
May 28 Lecture Day at Turistica and tour Škocjan caves and Lipica, Slovenia
May 29 Visit Venice via catamaran from Portoroz
May 30 Tour city of Trieste, Italy
May 31 Tour cities of Rovinj, Porec, Grožnjan and Motovun, Croatia
June 1 Lecture Day and Project # 1 Day at Turistica, Portoroz
June 2 Lecture Day and Project # 2 Day at Turistica, Portoroz
June 3 Depart for Venice for return flight home
Estimated Cost:
$3,500 Program Fee + 3 credits of BSU tuition and fees. Tuition and fees based on credit hours, residency, and undergraduate/graduate level
Program Fee Includes:
Round Trip Airfare (estimated at $1,500, students are responsible for increases in airfare)
Ground Transportation and in-country travel
Accommodation (up to 3 students per room)
Breakfasts
Medical & Evacuation Insurance
Passport ($145), lunches & dinners are NOT included in the program fee. Please budget for these additional expenses.
Application link: https://studyabroad.bsu.edu/?go=TourismAdriatic
Application deadline is March 1st, 2022.
Summer 2022 Study Abroad Program
Lifecycle of tourism destinations: The case of Northern coastal Adriatic
HOSP 401 - Field Studies in Hospitality Management
Instructor: Sotiris Hji-Avgoustis, PhD
shjiavgoustis@bsu.edu
Course description:
The course focuses on providing knowledge to students about models and theories of destination management, management needs and processes. It equips students with skills to handle tourists/visitors, host communities, private sector and public sector at various destinations – to enable a destination achieve sustainability and enhance tourist visitor satisfaction.
Learning Outcomes:
After completion of this course, students will be able to
· Appraise a destination’s potential and developing a destination’s products/services and marketing campaign to attract both business and leisure travelers using destination life cycle models
· Formulate, integrate and coordinate sustainable policies for the public and private sector
· Utilize cluster networks and value chains to enhance a destination competitiveness
· Understand tourism destination management information systems, including how they collect statistics and other data needed to assess visitor profiles
· Describe the importance of alliances and partnerships for various destination management organizations
· Identify research typically undertaken by destination management organizations
· Describe the process of branding a destination and explain how branding relates to theme development and advertising
· Formulate a destination crisis management plan and describe the steps in creating such a plan
· Compare needs and expectations of services and products of various tourist segments
· Develop a destination marketing and management plan and describe the elements and tools included in such a plan.
Required Texts/Readings:
Morrison, Alastair M. (2019). Marketing and Managing Tourism Destination. New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN 9781138897298.
Course Requirements and Assignments:
Participation and discussion: 300 points
Chapter quizzes: 200 points
Destination Development Project 1 200 points
Destination Development Project 2 200 points
Final Examination 100 points
Total 1000 points
Grading Policy:
A+ = 100-97% A = 96-93% A minus = 92-90%
B+ = 89-87% B = 86-83% B minus = 82-80%
C+ = 79-77% C = 79-77% C minus = 72-70%
D+ = 69-67% D = 66-63% D minus = 62-60%
F = 59-0% Unsatisfactory
Participation and discussion, 300 points
Participation in this course is expected. To receive maximum benefit from this course, you are expected to attend all classes, come prepared, and actively participate in the discussion. Late arrival and early departure in class are marks of disrespect, unprofessionalism, and interrupt class. Please be on time. Evaluation of participation will be based on participation in class discussions and exercises, completion of reading assignments, chapter quizzes, and project work.
Chapter quizzes, 200 points
There will be quizzes on each chapter. The quizzes are designed to ensure that you keep up with readings. They will highlight the key words, terms, and concepts that are brought up in the book and in class discussions. All quizzes are made available online for your convenience. You are responsible to keep up with the weekly quizzes.
Destination Development Projects, 2 @ 200 points each
There will be two projects, both based on the Butler’s Lifecycle Model and one on Plog’s Allocentricity and Psychocentricity Model. Each project provides an opportunity to explore the best practice in destination management. For each project, students will work in small groups and should submit a five-page project write up.
For each project, students will analyze a region’s tourism development potential. Written reports are due at the end of the semester. The written reports should include an overview of the destination, tourism and economic well-being of the destination, infrastructures, visitor base, branding and current marketing campaign, etc. Students should make recommendations for future market opportunities and product development using as foundation the Butler and Plog tourism models. More details will be given in class.
Final Examinations 150 points
The format may be true/false, and /or multiple-choice questions. The instructor will not administer make-up examinations unless there is an acceptable excuse. If you know that you will not be able to take an exam during its scheduled time, please inform the instructor and make appropriate arrangements.
The instructor reserves the right to revise this tentative schedule with fair advanced notice in order to enhance the achievement of learning objectives. Any revision will be announced on Canvas. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all course requirements and changes in course requirements.
While abroad, students will visit a total of nine tourist destinations in three countries on the Northern Adriatic coast, all within no more than two hours from the home base of Portoroz.
In Italy students will visit Trieste. The city has long been suppressed in Italy due to its geographic location on the outskirts of the Italian Peninsula. However, it is an attractive tourist destination with many cruise ships visiting the port every year. Trieste remains one of the most fascinating towns in Italy as it blends Austrian, Italian and Slavic cultures. Many of Trieste’s buildings remind the visitor of Vienna rather than Rome. The students will learn about the regional government’s plans to give the town new tools for the development of its tourism industry. Trieste municipality has been the main catalyst behind the construction of a new convention center.
In Croatia students will visit Rovinj, Porec, Grožnjan and Motovun. Situated on the west coast of Istria, Rovinj is one of the most popular and most developed tourist resorts in Croatia. The old town is built on the island, which was only connected with the mainland in the 18th century. Known as one of the most picturesque and romantic towns on Mediterranean, over the last few decades Rovinj attracts many tourists, most of them faithfully returning year after year. Porec is a beautiful summer resort town, sitting in a prime spot on the Istrian Peninsula of Western Croatia. Porec has plenty to offer for travelers of all ages but is known mainly as a family destination. Leaving the coast, students will visit the Medieval town of Grožnjan, known as the town of artists and music. The last stop in Croatia is the village of Motovun, famously known as the birthplace of the celebrated Italian American racing car driver Mario Andretti. It’s best known for its film festival, which transforms this otherwise sleepy town into a cultural and party hub for one week every summer.
The Slovenian coastline is 30 miles long. Students will visit the cities of Koper, Izola, Piran and Portoroz, our home base. Koper is the biggest of the seaside cities. It is at its early stages of tourism development. City officials identified cruise tourism as an area of great interest. Izola is not only a nice example of a small Istrian city, it also is home to 4 of the most beautiful beaches in Slovenia - the Lighthouse beach, the San Simon Bay, the Belveder beach and the Moon Bay. Finally, Piran and Portoroz are two charismatic towns on Slovenia’s Adriatic coast. Piran is more on the historic site that lures visitors with its well-preserved medieval houses, winding cobblestone narrow old streets. Portoroz which means ‘port of roses’ – is the opposite of the first. It is a lively upmarket coastal resort known for luxurious hotels, spas and vivacious nightlife.
Course Schedule (May 16 – June 17, 2022)
Week of May 16, 2022 (Online delivery via Canvas):
Course Introduction
Chapter 1 The concepts of destination marketing and management
Chapter 2 Destination Planning
Chapter 3 Destination Marketing Planning
Chapter 4 Destination Management Research
Weeks of May 23 and June 3, 2022 (field trip)
May 24 Depart Indianapolis for Venice Italy
May 25 Arrive in Venice - Transportation to Portoroz, Slovenia
May 26 Lecture Day at Turistica and tour of city of Piran and Portoroz, Slovenia
Chapter 5 Destination product development
May 27 Lecture Day at Turistica and tour of the city of Izola and Koper, Slovenia
Chapter 6 Destination partnerships and team building
May 28 Lecture Day at Turistica and tour Škocjan caves and Lipica, all in Slovenia
Chapter 7 Destination community and stakeholder relationships and involvement
May 29 Visit Venice via catamaran from Portoroz
May 30 Tour city of Trieste, Italy
May 31 Tour cities of Rovinj, Porec, Grožnjan and Motovun in Croatia
June 1 Lecture Day and Project # 1 Day at Turistica, Portoroz
Chapter 8 Destination leadership, coordination, and governance
June 2 Lecture Day and Project # 2 Day at Turistica, Portoroz
Chapter 9 Visitor Management
June 3 Depart for Venice for return flight home
Week of May 6 and May 13, 2022 (Online delivery via Canvas):
Chapter 10 Destination branding
Chapter 11 Destination integrated marketing communications
Chapter 12 Digital marketing and ICTs
Destination Projects 1 and 2 due and Final Examination (via Canvas)
For information contact:
Sotiris Hji-Avgoustis, PhD
Professor
shjiavgousti@bsu.edu