Course Description
Tourism and its development continues to grow in importance within the southern New England area due to an increasing movement away from traditional manufacturing activities within the region and throughout the United States. As many urban areas attempt to revitalize their downtown areas, rural areas also find themselves seeking new avenues for economic development. The southern New England area boosts a variety of tourism resources including historical and cultural attractions, recreational areas, urban centers and coastal destinations. The development of these resources however can be both difficult and controversial.

The purpose of this course is to introduce the students to the variety of tourism/recreation opportunities available in the region and to analyze the geographic nature of tourism development within the region. Specifically we will exmine the geographic nature of the region (ie.e, what makes the region unique, what are the socio-cultural and physical attributes that separates thsi region form others) and also the impact that tourism development has had and will have upon the culural landscape of the area. There will be a number of guest speakers and short field trips which will hopefully give the student a better understanding of tourism within the region. Most of the field trips will be held during the class period except for a full-day field trip which will be scheduled later in the semester on a weekend.

Course Pre-requisites and Grading Policy
Although there is no pre-requisite for this course, GEOG 290 (Geoghrapy of Toursim) is recommended but not required. An overview of basic tourism concepts and terms will be presented so that students can perform adequately. This course will be taught in a seminar format, consequently, class participation is REQUIRED AND EXPECTED.

Grading will be determined according to four criteria, each worth 25%:
1) Class participation, attendance and a number of writing exercises
2) A mid -term exam which will consist of short identifications and essay questions
3) A research paper focused on a issue regarding tourism development on a sub-region of southern New England
4) A group presentation on a sub-region and the construction of a travel itinerary for a fictional family/group.

Tentative Syllabus for Geog 451
These topics will be discussed in class and you are expected to have developed an outline for discussion purposes each week. Articles will be placed in the Reserve Room of the Library with a list indicating which readings are required for each week. The outlines should contain those ideas, issues, and/or concepts that you feel are most important or relevant to our region. The outlines should be typed, however, leave room for additional comments or suggestions discussed in the class. These outlines will be graded and returned to you so that you may use them as study guides for the midterm exam.

2/1 Introductions and Review of Tourism Basics

2/8 Regional Development and Tourism Attractions

2/15 Urban Tourism & Rural Tourism

2/22 Gambling, Sports & Entertainment
The Tourist City: pp. 143-154; pp. 215-232; pp. 107-123

2/29 Recreation Today: Activities & Trends
Attraction Development Chapter; Promotion of Cultural Tourism by Zoos & Aquariums; Agricultural and Nature-Based Tourism: Opportunities for Communities and Farmers

3/7 Accommodation Trends (Resorts, Time Shares, B&Bs) & Marketing
Hospitality and Related Services; Target market Selection and Marketing: The Colorado Downhill Skiing Industry

3/14 Exam

3/21 SPRING BREAK

3/28 Regional Comparison

4/4 Comparison of Tourism Development Programs in Region

4/11 Connecticut's Tourism Program

4/18 Hartford's Dilemma

4/25 Field Trips

5/2 Field Trips

5/7 Presentations

ATTENTION STUDENTS: Here are the Websites for 2/26 -28. Please copy and paste into your browser. the hyperlinks are not working Sorry

"Why I Think the Smithsonian is Misguided"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33010-2002Jan24.html

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