TOURISM ECONOMICS AND POLICY-1

This course is one of the compulsory components of the Economics and Tourism (ET) curriculum. It is divided into two modules, which together account for a total of 12 credits.The course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive set of analytical tools to understand the functioning of the tourism economy and to critically assess the dynamics shaping this sector at both micro and macro levels. Students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of tourism economics and to the challenges associated with the optimal use and management of tourism resources. The primary learning objective is to enable students to understand how tourism can be strategically leveraged to generate economic value, while simultaneously addressing issues of sustainability, competitiveness, and territorial development. By combining traditional concepts with emerging perspectives, the course aims to prepare students to independently tackle the challenges posed by tourism’s impact on local and national economies, as well as current trends. These insights will be applied to the tourism system and its extended value chain—from destinations to the individual components of the overall experience.

By the end of the module, students will have developed a solid understanding of the key concepts of tourism and the fundamental principles of tourism economics, with particular attention to their application in the context of current challenges affecting the sector’s development. They will acquire the ability to analyze and interpret tourism demand and its broader framework, including the role of operators and their interrelationships, in order to make informed decisions that support sustainable impact management. Through in-class discussions, students will be encouraged to strengthen their critical thinking skills by formulating alternative hypotheses and engaging in constructive debate, which will also enhance their public communication abilities. The course will further enable students to develop research competencies, including the capacity to identify, evaluate, and use both official and alternative sources of data to support their arguments. Particular emphasis will be placed on assessing the reliability and applicability of selected sources, fostering a rigorous and evidence-based approach to problem-solving in tourism economics.

Having passed the Microeconomics exam during the first year.

The program of the module is provided here by its key topics:

1. Basic principles, concepts and definitions of tourism economy
2. Tourism in the economic system
3. Tourist demand and consumption
4. E-tourism & digital economies
5. Smart and Sustainable Tourism

The following texts constitute the essential reference materials for this course:

- Candela Guido, and Paolo Figini. Economics of Tourism and Destinations, 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill, 2010.
- De Marchi Damiano. E-tourism. Clueb, 2025.

During the lessons, a critical reading of a selection from both texts will be shared. Students are strongly encouraged to obtain their copies in advance to ensure full engagement with the module content.

Both attending and non-attending students will sit a written examination lasting no more than two hours. The exam will consist of open-ended questions, each with a pre-assigned maximum score, covering topics addressed during the module and based on the reference texts.

written

The exam and the related grading criteria (the method by which grades will be assigned) are identical for both attending and non-attending students. The final score is the sum of the points assigned to each open-ended answer, with the maximum value pre-assigned in the exam text:

27-30: excellent mastery of the topics covered and correct application in the relevant contexts
24-26: good mastery of the topics covered and adequate application in the relevant contexts
21-23: fair mastery of the topics covered and application in the relevant contexts
19-20: sufficient mastery of the topics covered and limited application in the relevant contexts
18: limited mastery of the topics covered and application in the relevant contexts

Honors will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge, application skills, communication abilities, and use of terminology.

The module takes place in frontal lessons, and there will be moments of interaction and discussion. During the lessons, a critical reading of a selection from both texts will be shared. Case studies may be presented, related to the topics of the course.

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion
Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments

Ca' Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

The course promotes the sustainable development, in line with the 17 SDGs - Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, adopted by world leaders at the United Nations. Insights on sustainable tourism are included in the course program.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Circular economy, innovation, work" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development