International Tourism Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

Marketing for Tourism Hospitality, Events and Sport and Marketing plays a key role not only in constructing and communicating the brand of a particular destination, tourism, sport or hospitality business or an event, but also in achieving its competitive advantage. The aim of this module is thus to provide a theoretically underpinned understanding of effective approaches to strategic marketing through its exploration of key marketing theories and concepts, marketing strategies, branding and marketing semiotics and their role in creating successful integrated marketing communications in tourism, hospitality, events and sport business practice.

Globalisation, Society and Culture considers the ways in which different societies have become more interdependent through a global network of communication and information technologies, and therefore moves beyond the conventionally economic emphasis of conversations on globalisation. The module considers specifically how the industry is affected by this process.

Destination Management and Planning introduces students to the complexities of developing and coordinating all aspects of a destination that contribute to the visitor economy, taking account of the needs of visitors, local residents, businesses and the environment. It also offers students an opportunity to develop a detailed and critical awareness of the theoretical and empirical issues, which underpin sustainable destination management and planning. Assessment consists of an individual essay and a group presentation.

Critical Perspectives in Tourism Management aims to provide students with a broad yet critical understanding of the dynamic, complex and challenging forces that shape international tourism management. Through a wide range of case studies, students will learn how to critically assess the implications of such forces, and identify and highlight potential consumer, market and industry trends. Specific topics  include impacts of tourism; anthropocene, climate change and tourism; chaos theory, crises and destination image; and disruptive technologies and the sharing economy.

This course is delivered by staff who are actively involved in research and consultancy, ensuring that the curriculum and classroom discussions are informed by current knowledge and practice in the management of international tourism. The course is led by Dr Tijana Rakić.

Dr Nigel Jarvis Senior Lecturer

Nigel undertook his MA in Leisure Management at the University of Sheffield (1996) and his BAA in Geography at Ryerson University in Toronto (1986). He worked for 6 years as a consultant specialising in tourism, recreation and cultural master plans and feasibility studies in Toronto before returning to academia in England where he has lectured from 1996 to the present.

Nigel completed his PhD in 2006 at the University of Brighton, which examined the meaning of sport in the lives of Canadian and British men. The research critically aids in understanding how the lived experiences of gay men taking part in sport relate to and inform relevant hegemonic and queer theoretical debates.

Nigel has a keen interest in gender and sexuality issues in leisure and tourism.  Further research and teaching interests relate to sport tourism, sport and event sponsorship, the economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts of tourism, attractions management, the politics associated with tourism planning, leisure management and research methods. He has also helped to develop a web-based theme park simulation for his students as part of his teaching.

Dr Tijana Rakić Principal Lecturer

Dr Tijana Rakić is an interdisciplinary scholar whose research projects and publications predominantly lie within the themes of visual research methods in tourism and events; world heritage, tourism and national identity; innovative approaches to events and tourism promotion; travel, tourism and art; and representations of places, cultures and identities in promotional materials and popular media. Her PhD, which she completed in 2009, focused on the relationships between world heritage, tourism and national identity at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

In addition to a range of other publications, a number of which stem from her PhD, Tijana has also co-edited several book length publications including An Introduction to Visual Research Methods in Tourism (Routledge, 2012, with D. Chambers), Narratives of Travel and Tourism (Ashgate, 2012, with J. Tivers), Travel, Tourism and Art (Ashgate, 2013, with J-A. Lester), and, most recently Tourism Research Frontiers (Elsevier, 2015, with D. Chambers). Inspired by the power of visual and creative research outputs in reaching audiences beyond the academic, Tijana has also produced two academic documentaries: Visiting the Athenian Acropolis (2008, PhD film) and Of Holidays and Olives (2006, with Y. Karagiannakis), both of which have been shown at film festivals, public screenings and used for teaching in a number of countries. 

She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Anthropological Institute. Tijana currently teaches on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate events, tourism and marketing modules and is the course leader of the International Events Management MSc.  

Other key members of the tourism teaching team:

Dr Clare Weeden

Dr Jo-Anne Lester 

Professor Marina Novelli 

Dr Catherine Palmer