Tourism Studies

Undergraduate Study & Papers | Graduate Study & Papers | Tourism Development
Contact Information | Careers

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries and is increasingly important for New Zealand's economy. Tourism is responsible for the largest flow of people throughout the world, bringing together many different cultures and introducing people to many different natural environments. The implications of this are complex. Wealthy tourists amongst poor communities highlight the social inequality of the world. However, the mixing of cultures can lead to greater appreciation and understanding of cultural differences leading to a more peaceful world. Eco-tourism such as wildlife tours and hiking trips can change the natural character of the environment through hotels and infrastructure but help people appreciate and care for the environment. Tourism can be interpreted as both a blessing and a curse. For tourism to be sustainable we need better understanding and planning.

Waikato University offers many different programmes in tourism. Geography, Tourism and Environmental Planning concentrates on the environmental, social, and cultural impacts of tourism and is intended for students who want a career in tourism planning and policy. Alternatively, students can study tourism in the Department of Tourism Management, which has a focus on the business side of tourism and is useful for students wanting to operate a tourist business. The information here covers courses offered mostly by Geography, Tourism and Environmental Planning and is intended for students who are interested in tourism planning issues and want to think critically about the positive and negative consequences of tourism.

Tourism Studies is a programme within the School of Social Sciences and along with Anthropology, draws on a wide range of subjects. It focuses closely on the social aspects of tourism and on the need for tourism planning to minimise its negative impacts. Tourism Studies examines tourist experiences and tourism destinations and how they relate to each other. The programmes provide skills in ethical and cooperative approaches to tourism research and analysis leading to an understanding of the impacts of tourism on natural environments and host communities. The programmes will also convey knowledge of policy development and planning regulations.

This interdisciplinary subject was introduced in stages starting in 1995 to serve the needs of a growing employment sector. Tourism is increasingly important for New Zealand and internationally, and has major implications both for natural environments and for the communities in which tourist activities are based. There is a steadily increasing demand for people skilled in the social, environmental and economic analyses necessary for tourism planning.

The programme is convened by Dr. Anne-Marie d'Hauteserre.

Lecturers of the Tourism Studies papers may switch from one year to another.

Careers

Careers exist for tourism planners in local and regional councils as well as in Government Ministries. Graduates are employed in tourist industry management positions, tourism consulting and marketing and tourism writing. There is an increasing demand for people skilled in the social, environmental and economic analyses necessary for tourism planning.

Undergraduate Study & Papers

Tourism Studies can be taken as a first or second major for the BSocSc, or a second major for the BA.

To complete a major in Tourism Studies, you must gain at least 120 points above 100 level in Tourism Studies, including either GEOG206 or GEOG209, and GEOG224, TOST201, GEOG301, TOST300 and TOST306. It is recommended that students intending to major in Tourism Studies include ANTH102 in their programme of study.

Most students will also need to take TOST100 and GEOG101 or GEOG103 in order to meet the prerequisite for 200 level papers.

To complete a supporting subject in Tourism Studies, students are required to include TOST100, TOST201, GEOG224, and one other paper from those listed for the subject.

Students can also do a Bachelor of Tourism with a Tourism Development major. The Tourism Development major is available only to students enrolled in the BTour degree. For more information visit the Tourism Development pages.

Papers

Undergraduate Tourism Studies Papers (Catalogue of Papers)

Graduate Study & Papers

Students who major in Tourism Studies and who have adequate grades may undertake a graduate programme by enrolling for a BSocSc(Hons) or MSocSc in Geography. Those who double major in Tourism Studies and another subject and who meet that subject's requirements for graduate study will normally be able to enrol in a graduate degree in that subject.

Papers

Graduate Tourism Studies Papers (Catalogue of Papers)

See our Tourism Research outputs.

Contact Information

Convenor: Dr Anne-Marie d'Hauteserre
Room: IJ2.01
Telephone: +64 7 838 4466, ext: 8270
Email: adhautes@waikato.ac.nz