Sustainable Tourism in Coastal and Arctic Regions (5op)

Arviointiasteikko

H-5

Sisällön jaksotus

Introduction to the course during the orientation week and 9th September 2025 at 9.15: implementation plan, tips for finding relevant source literature, making a travel plan and observation forms.

Independent learning, travelling&observing, and reporting.

Teacher tutoring on demand.

The return date for the personal travel plan and for the final output will be agreed separately. However, the last date for returning is 5th Dec.

Tavoitteet

After completing the course the student is able to:

- analyse trends, challenges and opportunities in coastal and arctic tourism
- critically evaluate the student’s own motivational factors and travel experiences in coastal and artic regions throughout the customer journey
- based on the previous points summarize key development suggestions for the sustainable coastal and arctic tourism in Finland.

Sisältö

- The current state of tourism in Finland and changes in the operating environment
- Analysing the different stages of the customer journey - motivations, expectations and experiences
- Identification of areas for development

Oppimateriaalit

Relevant literature to be used as part of B1 output: The student must use at least two of the subject-specific sources listed below, as well as at least one relevant source of own choise. The latter may be related to a more general level of tourist consumption behavior or the competitiveness of a tourism company and a tourist destination.

Dragin-Jensen, C., Kwiatkowski G. & Oklevik, O. (eds.) 2024. Nordic Coastal Tourism, Sustainability, Trends, Practices, and Opportunities. Springer.
- Hall, C.M. & Saarinen, J. 2010. Tourism and change in polar regions: climate, environment and experiences. (ebook)
- Jóhannesson, G. Þ., Welling, J., Müller, D., Lundmark, L., Nilsson, R., de la Barre, S., Granås, B., Kvidal-Rovik,T., Rantala, O., Tervo-Kankare, K., & Maher, P. (2022). Arctic Tourism in Times of Change: Uncertain Futures –From Overtourism to Re-starting Tourism. Nordic Council of Ministers. (available at https://lacris.ulapland.fi/ws/portalfiles/portal/22329067/temanord2022_516.pd f).
- Kugabi, O., Höckert, E., Lüthje, M., Mazzullo, N. & Saari, R. 2020. Toward culturally sensitive tourism, Report from Finnish Lapland. (available at https://lauda.ulapland.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/64276/Arctisen%20Finland%20english%20report%20FINAL.pdf?sequence= 1)
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland. 2025. Archipelago as a National Treasure, National Archipelago Programme 2024 - 2027. (available at https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/166032/MMM_2025_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed= y)

Some sources for planning your trip itinerary, in case you choose to travel in Finland:
Visit Finland. Welcome to Coast and Archipelago (https://www.visitfinland.com/en/places-to-go/coast-and-archipelago /).
Visit Finland. Welcome to Lapland (https://www.visitfinland.com/en/places-to-go/lapland /).
Lapland Above Ordinary (https://www.lapland.fi/visit /)

Opetusmenetelmät

The course is based on active learning, where initiative, information search, creativity, observation and critical thinking are emphasised in addition to the competence objectives mentioned in the curriculum.

Tenttien ajankohdat ja uusintamahdollisuudet

No exam

Pedagogiset toimintatavat ja kestävä kehitys

The course emphasizes independent information search, utilising sources that may have been provided, as well as relevant sources that you are looking for yourself. The course is linked to working life in such a way that the student plans his/her trip to the chosen destination, where she/he uses and observes the destination and the tourism services and analyzes own customer experience and service supply. Based on the above, he/she makes development suggestions for the destination and service providers. Sustainable development is one aspect to be observed, other aspects are defined by the student.

Toteutuksen valinnaiset suoritustavat

None

Opiskelijan ajankäyttö ja kuormitus

A. Personal plan (incl. personal learning objectives connected to the coastal or arctic tourism, chosen literature, trip itinerary,method/observation forms) to be accepted by the teacher minimum two weeks prior to the trip, assessment accepted - fail. Return box will be in itslearning. This is a structured WORD document (incl. excel or other form of table as observation form).
Minimum requirements for the trip to be analyzed: 1) duration of at least two days including paid accommodation, 2) analysis of at least two services (for example, an accommodation service and an activity) and 3) selected aspects to be analyzed at the tourist destination level (for example, free pull factors of the destination)

B. The output consists of three subject areas/parts:
1. Context analysis of trends, challenges and opportunities in either coastal tourism or arctic tourism based on chosen, reliable sources (see instructions for referencing on itslearning), this is a WORD document.
2. Introspection, i.e. self-observation (motives, feelings, experiences) and analysis/observations of the destination and service offerings during one's own trip to the selected coastal/arctic region. This report includes text and for example own photos, short videos, and screen shots of marketing materials.
3. Preparation of justified development suggestions for the destination visited and its service providers based on points 1 and 2. This is a WORD document, for example executive summary style.

Arviointimenetelmät ja arvioinnin perusteet

I Personal plan for completing the course: list of relevant sources to be used (research articles, reports), trip itinerary, observation forms (introspection, observation of the destination and its services), scale fail - accepted (before the trip to the chosen coastal or arctic region)

II Three-part output:
1. Analysis of trends, challenges and opportunities in either coastal tourism or arctic tourism based on chosen reliable sources. (written output, minimum 5000 characters + list of references)
2. Introspection, i.e. self-observation (motives, feelings) and analysis of the destination and its service offerings during one's own trip to a selected coastal/arctic region. (illustrative output: text minimum 5000 characters + illustrative material like photos, screenshots etc.)
3. Preparation of justified development suggestions for the destination visited and its service providers based on points 1 and 2. (written report, minimum 5000 characters+ possibly illustrative material )

Scale 0 - 5, self- and teacher assessment. Self-assessment to be added at the end of all three parts.

Hylätty (0)

0/FAIL: One or more of the four types of outputs mentioned above have been rejected or not returned.

Arviointikriteerit, tyydyttävä (1-2)

Grade 1: In general, the outputs are superficial and fragmented in structure. The knowledge base is limited (B.1), the sources used are not relevant, or they are not scientific studies or expert sources. There may be deficiencies in the source references. The observations made during the trip (B.2) are largely superficial, the observation form(s) has been sparse, and the illustrative visual materials are superficial and do not accurately depict the experiences or observations. The student's suggestions to the destination&service providers (B.3) are sparse, unjustified, irrelevant, or difficult to implement.

Arviointikriteerit, hyvä (3-4)

Grade 3: In general, the outputs are of a quite high academic standard and the structure is logical. The knowledge base (B.1) has been drawn from a few relevant sources, and the source references are largely in line with the guidelines. The observation form(s) has been sufficiently detailed, and the report (B.2) presents both personal experiences and observations of the services offered in considerable detail, illustrated with appropriate visual material. The proposals (B.3) are logical, well-founded, and at least to some extent useful for the destination or service providers.

Arviointikriteerit, kiitettävä (5)

Grade 5. The outputs are comprehensive and polished in terms of content and structure. The sources have been carefully selected (B.1) in accordance with the objectives of the assignment and have been used in a commendable manner. Student's own experiences and observations (B.2) are diverse and well-founded, and the observation form(s) has been carefully prepared. Visual materials give the reader a clear picture of the observations. The suggestions (B.3) and their justifications are comprehensive, even innovative. They are understandable to service providers and would likely increase the destinations/company's competitiveness and/or customer experience.

Lisätiedot

itslearning, e-mail