Geography for Tourism introduces students to the importance of geography in the hospitality and tourism industry through the study of travel or “destination” geography. Students explore the world’s geographic regions, focusing on the factors that create desirable travel destinations: weather and climate, physical features, cultural elements, historical interest, and tourist attractions. Students study the ways that the tourism industry promotes destinations, and they learn about current trends in travel. Finally, students learn about careers in the hospitality and tourism industry that are particularly dependent on a deep knowledge of geography. Students apply their understanding of these factors to a detailed analysis of one country from a travel geography standpoint as the culminating project of the course. Acting as researchers for a travel website, students develop portfolios on their country with the following components: an introduction with a detailed description of the
country’s geography; a climate profile; a historic timeline; a cultural heritage summary; a map identifying top tourist attractions within the country; two thematically different tour itineraries; and a list of travel tips and warnings.