Students are expected to have a level of communication in English corresponding at least to an intermediate level (i.e. B1 of the CEFR - 2020 updated version in the Companion volume), in order to effectively engage with the course materials and actively participate in the activities.

With reference to the EQF descriptors, the expected learning outcomes of the course are as follows:

• knowledge and understanding of the microlanguage used in the tourism industry, as well as key business concepts and cultural awareness relevant to International Tourism and Destination Management;
• applying knowledge and understanding of the English language and culture to effectively communicate in various tourism-related contexts, including written and spoken communication, presentations, and business interactions;
• making judgements: critically analyse and evaluate information related to language use, communication strategies, and cultural aspects in the tourism industry;
• communication skills: the aim is that by the end of the course, students will have strengthened their English language skills (reception, production, interaction, mediation), according to the CEFR - 2020 updated companion volume, and will have progressed from an intermediate / B1 level to an upper-intermediate / B2 level, with a specific focus on the microlanguage and genres used in the tourism industry;
• learning skills necessary to continue developing the students’ English language proficiency independently, and to adapt their communication strategies to diverse situations and contexts in the field of International Tourism and Destination Management. 

The course focuses on enhancing students’ proficiency in the language needed by those working in the tourism industry. The course will cover topics aimed at promoting (inter)cultural awareness and concerning English for Tourism that will be introduced, discussed, and explored, practicing all skills, spoken and written, productive and receptive, with insights into vocabulary and grammar in order to help students reach an upper-intermediate level of competence of the English language (i.e. B2 level of the CEFR for languages).

in particular communicative activities will be designed to cover the following topics:

1) Travel and Tourism industry

• difference between tourism industry and travel industry, globalisation stakes, geopolitical instability and health issues; T&T industry changes in the post-pandemic world.
• tourism organisations: United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), governmental policies in attracting visitors and the role of National and Regional tourist boards.

2) Tourism 4.0: web marketing and new technologies

• the 7 Ps of marketing mix in tourism services: the traditional 4 Ps (Product, Price, Place, Promotion) and 3 more Ps to tailor marketing plans specifically for travel (People, Process, Physical Evidence);
• situation analysis components: SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and PEST analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technological factors).
• web marketing and promotion: ethical uses of social media and persuasive language for Tourism Marketing.
• impact of new technologies and future trends: digital/contactless practices, apps and software, robotics, IoT and AI developments.

3) Intercultural Communication

• English culture: hints at the history of tourism.
• cultural differences and their impact on the tourism industry; intercultural conflicts and cross-cultural communication strategies; cultural sensitivity and adaptability in the context of tourism and destination management.

4) International Tourism: world destinations and travellers

• types of tourism: niche tourism responsible tourism, overtourism, ecotourism, cultural tourism (World Heritage and British Heritage).
• younger generations and new trends, gen N travellers, staycation, worcations/bleisure trips

5) Literacy and Oracy for T&T professionals

• effective communication skills for tourism professionals: correspondence and telephone communication.
• the language of brochures, itineraries and tours, business meetings and presentations, figures and statistics.
• customization and customer care practices in the tourism industry, complaints, ratings/reviews;
• interacting with tourists from different cultural backgrounds; effective communication in a multilingual and multicultural environment.

These topics will provide a comprehensive understanding of the English language and culture in the context of international tourism and destination management.

• (A) PAGE S.; Tourism management (6th Edition 2019) ROUTLEDGE, Abingdon, Oxon, OX 14 4RN; 978-1-138-39116-1
• (A) Picello R .; English for Cultural Tourism Management and Interpretation; Libreria Universitaria Edizioni Padova; 2017; 978-88-6292-939-4
• (A) Strutt P.; English for International Tourism (Upper Intermediate); Pearson Harlow; 2013; 978-1-4479-2391-6

• (C) Picello R.; Understanding Heritage. English for Cultural Heritage, Tourism and the Visual Arts; Libreria Universitaria Edizioni Padova; 2016; 978-88-6292-810-6 
• (C) Sharpley R.; The Study of Tourism. Past Trends and future directions; Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, OX 14 4RN; 2017; 978-1-138-08115-4
• (C) Maci S.M.; English Tourism Discourse; Hoepli; 2020; 978-88-203-9942-9

Students may find the following reference grammars helpful if they feel that their level of English proficiency may not be sufficient to use the study materials with confidence:

• Murphy R.; English Grammar in Use (5th ed.), Cambridge University Press, 2019
• Foley M./Hall D.; MyGrammarLab (Intermediate BI-B2).Pearson Harlow, 2012
• Bell J./Thomas A.; Gold (First); Pearson Harlow 2015

• Thanks to an interactive teaching style, teacher’s lectures where key concepts are presented, will allow time for students participation whenever possible.

  Students will be expected to actively engage in discussions Q&A sessions and collaborative learning, therefore students' attendance is encouraged. Students unable to attend the classes should get in touch with the professor in advance of the chosen exam session.

  Such interactive classes will be enriched with practical exercises, the use of realia, case studies, examples from the tourism industry and real-world scenarios. Materials, including multimedia resources and online ones, will further support students' learning, allowing them to access supplementary content, engage in pre- or post-lecture activities, and explore additional resources.

  Overall, the course aims at fostering a dynamic learning environment, combining theoretical knowledge, practical application, and multimedia resources to facilitate students' engagement with the subject matter.

• The oral exam will consist of two parts:

  • a presentation in English (power point, prezi, canva or others) to be sent before the date of the exam to the teacher according to deadlines, topics, guidelines provided at the end of the course and relevant to the tools and methodologies used in the field of Tourism and Destination Management (30% of assessment marks)
  • the discussion of the presentation aimed (as a starting point) at testing the students' acquisition of the theoretical and methodological knowledge, their ability to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios.(70% of assessment marks)

  The two parts of the test also serve as an opportunity for students to demonstrate their proficiency in expressing themselves fluently and convincingly in English at least at B2/ B2+ level.