FØS8200 Special Interest Tourism & Storytelling

Contents and structure

Special interest tourism is defined by those who travel for the sake of a special interest. This may be unusual hobbies, activities, themes, or destinations which also tend to attract niche markets. Some suggest special interest tourism as an alternative to mass tourism. A special interest tourist chooses to engage and seeks learning experiences, and is therefore close related to sustainable tourism.

This course will cover introduction to SIT (special interest tourism) market trends, experience economy and service escapes, product development and storytelling in tourism businesses (i.e., hotels, restaurants, attractions). Special interests like sports tourism, gastronomy and wine/cider tourism, dark tourism and health tourism will be covered.

We also include storytelling as a tool in experience development, both as part of an experience or as the main experience. We will take a look at good and bad examples of storytelling at both the business and destination level.

Learning Outcome

Students should have knowledge about

• Different special interests within Special Interest Tourism, i.e. health tourism, culinary tourism, genealogy tourism, dark tourism and other types of tourism based on our natural - and cultural heritage.
• Use of storytelling within Special interest tourism
• Experience Economy and how to develop new experiences.
• Use of theoretical constructs and dramaturgy within product development, storytelling and experiences
• The importance of narrative and theatrical components in the service escape
• The link between different platforms and social media to different special interest and stories
• Research and development within special interest tourism and storytelling
• History, traditions, peculiarity of special interest tourism and storytelling

Skills

The students should be able to:

• Find, assess and refer to information and literature
• Create meaningful and sustainable products and experiences within special interest tourism
• Create meaningful and sustainable stories, either part of or as an complete experience
• Identify problems and challenges and asses course literature to solve it
• Use stories via employees, souvenirs and the experience room
• Explore how to use stories to connect destinations, visitors and local communities

General knowledge

The students should be able to;

• Find and use resources, both tangible and intangible like buildings, text, personal stories, etc. and turn it into experiences and stories.
• Plan and implement different task and projects individually and in groups
• Communicate different information within SIT like theories, problems and solutions, both oral and in writing that may lead to best practice
• Recognize innovation in SIT and storytelling
• Understand and reflect over the link between SIT and sustainable tourism

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

Introduction to tourism or work experience from the tourism industry may be an advantage but not a requirement.

Teaching methods

Online: All lectures will be held in English and online via Zoom or Teams.

Campus-based: Lectures, seminars and workshop in groups.

Both individual and assignments in groups. Visits to businesses and some fieldwork may be included.

Compulsory learning activities

Two assignments

Assessment

Individual home exam, 3 days (100% of total grade).

Grade A to F, where F corresponds to fail.

Examination support material

All aids are permitted

More about examination support material

Course reductions

• RE6-2010 - Opplevingsøkonomi & Storytelling - Reduction: 7.5 studypoints