Smart Tourism and Heritage DUMF5174

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Social and Environmental Sustainability
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The Smart Tourism and Heritage course examines the intersection between technology, sustainability, and cultural preservation within the tourism sector. Through theoretical discussions, case studies, and fieldwork, students will explore how smart technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and data analytics are reshaping the tourism industry while also preserving and promoting cultural and natural heritage. Topics covered include the integration of digital solutions, sustainable smart tourism practices and technologies used in promoting, enhancing, and preserving the tangible and intangible heritage assets.

Timetable

Two hours of lecture weekly plus a field trip

Requirements of Entry

Entry to the MSc Tourism and Heritage programme, or an associated postgraduate taught programme.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

80% Written essay (approx.3,000 words): Critically analyse a contemporary challenge facing a tourism or heritage destination and propose strategies for its sustainable development, with particular attention to the role of smart technologies. (ILOs 1,2,3)

20% Presentation: Deliver a group presentation analysing a best practice example of smart tourism and heritage management, focusing on sustainability, innovation, and cultural preservation. (ILOs 1,2,3)

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ Empower students to become future leaders and change agents in the evolving landscape of smart tourism and heritage management.

■ Equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical perspectives necessary to drive sustainable development and foster cultural preservation in tourism and heritage contexts.

■ Enable students to navigate and critically respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by technological innovation in tourism and heritage, including ethical, social, and environmental implications.

■ Develop students' capacity to apply problem-solving and analytical skills to real-world challenges, and to propose evidence-based strategies for sustainable and innovative tourism and heritage practices.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate key theories, concepts, and practices in smart tourism and heritage management, with reference to sustainability, cultural preservation, and technological innovation.

2. Analyse the social, environmental, economic, and ethical impacts of smart tourism on heritage sites, communities, and biodiversity.

3. Apply problem-solving skills to address real-world challenges in tourism and heritage settings, producing evidence-based recommendations for sustainable development.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.