Course Description

A significant focus of the M.A. will be developing vital research skills for candidates that will allow successful enterprise development and strategic understanding of the industry and related developments. Key subjects include ethics in tourism research; advanced research methods & methodologies; environmental research and business analysis tools.

Tourism is the world's largest industry; it is also very complex, covering many industrial sectors. The tourism industry is not static, but is ever changing, diversifying and becoming more dynamic. This unit looks at how the industry is developing globally and how that affects tourism development in host countries, as well as examining in detail key trends. Key subjects include Sustainability, Responsibility and Ethics in Tourism; Diversification of Tourism & Niche Markets and Tourism & Green Growth. In addition, this MA is designed around the Cambodian tourism product. It is therefore essential that candidates fully understand the key components of the nation's policy, laws, strategic directions, operational business environment as well as destinations and opportunities. Key subjects include Leading Destinations; Tourism Policy; Strategic Tourism Directions and Tourism Law.

Tourism is a multi-sectoral, multi-dimensional, and interdisciplinary subject. Thus, it strongly requires M.A. candidates to be system thinkers who are able to sustainably integrate those sectors, dimensions, and disciplines in a justifiable manner. Throughout this course, students will learn and apply system approaches while integrating them into complex tourism system with critical thinking and analysis. At the end of the course, students are expected to produce solution-based approaches in system thinking in tourism and resource management.

Candidates will gain a deep understanding of the components of the tourism sector that will include a skills based study of proven economic tools to enable strategic analysis and planning for tourism enterprises. Key subjects include Cost Benefit Management; Value Chains in Tourism; Economic Evaluation; Strategic Analysis and Environmental Economics in Tourism.

Effective management of resources is vital to a sustainable and vibrant industry. This unit examines fundamentals of sustainable management of tourism assets and resources theory and practice, best practices of resource allocation and project management in the Cambodian and International Context. Key subjects include tangible & intangible assets; intellectual property; natural systems and cultural asset management.

The Travel and Hospitality Industry is one of the most important components of the wider tourism product, itself made up of many stakeholders and sub-sectors with often differing priorities and areas of expertise. This unit provides practitioners with a solid understanding of the needs and perspectives of these key sectors, including Transport & Airlines; Inbound, Outbound &Local operators and Hotel, Guesthouse, Food & Beverage enterprises.

Fundamental to building a sustainable industry is the understanding of the complex tourism market and how to maximise opportunities for promotion and business development. Candidates will study current consumer trends, market profiles and appropriate promotional methods. Key subjects include Market & Stakeholder Analysis; Tourism & Consumer Profiling; Promotion &Advertising and application ofNew Media.

Sustainably managing destination development is fundamental to successful implementation of tourism planning and management. Candidates will study the major elements of a tourism destination plan, understand concepts of comprehensive planning in tourism development and the factors that influence the tourism planning process. Key subjects include approaches to Tourism Development Models; Tourism Management Planning; Business Development in Tourism and the role of Attractions & Resorts.

Tourism is often cited as a conduit for economic development and poverty alleviation in poor communities. Various initiatives have been developed and implemented over the years with a variety of successes. This unit looks at some of these initiatives realistically, and discusses practical application in the Cambodian context. Key subjects include Pro-Poor Tourism; Community Based Tourism Initiatives; Involving host communities and Social &semi-social enterprise studies.

Tourism can have significant impacts upon environmental systems: demand for tourism related natural resources can result in water shortages; create great pressure on other local resources such as energy, wildlife, biodiversity, protected areas and damage scenic landscapes. Related pollution and demand for carbon resources can have significant impacts locally as well as globally. Candidates will gain a deep understanding of these issues and tools to reduce their impacts. Key subjects include Environmental Impact Assessment; Eco-Auditing; Environmental Management Systems; Ecotourism and Natural Resource Management for Tourism.

Heritage sites are a vital component of the tourism industry as they are often the main reason tourists choose a destination over another. Cambodia is home to the world famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Angkor and Preah Vihear, as well as countless examples of other cultural sites countrywide. Additionally Cambodia is home to outstanding biodiversity and natural heritage. Management of heritage can be complicated and is often a balance of needs between stakeholders. This unit examines theory and practicalities of site management, learning from international best practices. Key subjects include Heritage conservation theory and practice; Visitor management at Heritage Sites; Authenticity; Intangible Heritage development; Heritage Interpretation (Presentation) and Education; Celebrating Ethnic Diversity and Architecture.

Tourism is an industry that requires a broad range of business and entrepreneurial skills in order to stay ahead of the competition. Candidates will receive managerial focused practical training, developing and upgrading business skills and abilities to succeed in the competitive environment. Key subjects include Cambodian Law; Entrepreneurial Skills; Corporate Social Responsibility in tourism business and Private Sector business skills.

Tourism, like any industry, is subject to internal and external risks and crisis. Candidates will develop skills in risk identification, planning, mitigation techniques and strategies and learn how to effectively manage crisis should they happen at both micro and macro levels.

This course involves Industry Work Placement and Tourism and Environment-Related Research Work that will provide candidates with the opportunity of using skills gained within the course at managerial level within a relevant enterprise or other working environment. The main study objective will be to critically analyse the performance of the tourism and environmental organisations, set against candidate's own aims and objectives, whilst being aware of the constraints facing the organisation, and eventually allows students to propose proper development and management design to such organizations for sustainability purposes.

MA through Research: Thesis

Upon successful completion of the first three semesters, candidates will be eligible to complete their MA through research. The research thesis allows candidates to apply learning and research skills into a detailed study of an organisation, destination, initiative or issue of the candidate's choice. Candidates will attend briefing sessions on methodologies and methods and on academic and dissertation writing and have regular guidance meetings with their allocated supervisor.

This course is specially designed for students to grasp understanding of and promote their technical know-how in development of impactful community-based tourism enterprises in different geographical, socio-economic, environmental, and demographic conditions across Cambodia. Both need-based assessment and asset-based assessment methods for sustainable community development will be introduced to students with a particular focus on community's self-reliant and self-sufficient concepts in designing, establishing, and sustaining community-led social and commercial businesses at micro, small, and medium scale.

For successful program or project management, program / project development lifecycle needs to be taken into serious account. Therefore, students in this M.A. program will be equipped with up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge of program / project development and management process and the use of common approaches, such as feasibility study, baseline study, mid-term review, and final program / project evaluation for both tourism and non-tourism programs / projects.

Upon successful completion of the first three semesters, candidates who are not eligible to write an M.A. thesis but wish to complete the M.A. through research are required to write a research project. The research project allows candidates to apply learning and research skills into a fundamental study of an organisation, destination, initiative or issue of the candidate's choice. Research project writing candidates will also be required to take two additional courses (TRM 4.2 and TRM 4.3) to fulfil their credit points and attend briefing sessions on methodologies and methods and on academic and dissertation writing and have regular guidance meetings with their allocated supervisor.

The M.A. in Tourism Resource Management offers a number of elective courses as options, as explained below. Each elective is equivalent in teaching to 1 credit, or 18 hours of combined teaching and study.

Elective Foundation Courses

Pupose: To provide students with fundamental knowledge and understanding of tourism and tourism-related issues

Time and Delivery: One-month intensive courses or blocked elective courses before the commencement of M.A. TRM courses

Elective courses 1 to 3 are foundation courses that must be taken by students who do not have a background in tourism. These will be at an additional cost of $100 for the three course package, and will be run intensively before the commencement of studies.

1. Tourism Geography and Systems
2. Tourism Typology and Development Management
3. Impacts of Tourism Development & Management Practices
4. Library Skills and Referencing System
5. Literature Review and Academic Writing Skills
6. Presentation Skills
7. Proposal Writing
8. Tourism Project Management
9. Qualitative Research Methodology and Practices
10. Quantitative Research Methodology and Practices
11. SMART Thesis Writing Skills for Graduate Study
12. Tourism in Protected Area Management
13. Community Tourism Enterprise Development
14. Second-Home Tourism
15. Island Resorts
16. Product Development in Tourism Business
17. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of Tourism Development
18. Landscaping and Decorating Tourism Site/Resort
19. Hotel and Restaurant Business
20. CSR and SRI for Tourism Business
21. Tourism Business Opportunity Assessment
22. Tourism Route and Connectively Design
23. Social Media and Marketing
24. Tour Design
25. Environmental Education and Heritage Interpretation