Overall objectives:

1 - The course has been designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of tourism and regional development. Concepts covered include regional development on islands from a multidisciplinary perspective; basic knowledge about Macaronésia economic potential; key importance of the EU regional development policy; understanding of specific and policy dilemmas faced by islands; new development paradigm in Europe; characterization of the tourism industry and analysis of basic concepts to understand the tourism industry; overview of the tourism industry in Madeira.
2 - A strong practical focus allows students to critically evaluate regional and tourism development tourism from the economic, historical and sociological perspectives; students are also invited to develop solving problems competences.
3 - Students are expected to contribute to scientific applied research through the analysis of innovative topics approaches. Students are invited to develop in-depth learning with a multidisciplinary touch.

Syllabus:

1 - Introduction to the topic of regional development. Key facts on regional development in Europe. The concept of region and the key role of regions in the world?s economy.
2 - Islands economies: an overview. Social and economics dynamics and business development on islands. Comparative analysis of economic structures in Macaronésia.
3 - Introduction to economic growth. Introduction to models of regional development. Clusters. Learning regions. Information Society. Neo-keynesian models. The re-focus of the European regional development policy.
4 - Introduction to tourism on islands. Models of analysis of tourism development on islands: plantation model e Butler´ life cycle. Lessons from tourism development in Cyprus, Balearic Islands and Canary Islands. Sustainable tourism as a factor of economic and social cohesion on islands. Limits on tourism growth.
5 - Tourism development in Madeira. Supply and demand: an overview. Tourism development planning in Madeira. Demand patterns and key attraction factors in the Macaronésia context.
6 - Introduction to tourism economics. Key concepts to analyze supply and demand. Mass tourism. Rural tourism and market niches in tourism.

Literature/Sources:

European Commission , 2007 , Growing regions, growing Europe, ?Fourth report on economic social cohesion?, Communication from the , European Commission
Page, S., Connnell, J. (2009), , 2009 , Tourism A Modern Synthesis, Third Edition , South-Western, Cengage Learning,
Commission of the European Communities (2007), , 2007 , Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Strategy for the Outermost Regions;: achievementes and future prospects, COM (2007), 507 final , European Commission
Commission of the European Communities (2007 , 2013 , Fourth Report, on Economic and social cohesion, SEC (2007), 694 European Union, Regional Policy, Working for the regions, EU Regional Policy 2007-2013, 2008 , European Commission
García-Falcón, J., and Medina-Munõz, D. (1999 , 2009 , Sustainable tourism development in islands, a case study of Gran Canaria?, , Business Strategy and the Environment, Vol 8, No 6, pp 336?357

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The criteria for successful completion of the course involves of a high degree of skill in or knowledge all elements of the programs. The first test (50%) covers the first part of the program, while the second part (50%) also requires the ability to integrate a number of concepts in a coherent analytical framework.One of the generic the goals of higher Education is to provide students with competences and skills in becoming independent and efficient learners ready to further their working related competences. Besides simple recall of basic facts and concepts, students are also required to relates learning to real world situations. Written tests test several competencies at once and enable reflection on learning. Theoretical-Practical sessions also require the participation of students in classroom discussion which promotes the development of communication skills.