Digital Technologies for Thematic, Alternative and Sustainable Tourism

Sustainability Practices. Information media and sustainability. Digital media versus the phenomenon of overtourism. Digital media in promoting alternative tourism periods, alternative tourist destinations, alternative forms of tourism, alternative tourist accommodations, and alternative tourism content. Digital media in collaboration among stakeholders, businesses, and other participants, and in the sharing of data and resources. Cultural Informatics. New technologies in the visualization, promotion, representation, and information of gastronomic and wine tourism assets, conference tourism, mountain and nature tourism, sports tourism, cultural tourism, medical tourism, and educational tourism.

Upon successful completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

• Identify and distinguish the most important forms of thematic and alternative tourism, as well as their distinctive features and development characteristics.
• Analyze the emergence of thematic and alternative forms of tourism within the context of changing tourism consumption trends and the parallel development of digital technologies.
• Describe the characteristics, motivations, and needs of tourists interested in specific thematic and alternative forms of tourism, and how modern digital technologies support and enhance them while ensuring the sustainability of the respective destinations.
• Understand the importance of thematic and alternative forms of tourism for sustainable tourism development at local, national, and global levels.
• Understand the challenges and specific characteristics involved in supporting thematic, alternative, and sustainable tourism through digital technologies.
• Analyze the complexity of the supply and consumption of experiences in thematic and alternative tourism in relation to stakeholders, and how modern digital technologies contribute to the management of experiences and destinations.

The course “Digital Technologies in Thematic, Alternative, and Sustainable Tourism” aims to present innovative forms of tourism that differ from mass tourism both in terms of the complex nature of their products and the way they are developed. These forms of tourism are based, on the one hand, on the demand of contemporary tourists whose core values include the pursuit of authentic experiences and sustainability, and on the other hand, on distinct thematic and local characteristics. The course examines how modern digital technologies highlight these unique experiences and support the sustainable management of the respective destinations.

Week 1: Introduction to digital technologies in thematic, alternative, and sustainable tourism

Week 2: Special and alternative forms of tourism. The concept of sustainability

Week 3: The role of digital technologies in the promotion and enhancement of alternative forms of tourism

Week 4: The use of digital technologies for the sustainable management of destinations

Week 5: Case studies: Agritourism / Rural tourism and Ecotourism

Week 6: Case studies: Ski tourism / Mountain / mountaineering tourism

Week 7: Case studies: Outdoor activity tourism

Week 8: Case studies: Cultural tourism / Religious tourism

Week 9: Case studies: Gastronomic tourism / Wine tourism

Week 10: Case studies: Conference / Exhibition tourism

Week 11: Case studies: Maritime tourism / Cruise tourism

Week 12: Case studies: Medical tourism / Wellness tourism

Week 13: Review – Course evaluation

1. Kokkosis, H., Tsartas, P., & Grimba, E. (2020). Special and Alternative Forms of Tourism: Demand and Supply of New Tourism Products. Kritiki Publications.
2. Mitoula, R., & Kaldis, P. (2018). City Branding and Sustainable Development. Papazisis Publications.
3. Tsartas, P., & Lytras, P. (eds.) (2017). Tourism and Tourism Development: Contributions of Greek Scholars. Papazisis Publications.
4. Sotiriadis, M., & Farsari, I. (eds.) (2009). Alternative and Special Forms of Tourism: Planning, Management, Marketing. Interbooks.
5. Agarwal, S., Busby, G., & Huang, R. (eds.) (2018). Special Interest Tourism: Concepts, Contexts and Cases. CABI.
6. Rittichainuwat, B. N. (2018). Special Interest Tourism. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
7. Christou, E., & Sigala, M. (2016). Social Media in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality, 1st Edition. Routledge.

• Search, analysis, and synthesis of data and information using appropriate technologies
• Adaptation to new situations
• Decision-making
• Independent work
• Teamwork
• Generation of new research ideas
• Respect for the natural environment
• Demonstration of social, professional, and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues
• Critical thinking and self-reflection
• Promotion of free, creative, and inductive thinking

Support of the learning process through the e-class electronic platform.

Group Assignment (100%)

• Public presentation and submission of a detailed report
• Study, analysis, and comparison of the use of digital technologies in thematic, alternative, and sustainable tourism, based on literature and relevant sources
• Design of a proposal for the utilization of digital technologies in a specific category of alternative tourism
• Assessment criteria: research methodology, quality and breadth of bibliographic sources, completeness and quality of the report, quality of the presentation; criteria specified in the assignment description