Imagine you are an independent tourism planning expert (what is this?) You need to FIND, CRITIQUE and COMPARE two publically available tourism discussion papers on topics of your choice (what is a discussion paper?) USE - The policy planning cycle (p

Imagine you are an independent tourism planning expert (what is this?)

You need to FIND, CRITIQUE and COMPARE two publically available tourism discussion papers on topics of your choice (what is a discussion paper?)

USE - The policy planning cycle (p. 196 of your text) to CRITICALLY EVALUATE and COMPARE each discussion paper

Your assessment includes a reflection on lessons you have learnt through undertaking this critique and how it might assist you in writing your own Discussion Paper (what is a reflection?)

The assignment is divided into three sections as follows:

· Critique two discussion papers on a tourism related issue

· Compare & contrast the two discussion papers

· Reflection on learnings

SECTION ONE

Critique two discussion papers on a tourism related issue (worth 18/30)

1. This first section is more heavily weighted in the marking scheme.

2. Evaluate the structure and content of each of the two discussion papers using the policy planning cycle.

3. Evaluate means to judge the quality and significance of the papers. The “structure for a critical review” handout MAY help you with this task; in particular analysing the strengths and weaknesses of a paper.

4. Specifically this assignment asks you to use the Policy Planning Cycle and relate it to the paper.

5. The marking criteria states ‘Examined against all stages of the policy planning cycle & strengths & gaps are well identified” So this means ‘does the paper follow the stages of the policy cycle, to what extent, and what (if anything) is missing?’

Dredge & Jenkins 2007 Tourism Planning and Policy p. 196

A generic policy cycle process follows these general stages. Analyse the tourism discussion paper by identifying whether it includes these sections and include evidence about how it has fulfilled each section.

Example:

Has the discussion paper achieved each the section of the policy cycle successfully? How can you judge this? Have they used evidence from statistics, government reports, academic sources, general media sources, up to date information (recent reports). Have they been very thorough in their discussion? Have they used case studies and examples (e.g. tourist attractions) Put in quotes or paraphrases from the discussion paper as examples..

These are the stages of the above policy cycle:

a) Identifying issues – what are some of the problems? Or some of the needs for developing tourism?

b) Analysis of issues – (Looking at the problem in more detail – giving examples)

c) Policy solution (Federal or State). Instruments (plans, tax, funding or regulation). What are some of the suggestions for new strategies or policies or solutions to the issue?

d) Consultation – working with other organisations (stakeholders – company, government, tourist board, hotels, anyone who has an interest in tourism in the region)

e) Selection of alternative – what other plan would work instead? This may not be included in all discussion papers

f) Implementation – when and how to begin the plan?

g) Evaluation – a review of the plan after it has been implemented? This may not be included in all discussion papers

Compare & contrast the two discussion papers (worth 6/30)

1. This is less heavily weighted in the marking scheme

2. Compare and contrast the two discussion papers with regards to structure, quality and effectiveness.

3. Comparing – what is similar?

4. Contrasting – what is different?

5. In the marking rubric this section also asks you to refer to the policy cycle

6. You are asked to talk about how effective the papers are at communicating with the target audience. Who is the target audience? How well do they communicate? What PROOF do you have of this good/poor communication?

Example:

The first paper focused on ……………… as did the second paper. Both papers used a similar policy cycle process, which followed these steps:……

Both papers were easy to read and access and included case studies and ….

The papers were equally effective at communicating with the target audience of stakeholders and professionals within the tourism community in their regions

Reflection on learnings (worth 6/30)

1. This is less heavily weighted in the marking scheme

2. How has writing the assessment improved your skills?

3. Could writing this assessment help you to write a discussion paper?

Example:

Writing this assignment gave me insight into the tourism planning process and helped me to learn…. It was very beneficial in gaining skills in …

LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Examples of reflective language