Ateneo - UPO

The course provides the basic knowledge necessary to organize and plan tourist itineraries. In addition, the knowledge needed to understand the relationship between transportation and tourism will be provided.

Course Materials and Readings
- Course Materials: Lecture handouts, presentations, and supplementary readings can be downloaded directly from the official course page on the University's online platform, DIR - Didattica In Rete.
- Required Textbook: Ferrario C., Tadini M., La relazione turismo-trasporti. Una lettura geografica, Rome, tab edizioni, 2023.

The module aims to provide the core competencies required to understand the logistical, geographical, and socio-economic organization of contemporary tourism, with a specific focus on the creation of tourism itineraries. First phase: students will acquire fundamental knowledge regarding tourism itineraries and the structure of the tourism logistics supply chain, learning to interpret their dynamics at both local and global scales. They will develop the ability to identify and evaluate transport supply, mobility demand, typology of itineraries, and destination accessibility models. Every analysis will incorporate criteria of environmental, social, and economic sustainability. In the advanced phase, the focus shifts toward translating theoretical knowledge into applied and innovative solutions. Students will learn to: design complex, thematic, and customized tourism itineraries,manage flow logistics and intermodality to enhance destination value,master the scientific terminology of transport geography.Upon completion of the course, participants will possess advanced knowledge of tourism transport geography, will be capable of planning and optimizing routes and logistical hubs, and will know how to utilize the scientific terminology of the sector. The achievement of these educational milestones will be assessed during the final evaluations.

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Teaching Methodologies. Lecture-based learning: supported by multimedia tools (PowerPoint presentations, audio, and video content). Case study analysis: examined in-depth through relevant documents, reports, and digital resources. Collaborative learning: guided group discussions in the classroom to foster critical debate. Online learning (E-learning): interaction, material sharing, and discussions via the University's DIR online platform (Didattica In Rete).

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The final assessment is based on an integrated system comprising a mandatory written examination and an optional project-based activity.
- Written Examination (mandatory): the examination is administered in written form and covers all educational content, study materials available on the course's DIR platform, and the reference textbook. The exam features open-ended questions, structured to assess both the assimilation of fundamental theoretical concepts and the development of adequate critical analysis skills, as well as the student's proficiency in the technical lexicon of transport geography.
Project Work/Group Project (optional and only for attending students): students may choose to develop an applied group project (teams of 2 to 4 participants), aimed at designing a complex tourist itinerary. The final paper must be submitted strictly within the deadlines specified by the lecturer (announced during lectures and published on the course page on the DIR platform).
The criteria for determining the final grade (expressed on a 30-point scale) are clearly defined according to the chosen pathway:
Written examination only: the final grade will correspond entirely to the outcome of the exam itself (100% of the grade).
Attending pathway with project work: the final grade will be calculated as a weighted average of the two assessments: 2/3 (approximately 67%) from the written examination and 1/3 (approximately 33%) from the evaluation of the project work.
To pass the examination and achieve the different assessment levels, the student must satisfy the following criteria:
- Criteria for a passing grade (18–23/30): demonstrating knowledge of the fundamental theoretical concepts of tourism logistics and geography, a basic understanding of itinerary structure, and the correct, albeit minimal, use of scientific terminology.
- Criteria for average and good grades (24–27/30): demonstrating a sound capacity for critical analysis, the ability to independently link destination development models to local/global dynamics, and, within the project work, the ability to propose sound and well-structured design solutions.
- Criteria for excellence (28–30 and honors/cum laude): demonstrating an in-depth assimilation of the subject matter, an excellent capacity for critical analysis, full mastery of the scientific lexicon of transport geography, and the ability to formulate highly innovative and integrated applied solutions (in the written examination and/or the project work).
The open-ended questions and the project work serve to assess both the theoretical understanding of the socio-economic organization of a territory and its corresponding tourist itineraries (foundational criteria), and the ability to apply this knowledge to practical solutions (advanced criteria). The written examination verifies knowledge of the topics covered during the course and specific terminology; the project work directly assesses the field-based capability to plan, design, and optimize itineraries.

The course is divided into two-hour lessons and it is divided into two modules:
MODULE I - ITINERARIES
- definition of travel itinerary
- types and methods of construction
- itineraries and tourist accessibility
- itineraries and online tourism
- cultural itineraries
- events and tourist image
MODULE II - LOGISTICS
- analysis of the link between transport and tourism;
- the characteristics of tourist demand for transport
- tourist transport and sustainability
- tourist modes of transport (air, rail, sea, road)
- disused railways
- greenways
- urban transport
Although not a specific topic of the course, the gender dimension may be integrated transversally throughout the curriculum, offering a complementary analytical lens for examining transport logistics and itinerary design.

Expected Learning Outcomes and Assessment CriteriaThe written examination is designed to assess the theoretical knowledge and practical skills developed by the student within the following areas:Knowledge and understandingThe operational and structural characteristics of the main modes of transport.The profiles and specific features of tourism demand applied to the transport sector.The methodological criteria for designing and developing a tourist itinerary.The classification and analysis of itineraries based on types, target audiences, and thematic areas.Applying knowledge and understandingDesign and structure tourist itineraries, both of a general nature and customized for specific target clienteles.Identify and plan interconnections and intermodal solutions across different transport networks and types.Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of an existing tourist itinerary.Making judgmentsDevelop a mature capacity for critical reflection on issues related to territorial planning and carrier selection, identifying the most appropriate transport modes consistent with the type of trip and the traveler's profile.