Bachelor of Arts [B.A]/Bachelor of Science [B.S] [Geography - Geo-Tourism] From Eastern Michigan University

A geographic approach to tourism represents a distinctly different emphasis from the traditional business approach to the travel industry. The traditional business approach to travel necessarily sees an industry that must be efficiently managed for maximum sustainability of profit. The tourism geography approach, by contrast, focuses upon the physical and human geographic setting of the tourism experience. In addition, it focuses upon the intimate connection of the ?internal? tourist experience with the ?external? geography of the destination.

The geo-tourism specialist asks, ?Specifically, what geographic images and expectations might the tourist carry internally, images and expectations that will color their transactions with the physical setting and culture of that destination? Further, what planning and presentational means will most successfully allow the tourist to fully experience and remember the destination?s unique geography??

This geo-tourism approach represents an excellent example of applied human geography. Upon completion of the concentration, students will be well prepared as geo-tourism specialists.