Aim of Unit 13 Special Interest Tourism
Unit 13 Special Interest Tourism deals with the Special Interest Tourism(SIT), its management and the types of products and services it offers. It also works on motivating the customers. The new form of tourism has replaced the traditional form of tourism. For example, a person holiday includes working as a painter in Dales to working as a conservation volunteer in some other remote places. Most types as such are available all throughout the year from different tourism service provider. This study also gives a detailed learning on the evolution of the Special Interest Tourism. The motives of the customers taking these services will also be studied.

Learning outcomes
- Understand the nature and development of special interest tourism
- Understand how special interest tourism matches customers, products and services
- Understand the appeal and motivation of special interest tourism for customers
- Understand management needs and issues of special interest tourism.
LO1 Understand the nature and development of special interest tourism
The study of the nature of this type of tourism includes detailed knowledge of the niche market. The aims and purposes of the special interest tourism include packages that will create a wonderful environment for the customers so that those people can practice or live with the individual’s passion. This type of tourism must work on providing therapeutic purposes for the clients. The factors that affect the development of the SIT are globalization, transport, income and many more.
LO2 Understand how special interest tourism matches customers, products and services
In this case, the products and the services are segmented, for example, social gatherings, outdoor pursuits, some cultural events, archaeological tours, some kinds of courses, educational trips and many more. The tourists’ types must also be classified in this case, for example, an individual, teams, clubs and other types as such. The types of market are also classified in this case like the markets of the youth, family markets and other groups that are identified.
LO3 Understand the appeal and motivation of special interest tourism for customers
The appeal of the market lies in the attractiveness of the European and the UK environment, features, which include man-made and natural environment, the weather and the amenities that it provides. Those amenities include skiing, climbing, sailing, rafting and many more. The SIT motivates skill improvement in an individual, who wants to escape the hectic life. It also motivates the improvement of an individual’s personality. It provides stimulation for promotion of the industry too. This as a whole motivates bringing in modernism.
LO4 Understand management needs and issues of special interest tourism
The management requires taking up a segmented approach in order to understand the management needs and also the issues associated with it. The management at first needs to offer licenses, benefits, accommodation, visas, permits and many more to provide customer satisfaction. It must also deal with contingency plans, regulations and laws that can bring about customer satisfaction. It must also work towards providing attractive packages to attract more customers. There are a few issues associated with it which includes the health risks, which are hardly assessed; socio-cultural impact that concerns the education and cultural impacts; sustainability impacts and many more.

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria
Learning outcomes On successful completion of this unit a learner will: | Assessment criteria for pass The learner can: |
LO1 Understand the nature and development of special interest tourism | discuss special interest tourism in terms of product differentiation and tourist types assess the contribution of tourism trends, factors and shifts in holiday interests to special interest tourism development |
LO2 Understand how special interest tourism matches customers, products and services | 2.1 evaluate how providers can match products and services to different customer types |
LO3 Understand the appeal and motivation of special interest tourism for customers | analyse the appeal to customers of special interest tourism features and benefits evaluate how the motivations of tourists are met by special interest tourism locations and features |
LO4 Understand management needs and issues of special interest tourism | evaluate the organisational and support logistics involved in the management of special interest tourism trips assess how operators resolve issues that affect special interest tourism |
Links
This unit links with:
- Unit 1: The Travel and Tourism Sector
- Unit 6: Contemporary Issues in Travel and Tourism
- Unit 7: Sustainable Tourism Development
- Unit 9: Tourist Destinations
- Unit 14: Tour Operations Management
- Unit 17: Work-based Experience.