Understanding students' perceptions and experience of a tourism management field trip: The need for a graduated approach

A growing body of literature identifies the positive learning outcomes for university students that undertake some of their studies in the field (Carr, 2003; Chanson, 2004; Fuller, Gaskin & Scott 2003; May, 1999; Nairn, Higgitt & Dominique, 2000; Panelli & Welch, 2005; Pawson & Teather, 2002; Robson, 2002; Xie, 2004). However, there is a paucity of research on the value of field trips as a teaching and learning tool in the discipline area of tourism management. This research examined students' expectations and experience of a tourism management field trip by inviting them to participate in a pre-and post-field trip survey. The students were inexperienced in field trips and showed a clear preference for the more structured elements of the trip such as organized lectures from local speakers rather than the more self-directed, exploratory activities offered. These results indicate that there is a need for a graduated approach to field trips in tourism building from a 'Cook's tour' in the first year of study to fully autonomous field research at honors level.