La experiencia turística en los planes de estudios universitarios de Grado en Turismo

Abstract

Tourism and the experience economy are closely linked. The aim of this study is to assess the extent, timing, and manner in which the tourist experience has been integrated into the curriculum of official undergraduate Tourism degrees in Spain, given that a relevant curriculum is the most crucial element of an educational program. For this purpose, we have employed a bibliometric analysis. Through a Content Analysis of the verification reports of Tourism degrees, using ATLAS.ti v.24, we have identified a temporal disconnect between the reality of the tourism industry and its corresponding academic training. Therefore, a greater integration of the tourist experience into the curriculum is necessary. This could be particularly achieved by introducing more mandatory courses that cover this subject matter. It is recommended that universities review their study plans to more significantly incorporate the tourist experience, in line with CEDTUR's recommendations. The significant practical implications of this research for the employability of graduates extend to the entire tourism ecosystem. It has highlighted a discrepancy between the needs of businesses and educational programs, leading to recommendations for the implementation of improvement measures in the verification reports of Tourism degrees.