The tourism geography approach, by contract, focuses on both the geographic setting of the process of tourism, and upon the intimate connection of the "inner" tourist experience with the "external" geography present at the destination. The geographic approach to tourism begins with a focus on the key natural and cultural elements that make up the external geographic context of a destination. It then asks the following key questions:

"How will the tourist actually experience the natural and cultural elements of the destination's geography?"

"Specifically, what geographic images and expectations might the tourist carry internally, images and expectation that will color their transactions with the nature and culture of that destination?"

"Further, what planning and presentational means will most successfully allow the tourist to fully experience and remember that destination's unique geography?"

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

Specific goals of the Geography Major's Tourism Geography concentration are:

1. Ensure that all students completing the concentration have good to excellent geographical literacy including not only basic place locations, but also a sense of the broad human and physical relationships between and within world areas and regions.

2. Ensure that all students completing the concentration have a detailed understanding of the philosophy, behavioral aspects, impacts, scope, sectors, innovations, technologies, growth projections, and history of the process of tourism:

• as it effects, and is effected by, the human geography of an area
• as it effects, and is effected by, the physical geography of an area.

3. Ensure that all students completing the concentration have a firm understanding of the meaning and expectations of professional behavior, as well as skills in the practice of professional ethics.

4. Ensure that all students completing the concentration have:

• good to excellent skills in creative written and oral communication,
• knowledge of various presentational techniques, and
• exemplary skills in the delivery of guest service.