This unit introduces students to the foundational knowledge and skills required for tourism study at UWS and professional practice in a range of tourism related careers. This unit provides students with opportunities to familiarise themselves with the core concepts and basic theory of tourism management studies. It aims to equip students with an understanding of sustainable tourism, the tourism system, and mega trends of tourism. It covers the global complexity of the tourism industry; of the social, environmental, and political realities; and the role of governments - federal, state and local together with private enterprise in the development of tourism experience, industry practice, and destinations.

The aim of this unit is to get students thinking critically about heritage. To do so, it examines two main questions: "What is heritage?" and "Why does it matter?". While the answers to both may appear fairly straightforward, this unit is designed to make students question and problematise their own assumptions, rethink what is and is not heritage, and consider why, in fact, we even care at all. The unit will introduce concepts such as national identity, ethics, memorialisation, belonging, nostalgia, heritage values, status, control and repatriation. It will also introduce and examine heritage legislation, theory and practice.

This unit provides students with opportunities to work with private industry, government or non-government organisations, or commercial establishments, and be able to relate this experience with their professional and academic interests. It is a non fee paying but compulsory component of tourism management degree at Western Sydney University. Students will seek to learn about the many aspects of industry related work including environmental, social, cultural, and business matters.