CAPE Tourism Syllabus 2026

Foundational Concepts of Tourism

• Key Concepts and Principles of Tourism

  Students will define key tourism concepts, differentiate types of tourism principles, and understand tourism's interdisciplinary nature.

• Tourism Organizations and Their Role

  Students will describe the structure of national, regional, and international tourism organizations and evaluate their diverse roles.

• Classifications of Tourism

  Students will explain different classifications of tourism, including domestic, regional, international, inbound, and outbound travel.

Tourist Behavior and Development

• Tourist Motivations and Typologies

  Students will assess factors motivating travel, analyze tourist typologies, and explain push and pull factors influencing tourist behavior.

• Emergence and Global Overview of Tourism

  Students will analyze the historical emergence of national, regional, and international tourism and its global economic contribution.

Tourism Systems and Economic Aspects

• Tourism System Components and Models

  Students will discuss the components of the tourism system, including traveler regions, transit routes, destinations, and industry models.

• Tourism Linkages and Leakages

  Students will define and describe tourism linkages and leakages, identifying involved sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing.

Tourism Impacts and Management

• Impacts of Tourism

  Students will describe the concept of long-term and short-term impacts of tourism on various stakeholders and identify impact types.

• Issues Affecting Tourism and Management

  Students will examine diverse issues affecting tourism and evaluate various methods used for their effective management.

Core Tourism Sectors

• Tourism Sector Overview

  Students will identify the various key sectors that comprise the tourism industry, understanding their foundational role.

• Accommodation Businesses

  This chapter defines accommodation and examines different business types within the tourism sector, including hotels, resorts, and homestays.

• Food and Beverage Sector

  Students will define food and beverage services and identify various business types like restaurants, catering, and bars within the tourism industry.

• Attractions in Tourism

  This chapter defines tourism attractions, categorizes them, and explains their importance as pull factors for visitors.

• Attraction Trends and Issues

  Students will examine current trends like personalization and technology, and issues such as overcrowding and natural resource degradation, affecting visitor attractions.

• Events and Conferences

  This chapter defines events and conferences, identifies their types, and discusses current trends and issues impacting this tourism sector.

Economic Linkages and Management

Sustainable Tourism Foundations

• Terminology and Pillars

  Students will distinguish key terms like sustainable development and tourism, and understand the socio-cultural, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainability.

• Principles of Sustainable Tourism

  Students will explain the core principles of sustainable tourism, including limits, equity, futurity, and proactive planning.

Tourism Impacts

• Impacts of Tourism in the Caribbean

  Students will discuss the positive and negative socio-cultural, economic, environmental, and technological impacts of tourism in the Caribbean region.

Sustainable Tourism Approaches

• Pillars and Approaches Application

  Students will learn to apply the pillars of sustainable development to practical approaches like community participation, community-based tourism, and natural resource management.

• Community Participation

  Students will explain community participation in sustainable tourism, including its definition and categories like coercive, induced, and spontaneous involvement.

Tourism Product Fundamentals

• Tourism Product Definition and Characteristics

  Students will define the tourism product, classify its types, and explain the key characteristics of tourism services.

• Stakeholders in Product Development

  This chapter identifies and explains the roles of government, private sector, NGOs, and the community in developing tourism products.

• Customer Needs and Expectations

  Students will differentiate internal and external customers, describe their respective needs and expectations, and justify the importance of customers in product development.

Product Monitoring and Development Challenges

• Product Monitoring and Evaluation

  This chapter examines various tools, standards, and instruments used to monitor and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of tourism products.

• Challenges in Product Development

  This chapter identifies and discusses common challenges encountered in the process of tourism product development.