Scientific tourism: new modality seeks to position Rosario and the region
Since its creation in 2017, the Bachelor's degree in Tourism has given this field of study a higher status through research and the enhancement of its practices. Now, the scientific tourism modality is a powerful tool for local and regional development.
By Claudio Pairoba*
La Bachelor of Tourism It was created in 2017 as a joint initiative of the faculties of Political Science and International Relations, and Economic Sciences and Statistics of the Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR). The objective is to train professionals capable of addressing different aspects of tourism activity, advising public and private entities, and generating new knowledge on the subject from a multidisciplinary approach.
Osvaldo Giuello is a graduate of the program and a scholarship recipient from the National Interuniversity Council (CIN). He is leading the research project “ Scientific Tourism: An Approach to its Characterization, Definition, and Practice in Argentina, from 2010 to 2022” under the direction of Silvia Beatriz Gómez, with whom we began discussing this new program.
How did the race come about?
This was the first race of the Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR) created and managed by two faculties: Political Science and International Relations and Economic Sciences and Statistics, in a valuable experience of collaborative management. The coordinators of both faculties (Sofia Perotti and Adela Puig, who retired and is replaced by Julia Flamini), have done a wonderful job. They have lovingly dedicated their efforts to position this degree within the scope of the UNR as well as the region.
What is your design?
With an innovative format, almost all subjects are taught four-monthly in a four-year plan. There are two orientations that are taken as the upper cycle of the degree. Both reflect the disciplinary tradition of each of the faculties in charge of the degree. These orientations are differentiated although interdependent on tourism activity, as a field of public policy and as a global economic activity. The degree was created in 2017 and implemented in 2018. In mid-2022, the first graduate was received and since then around 50 graduates have completed their studies at our university between the two faculties.
How were the beginnings?
The degree program had a massive enrollment in 2018, and we were almost overwhelmed in both faculties during the first two admissions. Then the number of entrants began to adjust, reaching the level of other UNR degrees. Since its inception, the degree program has had a vocation to connect with different social and governmental actors in the tourism field. It also has the possibility of participating and making contributions on topics relevant to the agenda of our time. This has made it a very interesting option, where different institutional linkage devices have been signed with numerous organizations and local governments in the region. So much so that technical assistance agreements have been signed with Gral. Lagos and Pérez as well as pre-professional practice agreements with Andino, Fighiera and Luis Palacios. Obviously, with the municipality of Rosario, the links of institutional and academic cooperation are very strong.
They have also created a diploma.
That's right. Among other initiatives, the joint organization of the undergraduate diploma program in tourist guiding (which I teach) stands out. There was a gap in this area, and it refers to specific training aimed at providing tools for the job in the province. This initiative has been highlighted as a best practice by the Mercociudades University-City Collaboration Observatory and the Montevideo Group Association of Universities.
What is the relationship of this career with other organizations?
Since 2019, the program has been part of the Council of Tourism Programs in National Universities (CONDET). Also noteworthy are the numerous internships undertaken by advanced students in provincial tourism management.
What other activities are carried out within the scope of the degree?
We could highlight the tourism study group, comprised of numerous professors from the program, of which I am a member. This is a forum for exchanging experiences that brings together various members of the undergraduate academic community, including graduates. This group operates within the Research Institute of the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations.
Furthermore, since 2018, the Symposium on Tourism and Social Sciences has been held as part of the National and International Congress on Democracy , which takes place every two years at the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations. This year is particularly significant as it marks the 30th anniversary of that first National Congress on Political Science. The fourth Symposium on Tourism and Social Sciences will be held there, providing an opportunity to meet with colleagues from other universities and exchange experiences.
Researching in tourism
Roxana Molteni (director) and Silvia Beatriz Gómez (co-director) are in charge of the project “ Tourist Profiles in Construction. Public Policies for the Development of the City of Rosario and Greater Rosario in the period 2011-2021” within which Giuello works and tells us about the work he does as a CIN scholarship recipient.
What is scientific tourism?
It is a very new modality, not only in Argentina but also in the world. It is related to science and knowledge. The offer of scientific tourism has to do with obtaining, exchanging and creating knowledge in different places. Everything that the tourist can obtain and do about science and knowledge.
Given the novelty of this topic at a global level, we thought it would be interesting to characterize it, define it and address its practices through a research project since there is a debate regarding these points.
What would be a brief history of this discipline?
It is a new modality (10-15 years), even in the world. That is why many people are unaware of scientific tourism.
The International Network for Scientific Tourism was created in 2018. The term "scientific tourism" first appeared in 1980 in a North American publication discussing archaeological expeditions. It then disappeared, only to reappear in the last 15 years, driven by existing assets marketed as scientific tourism.
So, through scientific tourism, for example, the existing research centres in Rosario could be promoted.
Scientific tourism offers tourists the opportunity to acquire, exchange, create, or disseminate knowledge. This activity is little known in Rosario or Argentina because it is often included under other types of tourism, specifically those related to knowledge and science. For example, the Rosario astronomical complex is a scientific tourism offering that is not recognized as such.
It's impressive how many places in Rosario offer scientific tourism, and are already doing so, though not under that name. The science, technology, and recreation center known as the Aquarium is a prime example of scientific tourism, as it's a place where knowledge can be acquired and exchanged. Few people know that CONICET scientists work within the Aquarium.
We also have the Rosario Technology Park, where there is a great deal of innovation and knowledge development. There is also the Rosario Scientific and Technological Center (CCT), one of 16 in Argentina. It is one of the largest, with 13 institutes jointly affiliated with CONICET and the National University of Rosario (UNR).
We need to position the word scientific tourism so that it can be opened and made available in different places that are not currently offering it.
What do you propose with your work?
What we try to do is go to these assets that already exist and try to adapt their communication strategy by reviewing some minimal operational changes so that they can be offered as scientific tourism. For example, our group began working last year with the Rosario Technological Pole. After listening to our proposal, the idea is to offer the Pole as an asset.
What are the advantages of scientific tourism?
Its advantages over other modalities are that the assets already exist. All we have to do is adapt the communication strategies along with some operational changes. In this way, Rosario would be in a position to show a scientific tourism offer that has many important alternatives.
What characteristics does it have?
Scientific tourism is neither invasive nor massive and can be carried out in an educational or recreational way. It also offers an innovative proposal complementary to what already exists. It constitutes a deseasonalized offer that can be offered all year round in all existing sites. It takes into account the principles of conservation of natural heritage, providing competitiveness and sustainability in tourist destinations. It also serves to publicize the tourist potential of an area, generating competitiveness at a regional, national and international level that other forms of tourism do not have.
What is the profile of the scientific tourist?
They come from developed places, with a medium to high level of knowledge. They have medium to high incomes and are characterized by covering a wide age range (from 30 years onwards). They are scientists, researchers, science volunteers, the environment, professionals, students, curious tourists.
What other spaces for scientific tourism do we have apart from those you mentioned?
In the surroundings of Rosario and on the islands we have bird watching. There are also observatories and institutes of science and technology as well as activities related to ecological knowledge. The latter is in line with the characteristic of scientific tourism to contribute to the preservation of the environment and cultural heritage, which is derived from the quality of scientific tourism of not being massive.
Something that led me to delve into this topic was discovering, when I began my degree in 2018, that our faculty is close to the CCT-Rosario and that the vast majority of the population of Rosario is unaware of it, as well as its world leadership in science and technology.
What progress have they made?
The interesting thing about our city is that, starting with the First Scientific Tourism Workshop held in 2019, the rector of the UNR, Franco Bartolacci, proposed that we had to work to install science and knowledge in tourism proposals. A few months later, Mayor Javkin, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Plaza de las Ciencias, expressed that Rosario has to be the city of knowledge.
During my last two years of college, I became interested, along with other classmates, in addressing scientific tourism. We see that there is a great lack and a lack of knowledge derived from the controversy surrounding what scientific tourism is. That is why we decided to approach the study of its practices, which cannot be identified in detail at present, and that is why this study is relevant. They cannot be characterized because there are many scientific tourism offers that are not known as such, such as those I mentioned in the city of Rosario and around the world.
There are others that are appearing in other parts of the world that offer scientific tourism but are not scientific. For example, sun and beach tourism does not fall within the scope of scientific tourism, just like theme parks.
Are there many definitions of scientific tourism?
Yes, just as there are many definitions of study practices. There are some that are offered as scientific tourism and are not and vice versa. This is due to several issues. First, the recent appearance of scientific tourism, for which there is little knowledge. Second, there is a vacancy regarding an agreed definition, as I already mentioned. Since it cannot be identified as such, it is difficult to find a scientific tourism practice that defines it.
Finally, we have cross-cutting themes. We find scientific tourism in different types of tourism, such as wine tourism or astrotourism . All of Argentina is excellently positioned to offer scientific tourism because we have everything to offer: paleontology , science and technology, the environment, and so on.
Conclusions?
To begin with, in the places where the practices were investigated, there is a very important difference towards those spaces where the main relationship is that of obtaining knowledge, rather than exchange and creation. Another difference lies in the involvement of the different actors: the majority of offers of this activity are given directly or indirectly from a governmental development (national, provincial or local). The other reading that is made is that there is a great difference between the non-identification of scientific tourism practices with those that are identified as a product of scientific tourism.
Are they on social media?
We have our YouTube channel where we have uploaded several videos explaining a lot about scientific tourism in general and in particular in the city of Rosario.
Giuello has also published a work on the subject which can be consulted here.
Background
Silvia Beatriz Gomez
UNR Political Scientist
Professor of Political Theory – School of Social Work
Professor of Geography II – Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism
Head Teacher “Economic, rural and urban perspectives for local tourism development” – Bachelor of Tourism
Teacher of the Undergraduate Diploma in Tourist Guide of the province of Santa Fe
Osvaldo Giuello
Arquitecto
Degree in tourism
Coordinator R&D Space in Scientific Tourism
*Biochemist, pharmacist and doctor Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Master in Media Analysis and Specialist in Environmental Communication. Member of the Rosario School of Strategic Communication and Argentine Network of Scientific Journalism. Accredited with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (Science) and the magazine Nature.