The document outlines a typical plan for conducting country studies research. It describes 9 items that are usually included in a country studies research program: key facts about the country, its geography, natural environment, population, political structure, economy, foreign relations, international organizations, and other information. When conducting tourism-focused country studies, important additional areas to cover include tourism resources, infrastructure, regional differences, travel information, and a SWOT analysis of the country's tourism industry. An example SWOT analysis outline for Malaysia's tourist industry is also provided.

1. Topic 2. Program of
country studies research

2. The country studies
research program is
usually consists of
the following
9 items:

3. A typical plan
Characteristics of the country
1.Short and full name
For example:
Great Britain /
United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern
Ireland

4. A typical plan
Characteristics of the country
2. Geographical position:
•natural,
•economical,
•geopolitical position

5. A typical plan
Characteristics of the country
3. General characteristics of the
natural environment and resources:
• Geological structure and minerals;
• Relief;
• Inland waters
• Climate;
• Agroclimatic resources;
• Soils;
• Plant and faunal resources;
• Potential environmental disasters, etc.

6. A typical plan
Characteristics of the country
4. Population and
demography:
• number;
• form of settlement;
• structure.

7. A typical plan
Characteristics of the country
5. Political structure:
• government;
• administrative - territorial system;
• political parties;
• blocs of influence.

8. A typical plan
Characteristics of the country
6. Economy:
• Component (branch)
structure;
• Territorial (spatial) structure;
• Organizational - management
structure.

9. A typical plan
Characteristics of the country
7. Foreign Economic
Relations

10. A typical plan
Characteristics of the country
8. Membership in
international organizations

11. A typical plan
Characteristics of the country
9. Other information

12. When we talk about the tourist
country studies, besides the
typical plan, important points are:
tourism resources;
tourist centers and other elements of the
spatial structure;
the level of infrastructure development;
region-based differences. Information on the
resort areas important both for tourists and
for the manager

13. When we talk about the tourist
country studies, besides the
typical plan, important points are:
Characterization of travel formalities. These
include: visas, rules of behavior in the country,
the time zones difference, currency and
customs regulations, types of accommodation,
shopping, etc.
Also, texts from books, blogs or travel writer's
texts can be added. It will be literary country
studies.

14. SWOT analysis
is also often used for the
consideration of the tourist
features of the country

15. SWOT
• tool that identify a Strengths-
Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats
of something. In our case - of tourism (industry,
recourses, potential) in the particular country.

16. An Outline of a SWOT Analysis
• Introduction
• Introduce your topic; interest your readers from the
beginning.
• Historic or interesting fact
• Overview of the fantastic, perfect vacation and that
country's facilities and natural resources.
• SWOT Analysis is usually done for
businesses. Introduction is usually something
historical or innovative about the company.

17. An Outline of a SWOT Analysis
• Strengths
• List the strengths first
• Strengths are intrinsic or inherent to the country;
government has some control over it.
• Valuable resources, attractions, landmarks, historic
sites, etc.
• Friendly people
• Outdoor activities
• Has infrastructure like ports and airports to
accommodate tourists
• Favorable weather and climate

18. An Outline of a SWOT Analysis
• Weaknesses
• Weaknesses are internal to the country. The
country has control over its weaknesses
• The opposite of strengths

19. An Outline of a SWOT Analysis
• Opportunities
• External factors; country has little control over it
• Opportunities are the need for expansion
• Increased access to the country
– Larger airports
– Cheaper transportation costs
– Cruise ship ports
• Which countries to attract tourists from?
– Example - expand marketing to developing countries.
– As their wealth increases, these countries will have more tourists with money
• Market to particular age group, etc.
– Market to older, retired tourists
– Market to singles or families

20. An Outline of a SWOT Analysis
• Threats
• Threats are external, and country has little control over
them
• Which factors could prevent a country from realizing its
opportunities
• Competition from other countries or emerging new
tourist destinations
• Problems such as rising fuel costs, 2012 Recession,
terrorism, etc.
• Changes in culture, perception, etc.

21. An Outline of a SWOT Analysis
• Conclusion
• Summarize the main conclusions of the essay
• The conclusions must be supported by the analysis

22. SWOT Outline for Malaysian
Tourist Industry
For example:

23. Malaysian Tourist Industry
• Introduction
• Malaysia has large, clean modern cities
• Malaysia has lush tropical jungles filled with a
diverse range of plant, animal, and insect life.
• Malaysia has pristine white sand beaches and the
coasts are teaming with life and coral reefs
• Malaysia has towering mountains, where tourists
can pick strawberries or visit a tea plantation
• A Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities- Threat
(SWOT) Analysis for Malaysia

24. Malaysian Tourist Industry
• Strengths
• English is widely spoken
• The Malaysian government created Tourism Malaysia, as the
government’s promotion of tourism board
• The board has 34 overseas and 11 marketing offices
• Malaysia is the 9th tourist destination in the world (UNWTO 2011)
• Tourists spent $17.8 billion in 2010 (UNWTO 2011)
• Malaysia may have high Keynesian multiplier effect, because it has
the manufacturing industries to support the tourist industries
• 24.7 million tourists visited Malaysia in 2011 (UNWTO 2011)
• Tourism is second most important industry for foreign earnings
after manufacturing

25. Malaysian Tourist Industry
• Weaknesses
• Transportation - not enough direct flight to Malaysia from Europe.
• Most flight will need many transits and usually fly directly to Singapore
instead of KLIA.
• Tourists prefer Singapore as the transit.
• Not enough activities for the party loving foreigners.
• Malaysia is an Islamic country.
• Many foreigners have negative perception and misconception about Islam.
• So they go elsewhere for vacation, because they think is safer.
• In 2011, 13.3 million tourists were from Singapore (Tourism Malaysia 2011)
• Dependency ratio = 54.1%
• Malaysia relies on Singaporeans for tourists
• Many tourists complain about taxi drivers, who overcharge for their
services.

26. Malaysian Tourist Industry
• Opportunities
• China is growing at 10.4% in 2010 (World Bank 2012)
• The tourists from China were 1.3 million in 2011
(Tourism Malaysia 2011)
• Indonesia is Malaysia’s neighbor, and its economy is
growing fast
• 2.1 million tourists were from Indonesia (Tourism
Malaysia 2011)
• Ecotourism
• Quickly expanding segment of Malaysian tourism
• Parks, forests, and coastlines have a large biodiversity

27. Malaysian Tourist Industry
• Threats
• Intense competition from Hong Kong, China, Japan
• Malaysia is a developed country; manufacturing
industries continue to grow
• Malaysia is building more resorts, golf courses,
marinas, roads, and highways
• Could damage the ecosystems and natural habitats.

28. Malaysian Tourist Industry
• Conclusion (summarize and build on the most
important points in the paper)
• Malaysia is ranked ninth in the world for number of
tourist arrivals
• Malaysia can attract a variety of tourists, whether
the tourists want to visit modern cities or hike
through dense, pure jungles swarming with wildlife
• The tourist industry is a competitive industry
• Malaysia can develop a niche in sustainable tourism
by protecting its natural resources