From 2-4 December 2002, a Think Tank on Tourism Destination Management: Building Competitiveness through Education, Training and Research will be held at WTO Headquarters. …
From 2-4 December 2002, a Think Tank on Tourism Destination Management: Building Competitiveness through Education, Training and Research will be held at WTO Headquarters. The purpose of the Think Tank is to establish coordination with destinations within the WTO.HRD Sbest Initiative for excellence through quality service using education and training.
Some 30 destinations worldwide forming part of the WTO Destination Management Task Force have been invited to attend. In agreement with the WTO.Destination Management Task Force, they will serve as pilot cases in the search for excellence worldwide in this area. Members of the WTO Education Council will also participate in the Think Tank with the aim of establishing direct contact and close collaboration between destinations and knowledge specialists, in setting new paths for action in Tourism Destination Management.
The discussions during the Think Tank will focus on:
- reviewing the state-of-the art in Tourism Destination Management;
- critically analysing the real needs of destinations in planning and managing for success: strategic positioning, competitiveness and sustainability, and
- establishing a platform for action using the WTO.Sbest Initiative. The WTO.Sbest Initiative is a framework concept encompassing concrete programmes and avenues for action sharing the common goal of contributing to Tourism Destination competitiveness and success through excellence in service. This is achieved through actions combining the analysis of needs and quality gaps with training (and education) activities of high value added characteristics. WTO undertakes to promote all successful experiences achieved within this initiative.
It’s expected that the delegation from each destination could comprise one representative from the public sector, one from the private sector and one from an education institution, but this is open to discussion in each case.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.