Smart destination. A buzzword used to describe the digitalisation of tourist destinations. Specifically, it deals with the connection of digital and real worlds of experience and infrastructure elements. But, what exactly is behind it and where can these “smart” destinations already be found today?READ MORE
In this blog, NTG partner TU Dublin explores the sustainability efforts at Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland. Ruth Craggs, School of Hospitality Management and Tourism, TU Dublin, talked to Míde Ní Shúilleabháin, Sustainability and Systems Officer at Croke Park, about sustainability goals and green initiatives at this Irish stadium.
At the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century, the GDSs (Global Distribution Systems), Internet, social media, websites and mobile applications, made the world smaller and changed the rules of the business and competition among travel, tourism and hospitality companies. Now the tourism industry is facing a new revolution, one more powerful, transformative and with longer-term implications than the previous changes. Tourism is entering the robotics era. Stanislav Ivanov from NTG key partner Varna University of Management, wrote an interesting blog on this matter.READ MORE
A common trend with regards to holiday behavior in some NTG partner countries such as Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland and The Netherlands is that people prefer to travel abroad to spend their free time, instead of spending time in their home countries.READ MORE
Digital self-learning skills are very important in different tourism sub-sectors and go hand in hand with the different skill sets that the Next Tourism Generation (NTG) Alliance focuses on. Based on the NTG interview research outcomes, self-learning is ‘a must’ when it comes to being employed in the tourism industry. READ MORE
Cardiff Met is the Wales partner in the Next Tourism Generation (NTG) Alliance that aims to increase collaboration between industry and education to prioritise digital and sustainability skills gaps as well as enhance the image of careers in tourism and hospitality. The identification of best practice that can be replicated in Wales and further afield is paramount and the launch of a ground-breaking online tourism resource for primary schools ticks all the boxes. ‘Discover Tourism’ was developed through multi-stakeholder collaboration and promotes tourism skills, quality career prospects and sustainability on the island of Anglesey. To learn more about this exciting initiative, Louise Dixey from Cardiff Met interviewed Ffion Jones, a Senior Researcher at the North Wales Regional Skills Partnership.READ MORE
On October 9, the Next Tourism Generation Alliance partner, Cardiff Met, attended a Visit Wales Roadshow to learn of the new tourism strategy 2020-2025. The roadshow for the South-East region of Wales was held at Miskin Manor which has Green Key accreditation. READ MORE
What are the real needs of the tourism industry in Italy, in terms of digital skills as well as green and social skills to promote sustainability? What are the key initiatives and investments that support skills innovation? Which European funds are available for this industry? The first tourism skills forum took stock of the situation and was launched by NTG Alliance key partners Federturismo Confindustria and UnionCamere during a meeting held on 6 June at Unioncamere, the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture.READ MORE
Providing outstanding customer service is a sure way of building brand loyalty and repeat custom. Seven out of 10 people will spend more money to do business with a company that provides great customer service and its importance is set to increase. The forecast for 2030 suggests a more personalised service with human interaction will be the key to repeat business, also shown in the Next Tourism Generation research outcomes. Moreover, with customer acquisition costing up to 25 times more than retention, businesses must embrace this strengthening direction and focus more on their employees and their interaction with the customer.
Breda University of Applied Sciences, one of the key partners in the Next Tourism Generation (NTG) Alliance, organized a World Travel Café Session on digital, green and social skills with Dutch tour operators and travel agencies during a Travel Challenge Conference for students in Turkey. The theme discussed during this meeting between educational institutions and tourism businesses is the focus of the NTG project: the digital, green and social skills needed in the future for sustainable tourism development. In other words, what will the future of digital, green and social skills look like within various organizational structures and at different job levels? This blog highlights the key insights from the discussion focusing on digital skills.READ MORE