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NewsBU helps celebrate 30 years of World Travel Market
To help celebrate 30 years of World Travel Market (WTM), Bournemouth University (BU) is organising its annual Tourism Futures Forum with the theme ‘Vision 3030’ at WTM event, ExCeL, London, on Thursday 12 November. BU is pleased to announce that this event will be opened and addressed by the Secretary General of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Dr Taleb Rafai. The Tourism Futures Forum brings together leading academics and professional tourism experts who will reflect on the past 30 years of tourism and provide an insight into the industry’s future. BU’s International Centre for Tourism & Hospitality Research has organised the annual forum in partnership with World Travel Market and Travel Daily News to facilitate debate and discussion about key strategic changes and the successful response of the industry. The Forum will examine major trends in tourism demand and supply and explore the strategic changes that lead to the international tourism industry restructuring. It will also identify new trends as well as opportunities and challenges. Forum Director Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, based within BU’s School of Services Management, said: “The current volatile market demonstrates the key challenges and opportunities emerging for both tourism destinations and suppliers around the world. “Tourism destinations and organisations need to learn from the history of tourism developments in the last 30 years and adapt to the realities, technologies and globalisation for the next 30 years. Clearly understanding the Economics of Tourism and ensuring the sustainability of resources will be two key challenges for the future.” To stimulate discussion, the event will involve two cutting-edge research-based presentations delivered by BU’s Professor John Fletcher and Dr Jonathan Edwards. The discussion will be directed by Dr Keith Wilkes Dean of BU’s School of Services Management. Confirmed panellists include: All participants will be encouraged to contribute to the debate and discussion. Staged annually in London, World Travel Market is a vibrant must attend four day business to business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and International travel professionals. The event is free of charge but entry to the World Travel Market should be arranged in advanced. Delegates are advised to arrive early as there is limited capacity. When: Thursday 12November 2009, 2 -3:30pm Pan-European project improves tourism e-services
Tourists are set to benefit from improved online services thanks to the successful completion of a European-wide project led by BU. The International Centre for Tourism & Hospitality Research (ICTHR), based within BU’s School of Services Management, has successfully completed iSeT, a project co-funded by the European Commission to support the continent’s tourism industry by improving online services. Led by renowned e-tourism expert Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, the
project involved the testing of an online tool designed to support Small
and Medium Hospitality Organisations (SMHO) by providing telecommunication
services identified as:
The tool also provides an easy to use management system for employees that permits the administration of the all the above activities, and a portal for hotel owners dedicated to clustering and networking activities of local tourism organisations. Following tests in Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain, insights and data from the project have been used to develop a Deployment Strategy and Business Plan to position the i-SeT tool-set in the European market. Professor Dimitrios Buhalis explains: “Small hotels around the world are realising the power of the internet for their promotion and sales but also for the satisfaction of their clientele. “This European project enabled us to do research with both small and medium tourism enterprises, tourism boards and other stakeholders and develop a powerful technological solution to support their operations, networking with other organisations and increase customer satisfaction.” He added: “We look forward to take the results forward in other regions and to support small business around the world to take advantage of the internet revolution.” iSeT is one of the eTEN projects run by the European Community Programme, designed to expand the availability and use of telecommunication networks (e-services) in the European Market.Related Links: |
   
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