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Knowledge Networking, Training and Education
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The development of human potential through networking, education and training is the primary mechanism to implement sustainable tourism development. The implementation of sustainable tourism requires a knowledgeable, skilled and professional workforce which can adapt and innovate.
Your Role
Training and Education is composed of formal, non-formal and informal learning experiences, which now need to occur throughout one’s entire lifetime, hence the term ‘Life-Long Learning’. At the global level, UN-WTO and UNEP have developed a wide range of education and training resources that can be used to build stakeholder capacity for sustainable tourism development, These handbooks tend to reflect the best of national level good practice. However, many national level organisations produce excellent education and training materials as well (see resources section).
Organizations leading the sustainable tourism implementation process need to encourage, promote and support networking, training and education for the tourism industry to enable all stakeholders to act responsibly.
The concept of a ‘knowledge economy’ has been pioneered by the EU, who are developing ICT, research, and educational structures to gain a competitive advantage for European businesses. National and regional governments need to ensure sustainability is a key part of their communications, training and educational development policies, fostered by networking and backed by resources that match demand.
In order to improve training and education systems in a knowledge economy there is often a need to establish networks or partnerships to implement specific projects. Many single issue NGOs can offer dedicated training and education in such collaborative efforts.
Education and training professionals can support sustainable tourism in a number of ways e.g. through content of courses and learning materials (on and off line), developing topic learning areas and regional learning offers, managing projects, hosting forums, organize conferences, workshops, and publishing and disseminating articles.
Destination management organisations can set up destination learning areas to improve networking, training and educational offers in the destination.
SME and Micro enterprises need networking, training and education processes to improve competitiveness and sustainability. As recipients of training and education, businesses need concise and commercially relevant learning experiences. They should also seek to build sustainability education into their in-house training systems.
Social networking has risen to the top of the travel agenda as consumers look beyond conventional advertising methods to gain first hand experiences from other travellers. Informal education through the media can be used to promote the sustainable travel message to consumers.
Our Support
On this topic, DestiNet provides the Tourism Knowledge & Innovation Communities approach. You can find your role in wider knowledge networking processes here, and develop a profile of your own knowledge & innovation community following the information structure below if you wish.
NB As a knowledge networking system itself, the DestiNet Portal has been designed as a tool to set up Tourism Knowledge & Innovation Communities (Tourism KICs) KICs address the subject of knowledge networking, training and education with a focus on developing SME and workforce potential. If you wish to set up a multi-stakeholder process using DestiNet for your region, country or network, then follow the steps to set up Tourism Knowledge and Innovation Communities.
Who is who brings you to stakeholders who are working for making tourism more sustainable. You can filter them on the DestiNet Atlas for your topic of interest, keywords, type of organisation, country, operational level and landscape type. You can display an organisation on the global DestiNet Atlas and ask for editing rights if your organisation should already be listed. Examples:
- European Ecotourism Network
- Tour operators Initiative for Sustainable tourism Development (TOI)
- United Nations World Tourism Organisation - Business Council
Resources include publications and tools who can help you in making tourism more sustainable. You can filter them for your topic of interest, keywords, landscape type, country - or target group. You can disseminate your sustainable tourism publications or tools and ask for editing rights if they should already be listed. Examples:
The Observatory section leads to organisations, initiatives and tools for observing, monitoring and reporting the sustainable development of your business or destination.
Under each Topic you can join or start an own user group for exchange and networking e.g. with the members of your organisation, your network or project group. For further information please contact the topic folder administration.
DESTINET ATLAS
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ECOTRANS gives insight to 50 leading labels worldwide
[posted on: 26/05/2013] -
German Award for Sustainable Tourism Regions goes to Uckermarck
[posted on: 18/05/2013]
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Ecolnet News 3: Networking Ecotourism in Europe
[posted on: 09/05/2013]
