Estimates of the economic impact generated by tourism events can vary greatly depending on the methodologies used to conduct an analysis. This professional report will attempt to establish a standardized methodology for estimating the economic impact created by demand shocks to the economy resulting from event generated tourism visitation and spending with the final deliverable being a state-level input-output model for Texas. A review of state-level input-output models created for Michigan and Georgia in addition to a hypothetical scenario based on the 1996 Atlanta Olympics will illustrate the importance of assumptions in input-output analysis and lead to a discussion regarding some elements of hosting an event and increasing tourism that cannot be captured through this method. The report concludes by briefly examining considerations that should be made before applying the Texas model, the potential for future improvements, and finally the viability of recruiting events as an economic development strategy. / text

The purpose of this study was to explore how a potential model of a tourism industry cluster could be developed in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). To undertake this task an extensive literature review of cluster-based economic strategies was done. This was followed by a synopsis of the tourism industry from a global and South African perspective in order to determine issues of competitiveness and their impact on provincial dynamics. The study employed a qualitative research design and focused on the tourism industry in KwaZulu-Natal as a case study. Major stakeholders in the industry were interviewed. The main findings of the study are that KZN has the necessary preconditions for existence of a potential tourism cluster, and these conditions make it ripe for the cluster to be activated and developed. Activating and developing a cluster would bring home major benefits. The study highlighted various tools and mechanisms which could be used to analyse the province’s cluster map, and a model cluster map is also suggested based on contributions from different respondents. Using Porter’s Diamond Model, the competitiveness of the KZN tourism industry was assessed. Overall, it has been found that the province’s tourism industry possesses a mixture of resources and capabilities, which could be capitalised upon to developing the industry in future. However, glaring weaknesses are also exposed, which need to be dealt with urgently. In particular, crime and grime, together with the lack of tourism infrastructure to attract the high-end of the market, are seen as huge liability for the industry. A major contribution of this study is in identifying strategic management challenges that cluster studies have not addressed previously. The study also highlighted important critical success factors for cluster development and the drivers for change. The presence of some of these factors contributes to making the future prospect of the tourism industry in KZN to look bright. The study concludes by recommending that a tourism cluster be activated and developed in KZN and this process be led by an Independent Cluster Facilitator, who must be appointed by the Member of the Executive Committee responsible for Finance and Economic Development in the province in consultation with industry leaders.

Le Maroc et la France, assurément deux destinations par excellence. Ledit secteur dans les deux pays figure parmi ceux générant une importante activité économique et un des plus grands pourvoyeurs d’emplois au Maroc comme en France. L’importante proportion des recettes engendrées par l’industrie touristique dans la balance des paiements des deux pays hissa celle-ci à un rang de haute priorité. Dans cette logique, maintes restructurations du système touristique marocain et son homologue français ont vu le jour depuis quelques années en vue d’augmenter les flux entrants ainsi que les recettes. À l’ère du numérique, l’industrie touristique apparaît comme l’un des secteurs ayant immensément bénéficié de la révolution technologique. En effet, les activités touristiques et les TIC fonctionnent en une parfaite symbiose vu la nature des produits touristiques (biens d’expérience), qui sont manifestement adaptables à l’usage des TIC. De cette combinaison particulière fut enfanté l’E-tourisme. Sans conteste, les TIC et l’internet matérialisent une parfaite combinaison pour la promotion des destinations touristiques compte tenu de leur énorme capacité à atteindre des clients prospects en permettant aux destinations d’augmenter leur visibilité externe. La combinaison fonctionnelle TIC/Internet se révèle une solution incontournable de promotion des destinations, d’autant plus que telle combinaison est présentement inévitable pour se mettre au diapason des exigences techniques et tendances évolutives du marché touristique mondial. Au demeurant, la symbiotique association du couple TIC/internet avec les activités touristiques se révèle un facteur inégalable de promotion des destinations, dès lors que l’apport des TIC dans l’industrie s’avère particulièrement appréciée par la communauté touristique. De surcroît, le recours aux TIC est inéluctable pour une industrie touristique viable et performante ; voire les TIC comme une condition de survie, notamment pour les destinations émergentes (cas de la destination Maroc), et que l’inexistence ou l’obsolescence des TIC pourraient sérieusement hypothéquer la prospérité de cette industrie. / Morocco and France, certainly two top-class destinations. The tourism sector in both countries is one of the sectors generating the highest economic activity and one of the most significant employers in Morocco and France alike. The large proportion of income from the tourism industry in the balance of payments of the two countries raises this to a high-priority ranking. In this sense, many reorganisations of the Moroccan tourism system and that of its French counterpart have come to light over the past few years with a view to increasing incoming flows and revenues. In the digital age, the tourism industry appears to be one of the sectors to have benefitted considerably from the technological revolution. In fact, tourism activities and ICTs work in perfect harmony with regard to the nature of tourism products (experience products), which are clearly suited to the use of ICTs. From this special combination, e-tourism was born. Undeniably, ICTs and the internet demonstrate the perfect combination for the promotion of tourist destinations, given their enormous capacity to reach potential customers, enabling the destinations to increase their external visibility. The operational ICTs /internet combination has emerged as an essential solution for the promotion of destinations, particularly since such a combination is now inevitable to keep up with technical requirements and developing trends in the worldwide tourism market. Indeed, the symbiotic relationship of ICTs with tourism activities is emerging as an unrivalled factor in the promotion of destinations, and the contribution of ICTs to the industry appears to be particularly appreciated by the tourist community. Furthermore, the use of ICTs is inevitable for a viable and high-performing tourism industry; ICTs can be considered to be a condition for survival, particularly for emerging destinations (as is the case for Morocco) and that the lack of, or obsolescence of ICTs may seriously jeopardise the prosperity of this industry.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Recreation and Tourism in the Centre for Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2005. / There has not been a good understanding between the complex nature of the environment and tourism couple with the single degree of administrative fragmentation. Environmental conservation has been perceived as a threat to social and economic development, a threat that has only recently subsided as a result of effort towards the classification of sustainable development. It therefore, goes without saying that without due regard to the appropriate development guideline, the integrity of public and private lands within communities has often been at risk owing to the sacrificing of socio-ecological values at the expense of profit. National parks will be useful, not only as preserves for indigenous plants and animals, but also as recreation grounds for the people. It is well to consider how comparatively few and small are the areas of this description which will be permanently available for the residents of Adelaide Plains .. .there must come at a time when these plains will be thickly populated from hills to sea, and then, if not now, the need for more breathing space will be recognized. The Mt Lofty range is gradually passing more and more into private hands, and before many years have elapsed it will be difficult to find a place where one may enjoy the beauties of nature without fear of trespassing (Nancel986, in Butler and Boyd 2000). The image of national paries and their acceptability appears to be generally high in this era, with a few exceptions where local populations have been or feel disadvantaged by the establishment of parks. That is why the study was interested in establishing the perceptions of the local communities towards the Balele game park, within which a town lies. The fundamental objectives of the study are: a) To establish the perceptions of the communities towards the game park, within which a town lies. b) To determine the level of awareness and participation of local communities of and in Balele Game Park. c) To assess how the host community benefit from Balele Game Park. d) To investigate the number of local, domestic and international tourists who visit Balele Game Park. e) To discover the types of natural resources and cultural resources which are found within a Balele Game Park. These objectives were formulated in order to find out the potential the Utrecht Balele game park has to tourism and the perspectives and perceptions the local communities have towards it. In achieving properly focused analysis and interpretation of data, which could lead to effective conclusions, some hypotheses were devised. The hypothesis that were postulated for the study are: a) That the communities see the parkas the business industry for whites b) That there is a low level of awareness and participation of local communities in tourism activities in the game park c) That the local communities are not benefiting from Balele Game Park. d) That the Balele Game Park attracts a bigger number of domestic and international tourists than local tourists. e) That there is a lack of natural and cultural resources to meet the needs of the tourists The most findings of the study are that (i) the game park is seen as the business industry for whites; (ii) there is a high level of awareness and low level of participation by local communities of and in tourism activities; (iii) the communities are not benefiting from tourism activities of the game park, since they are not fully involved; (iv) the Utrecht Balele game park attracts most of its tourists from local area as against domestic and international tourists; and (v) there are natural and cultural resources and facilities in the park, but they are not meeting the needs of the tourists. Tourism is considered as one of the significant ways to enhance positive relationship between parks and local people. There are several studies indicating that programmes based on revenue generated by or through park-based tourism have had positive impacts on local communities, which not only offer employment opportunities but also develop in them positive feelings towards protected areas.

A dissertation of limited scope submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial of the requirements for course-work Master of Arts degree in the Centre for Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 1999. / The investigation has sought to establish if the people already involved in the tourism industry have undergone any training. If not in which areas do they feel they need training. These areas or aspects in which they fed they need to be trained in, constitute Tourism Training Needs. The investigation has also sought to establish the focus of Tourism Training Programmes in the two institutions, Damelin and Manpower Services Commission Private Colleges, found in the Newcastle Local Council Areas. It has further purported to establish whether these Tourism Training Programmes adequately equip students with all the skills and expertise valuable to the tourism industry job market. A descriptive survey has been chosen for use in this investigation. Data has been gathered through the use of questionnaires and interview schedules. Two sets of questionnaires with structured questions have been designed for the Frontline Staff and Tourism Students. Three sets of interview schedules have been designed containing semi-structured questions by which the interviewer has probed the interviewees. Tourism establishments and facilities from which respondents have been drawn have been selected on the basis that they have been within a ten kilometre radius from the Newcastle Central Business District (CBD) and have been accommodating five tourists and more. This investigation has established that the majority of the Frontline already in the industry are lacking in training and as such they have recommended the establishment of Department of Education and Training for Tourism, Tourism Training Needs have been found to exist and amongst others are communication skills, conflict resolution skills, hospitality skills, hygiene skills, public relations skills and serving skills. The investigation has further established that training (of whichever form/kind) so long as it is related to tourism, has great impact on the Marketing and Service Quality of the tourism establishment and facilities. Management has been found to have been trained in Non-Tourism management and consequently they feel they need contextualized management training, that is, Tourism Training Management. The researcher has discovered that Tourism Training Programmes of the two institutions (Damelin and MSC College) focus on Travel Tourism and train students to be employees in the Travel Agencies and Tour Operation Companies.

Student Number : 8500056 - MA research report - School of Arts - Faculty of Humanities / Internationally, certification is playing an increasing role in regulating and monitoring tourism enterprises, and promoting responsible and sustainable tourism development. Certification in the South African tourism industry is relatively new, with schemes being developed to measure product quality (i.e. the Tourism Grading Council star ratings), as well as the environmental (Heritage Environmental Rating Programme) and social and developmental aspects of tourism development (Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa). Significant international literature and debate exists on the role and importance of tourism certification. Benefits of certification accrue to enterprises themselves, to government, to the local environment and community and to consumers. Critics of certification however argue that there is limited market demand for certified products, and that certification only has a marginal impact on sustainable tourism development. This report examines the role of certification in the South African tourism industry, utilising one certification scheme, namely Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) as a case study. FTTSA is positioned within the context of other key tourism initiatives being pursued by government, the private sector and civil society. The contribution of FTTSA to both the attainment of national tourism objectives as well as individual corporate objectives is discussed. Finally, key challenges facing FTTSA are presented.

The visiting friends and relatives segment has not been given much study, because the segment has been perceived as small and with no positive economic impact on destinations. This is because of the belief that VFR travelers sleep and eat at their friends’ and relatives’ houses. Lately, the definition of VFR travelers has been changing due to more studies in the area. The results of these studies have shown that the size of the segment has been underestimated, as has the economic impact the segment has on a destination. This thesis is a complement to Bischoff and Koenig-Lewis study ”VFR Tourism: the Importance of University Students as Hosts”. The purpose of this thesis is to examine how students at Umeå university affect the tourism industry in Umeå. The thesis aims to study the frequency of visits made by the students’ friends and relatives, seasonal distribution of the visits, visitor motives, and economic factors linked to these visits. The study is based on a questionnaire survey with closed-ended questions. The study was conducted through descriptive statistical analysis of the questionnaire. Results of the study indicates that the main reason for friends and relatives to visit students in Umeå is to be with the student in question. Most of the VFR travelers stay at their host’s place, with only a few percent using commercial accommodation. Instead VFR travelers have more economic impact on restaurants, shopping and nightlife.

Background: The tourism industry and especially those that market destinations, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), face challenges to meet generation Y, with an uncertainty of how to do it. DMOs need to be adaptable to an everyday changing market in order to attract visitors to their destinations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how destination marketing organizations can market their destinations to reach domestic tourists within the population of generation Y. Method: A literature review was made in order to explore previous research regarding DMOs’ marketing strategies and tourists’ information search behavior. The literature review has been used in order to make hypotheses and a research model which lay the foundation for the design of a survey to test the hypotheses. An interview guide, based on the literature review, was made to address potential tourists and get deepen understanding of the field. Contrast and compare have been made between potential tourists’ opinions and the theoretical part, in order to draw conclusions on the subject. Results and conclusions: Results of this study have shown that for the chosen population, generation Y, are search engines and DMOs’ websites seen as the best way to reach tourists. DMOs have high possibilities to be seen on the web (their website and social media sites) if they actively use search engine optimization. Social media sites are also important, but in a different way, and DMOs need to work harder and cleverer on these sites to market their destinations.

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the appropriateness of B2B technology transfer in developing countries, particularly in Thailand. This study seeks an understanding of how Thai culture affects the appropriateness of B2B technology adoption for inter-firm communication in Thailand. A research model was developed for investigating this issue via a strategic fit lens. The proposed model extended the Task-technology fit (TTF) model by Goodhue and Thompson (1995) by integrating interorganisational theories and theories of national culture. This research takes the view that, to achieve a high utilisation of B2B technology adoption, firms in developing countries need to adopt effective IT strategies that align with their local environment. Hence, this research proposes that cultural fit is a major influence on the perception of appropriateness of B2B technology adoption in Thailand. The study was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The first study, the qualitative study, was conducted as a preliminary study by interviewing officials in the Thai government and companies in the tourism industry. The objectives were to explore and identify the cultural dimensions that impact on the appropriateness of B2B technology adoption in Thailand. The resulting dimensionalities of cultural fit are: personal relationships; long-term relationships; interorganisational trust; ability to communicate in the English language and materialism. The second study was conducted via a quantitative approach and scales were developed to validate the proposed research model. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire, and analysed by using Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (PLS) method. This study found that cultural fit does influence the appropriateness of B2B technology adoption in Thailand. A better perceived fit between Thai culture and B2B technology results in higher technology utilisation. In addition, the results of moderating effect analysis found that, although task-technology fit had no direct impact on utilisation, task-technology fit did have indirect impact on utilisation by moderating the impact of culture. Nevertheless, the results indicated that task-technology fit still had a greater impact on firms' perceived performance than utilisation.

Despite the rapid growth in the provision of tourism higher education in the past 40 years, uncertainties remain about the content and nature of tourism degrees and how these are aligned with the needs of the tourism industry. Some research has been done on tourism higher education curriculum design, but the extent to which tourism higher education meets industry needs has not yet been closely investigated. This study aims to ascertain whether a gap exists between what education institutions provide in their undergraduate curricula in the way of tourism knowledge and skills sets, and what knowledge and skills sets are required by the tourism industry. A conceptual framework was developed to outline the research process, which involved two steps. First, content analysis of tourism curricula was conducted as the preliminary research. A list of 34 subject areas was synthesised from all core subjects offered in tourism courses in a sample of Australian universities according to subjects? titles, themes and detailed descriptions. A list of 27 skills and abilities was identified by collating university generic skills and tourism discipline attributes from these institutions. Based on the study of tourism curricula, two web-based surveys were then designed and distributed in order to investigate the respective perceptions of industry professionals and academic providers on the subjects and skills sets necessary for tourism employment. In analysing the data, perceptions about the subjects and skills sets were compared between tourism industry professionals and academic providers. Importance- performance analysis, gap analysis, and SPSS statistical tools were applied to analyse this data. The study found considerable variance between the views of industry professionals and academic providers in Australia. Their views vary firstly on the relative value of tertiary degrees for tourism professionals; secondly, on the relative merits of skills and abilities needed to work in the tourism sector; and thirdly, on the relative merits of various subjects taught at university. These findings establish the existence of a gap between the existing tourism curriculum at university level, and the needs of the tourism industry. The findings of this study also provide evidence to suggest that tourism higher education provision should not be isolated from real practice and that those involved in curriculum design should work closely with industry representatives to ensure a strong connection between theory and practice, thus improving the likelihood that graduates of tourism higher education courses will graduate with knowledge and skills sets which are closely aligned with the needs and expectations of the tourism industry