This study was concerned with developing a strategy for the Ethiopian Tourism Industry. The literature review attempted to show the significance of tourism to any country, and more appropriately to developing countries. Field research was conducted in Ethiopia to obtain secondary data applicable to the study and to conduct interviews with various officials. Survey questionnaires were administered in Ethiopia, in Sub Saharan African countries and in Australia to elicit perceptions of Ethiopia as a tourist destination. The study contributes in various ways. First, it is the first of its kind to thoroughly investigate Ethiopia's tourism development process. Second, it has looked into the concept of tourism from many angles - strategic, marketing, promotional, infrastructure, environmental, etc. Finally, the strategic models developed for the Ethiopian Tourism industry by incorporating a strategic planning process at various levels can also be used by other less developed countries in their efforts to develop tourism.

Tourism industry in Sri Lanka shares a substantial amount of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and predicts an immense expansion within a short time frame. Owing to its energy intensiveness and competitiveness, a scrutiny in the energy utilization and the related impact on the environment is crucial. Furthermore, trend towards ecotourism forces the requirement of foreseeing a green energy supply to meet the ever rising demand.   In this study, utilization of energy in the graded hotels in the country was modeled through LEAP (Long Range Energy Alternatives Planning System) software to predict the future energy demand. Monthly energy consumption data for three consecutive years for a sample of hotels covering classified and unclassified hotel establishments were used for modeling. Four scenarios were then analyzed based on the baseline scenario representing the country’s tourism industry profile of year 2010.  It is shown that the energy intensiveness of the tourism industry will be overwhelming unless the DSM (Demand Side Management) tools are properly amalgamated for mitigation. Further the results of the study revealed that the existing electricity generation plan does not accommodate fuel diversification and energy mix, and needs revisions to induct renewable sources for greening energy supply of the country. The study provides an insight in identifying socially acceptable policy scenarios in energy supply and use of the tourism industry.

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No description available.

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.

It is expected that tourism industry is one of the fields that can boost female employment and therefore, can help redress the balance and empower women in Iran. Equal opportunities in employment assist them for empowerment. Being a tour guide is one of these opportunities, although most jobs are created elsewhere, e.g. hotels and restaurants. But for this thesis, tour guides are important from two aspects: first, it is a challenging condition that you find out what you are capable of and second; it is not an extension of traditional domestic roles, and it is a new role for women in a male-dominated job market.This study aims to investigate how female tour guides perceive their roles in the tourism industry and the elements of these perceptions among their family, colleagues, and tourists who could serve empowering or disempowering.

A critical understanding of stakeholders' involvement in destination tourism planning and development, and the factors that influence their perceptions, opinions and involvement in the decision-making process and evaluation of the destination competitive strategies, is not only important for tourism destination planners and managers, but also for the host community's support for tourism development and the destination's competitiveness. It has been widely recognised that tourism destinations need to plan their development strategies to succeed internationally and gain a sustainable competitive advantage. However, there is scant empirical evidence that addresses approaches in which stakeholder participation in the planning process contributes to destination competitiveness. This study examines the interrelationships between various destination-specific situational factors, including economic, social, political, environmental, and cultural factors, community participation, community attachment, and impact on the development of the Sultanate of Oman's tourism resources and attractions, and in turn the support of its competitive strategies. Furthermore, it investigates potential effects of those interrelationships on the government's initiatives in formulating and implementing tourism development, management and marketing policies/strategies. The key objective is to develop and empirically test a conceptual framework of tourism destination competitiveness that focuses on a stakeholder's perspective of Oman, and investigates the interrelationships between its constructs. Such an approach echoes the stakeholder perspective of 'Third Way' tourism planning suggested by Burns (2004). This study utilises social exchange and stakeholder theory. Accordingly, the research problem is: How does the interrelationship between destination-specific situational factors, stakeholders' perceived power (community participation), and community attachment, impact on the development of Oman's tourism resources and attractions, and in turn the support of its competitive strategies? Furthermore, what effects may those interrelationships have on the government's approaches in formulating and implementing tourism development and marketing policies? A four-step methodological approach including qualitative and quantitative methods was applied. Following research refinement and pilot studies, a total of 987 usable questionnaires were collected from Omani stakeholders using a convenience and quota sampling method. The final empirical results were submitted to three focus groups in Oman for elucidation and confirmation of results, with a particular focus on the practical implications. The hypotheses testing indicated that tourism stakeholders' preferences about tourism resources and attractions development are a function of socio-cultural impacts, economic impacts, and community participation. Furthermore, the results highlighted a strong link between stakeholders' preferences about tourism resources and attractions and support for competitive destination strategies such as destination marketing efforts and activities, and sustainable destination management and practices. Additionally, empirical results supported the existence of a relationship between community participation and community attachment constructs; however this relationship was somewhat negative. The study also did not prove the existence of any relationship between community attachment and preferences about tourism resources and attractions development constructs. Furthermore, new findings that were not hypothesised indicated that tourism stakeholders who perceived socio-cultural and economic impacts were most likely to support further tourism development and competitive destination strategies. Additionally, stakeholders' attachment to their communities had a weak but positive effect on their perception about tourism's environmental impacts and sustainable destination management and practices. The focus group participants mostly confirmed the study's empirical findings with a few diverging opinions regarding some issues such as environmental impacts and mass tourism versus alternative tourism policies. Thus, the study's findings provided various theoretical and methodological contributions, closing the gap in the notions of destination competitiveness and stakeholders' active participation in tourism planning and development. As well, the practical implications of the study's findings could be adopted by Oman's tourism planning authorities to enhance the destination's competitiveness in the international tourism marketplace. This study is considered a personal effort. Thus, I used the first person 'I' throughout the study to express and reflect my personal work. The use of 'I' in research is not an unacceptable notion, however, it is recommended that the researcher not take cover behind using 'we' or the 'researcher' in his/her work (Gummesson, 2000, p.xi).

This thesis explored careers within Australian tourism with the aim of developing a model of influences on career development in the tourism industry. As tourism is still an emerging profession, careers have yet to be clearly defined and career paths are not easily identifiable. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that the industry is prone to high turnover, low retention rates, is often viewed as a low skilled industry and has difficulty attracting employees with a view to serious career development. While some research into careers into hotel management is available, in depth career studies in the tourism industry have yet to emerge. This thesis addresses this gap in the literature and provides industry stakeholders with information to assist in human resource management and policy development. The researcher drew finding from an electronic survey that was designed from information collected from an exploratory study conducted by the researcher, from literature available on both career development and research on the tourism industry, and from earlier research projects. This electronic survey was designed to collect primarily qualitative data and was disseminated to the Australian tourism industry. Results from this study suggest that careers in the tourism industry are influenced by a variety of mentoring relationships. Both formal education and on-the-job training was found to be increasingly important for those wanting to advance in the industry and remaining mobile between jobs, between organisations, within industries and geographically was advantageous. A motivation to work in tourism and a "passion" for the industry was found to be a strong influence on career development in the current study. This study should add to our understanding of careers in Australian tourism and, more specifically to our understanding of the role of formal education and on-the-job training in career development and the perceived value of such training. The current study reinforces previous knowledge of high levels of mobility within the tourism industry and suggests the need to change job, organisation, industry or geographical location is influential on career development in Australian tourism. In addition, the results suggest that although structured mentorship programs are currently unavailable to many in the tourism industry, mentorship in the form of informal and networking relationships assists career development. While this thesis has contributed to our understanding of career development in the tourism industry, because of inevitable limitations with the sample obtain for this study, it would be useful to replicate this survey with other sectors of the tourism, to explore influences on careers in tourism in other countries, to investigate gender issues in the industry and to further explore the influences of education, mobility and mentorship.

<p>Background</p><p>Promotional techniques are used to make prospective customers aware of products, to</p><p>whet their appetites, and stimulate demand; they also provide information to help</p><p>customers decide. In the promotional process the selection and the use of the tools is</p><p>crucial. Nowadays the tourism industry is extremely challenging. Tourism has evolved</p><p>during the latter half of the 20th century from a marginal and locally significant activity to</p><p>a widely dispersed economic giant. Many aspects of tourism promotion have been</p><p>developed these last years to attract new customers.</p><p>Purpose</p><p>The purpose of this study is to outline and analyse the use and the construction of three</p><p>promotional tools (advertising, Public Relations, printed materials), and find out their goals. These three promotional tools are represented by TV commercials, press releases and brochure.</p><p>Method</p><p>This study was conducted using the case study method. It is based on primary data. These data are coming from a questionnaire, from the internet and from one printed material. The applied theoretical frames of references are about the use and goals of the three promotional tools and also about models for the analysis of the construction of the latter.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>By answering the research questions this thesis presents first the comparison results</p><p>between the frames and the data concerning the use of the three promotional tools. Then</p><p>the main aspects of the construction of the tools are showed. And finally their goals</p><p>coming from the frames and the data are presented and compared.</p>

Background Promotional techniques are used to make prospective customers aware of products, to whet their appetites, and stimulate demand; they also provide information to help customers decide. In the promotional process the selection and the use of the tools is crucial. Nowadays the tourism industry is extremely challenging. Tourism has evolved during the latter half of the 20th century from a marginal and locally significant activity to a widely dispersed economic giant. Many aspects of tourism promotion have been developed these last years to attract new customers. Purpose The purpose of this study is to outline and analyse the use and the construction of three promotional tools (advertising, Public Relations, printed materials), and find out their goals. These three promotional tools are represented by TV commercials, press releases and brochure. Method This study was conducted using the case study method. It is based on primary data. These data are coming from a questionnaire, from the internet and from one printed material. The applied theoretical frames of references are about the use and goals of the three promotional tools and also about models for the analysis of the construction of the latter. Conclusion By answering the research questions this thesis presents first the comparison results between the frames and the data concerning the use of the three promotional tools. Then the main aspects of the construction of the tools are showed. And finally their goals coming from the frames and the data are presented and compared.