Evaluation, Synthesis and Formulation of Proposals for the Use of ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

«Evaluation, Synthesis and Formulation of Proposals for the Use of ICTin the Tourism Sector»existence of 43 educational curricula (24 in public education institutes and public bodies of touristvocational training) shows a variety of choices. On the other hand, at the level of tertiary education,the existing graduate programs do not cover adequately the moderns trends in tourism with the useof ICT. The relevant courses are part of a more general orientation not focused on tourism (anexample is the course on ICT in tourism, in the Ionian University, Department of Informatics). Ingeneral, the Technological Education Institutes are the only public education bodies offering graduatecourses strictly relevant to tourism 33 . However, these studies (as is also the case in the Organisationof Tourism Education and Training courses) give emphasis mainly in the Management of TouristBusinesses, therefore the international developments in e.g. e-business and e-tourism subjects arenot part of the syllabus. An exception is found at the postgraduate level, at the University of Aegeanwhich offers a postgraduate course in the Design, Management and Policy in Tourism, which includesthree courses relevant to the application of ICT in tourism. The Technological Education Institutesoffer postgraduate courses in various fields, but not in tourism. All these issues are being investigatedby the tourist education and training forum in the Ministry of Tourism Development, in collaborationwith the National Tourism Council and other bodies in the tourism sector.The tourist market’s increased needs for employees with ICT knowledge have been clearly recognizedby all involved. However, the private sector appears to move faster to this end, as it is evident by theeducational programs provided in private universities, and also by the fact that the majority of privateuniversities offers (at least as stated in their websites) the possibility to obtain a postgraduate diplomaspecializing in tourism with the use of ICT.According to the recent study by the Ministry of Development e-business forum 34 , the absence ofadequate education, both at the university level and in lifelong training for the professionals in thetourism sector, is one of the main reasons for the appearance and aggravation of the digital gap thatcharacterizes the Greek tourism industry.The small and medium tourist enterprisesFurthermore, this study proposes thecannot attract specialized employees, afact that broadens the digital gap: thesuitably trained graduates are alwayshired by the same big playersmodernization of the curricula in the Organisationof Tourism Education and Training and theTechnological Educational Institutes. The sameopinion was expressed during an interview at thein the market33 Note, however, the recent announcement by the Ministry of Tourism Development for the foundation of a newUniversity Department for Tourist Studies.34 «Electronic services and their applications in tourism: Current situation and perspectives».Version 1Month: December Year: 200748
«Evaluation, Synthesis and Formulation of Proposals for the Use of ICTin the Tourism Sector»Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, conducted in the framework of the present study. During this interview,it was also noted that the small and medium tourist enterprises cannot attract specialized employees,a fact that broadens the digital gap and the associated problems. It was also stressed that the suitablytrained graduates are always hired by the same big players in the market. This was also confirmed bythe field research in hotels, rent rooms and other accommodation units. The percentage of largehotels (50 or more employees) that attempted to hire new employees specialized in ICT during thelast year was 12%, while the corresponding number for medium-sized units (10-49 employees) wasonly 4%, and no case was registered in the smaller units. These data also confirm the view that, ingeneral, there is very limited demand for higher education graduates in the tourism sector, and thismainly comes from large enterprises. The primary demand in the sector is for staff with skills in food,beverages etc.Similar differences are observed in the practical training offered by hotels to their employees, withseminars, special on the job activities etc. Large units train many more employees than the small ormedium ones, in a proportion approximately 6 to 1. With regard to vocational training issues, it isworthwhile mentioning the modern e-learning practices in tourism, which are indicatively applied inPortugal and Spain for the training of foreign tourist agents (with the use of the German Grafensteinsystem). The idea is that the tourist agent who is well informed for a country, finds it easier andprefers to promote the tourist products of this country.5.4.2 Technological Culture and AwarenessAlthough not directly relevant to ICT, the question of the more general tourist culture and awarenessmust be stressed, not only because it was mentioned several times during the focus groupsdiscussions, but also because it leads indirectly to matters of ICT infrastructures. The general idea isthat, in the study of tourism issues, the modern trend is to avoid making distinctions between citizensand tourists. The visitor of a country must enjoy the same technological benefits as the permanentresident.With regard to the technological culture and awareness in Greece, there has not been any particularprogress in the tourism sector, mainly because the benefits and advantages (especially financial) fromthe adoption and use of new ICT remain largely unknown. An important factor for this is the delay ofour country in the provision of specialized education and training. The tourism professionals say thatthey would like to hire new employees trained in tourism and simultaneously able to managetechnological information, and not graduates strictly specialized in ICT.Version 1Month: December Year: 200749
Page 1 and 2: Project Title“Study for the Penet
Page 3 and 4: «Evaluation, Synthesis and Formula
Page 47: «Evaluation, Synthesis and Formula
Page 99 and 100:
«Evaluation, Synthesis and Formula
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107:
show all

Evaluation, Synthesis and Formulation of Proposals for the Use of ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?