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excursion
An excursion is a short pleasure trip or a side trip.
Tour operators use the term to describe
sightseeing programmes during a tour. Optional
excursions are purchased extra by tourists during
the trip. Transport operators offer excursion fares,
special discounted tickets �usually with restrictions).
Airlines offer low tariff fares �Advanced Purchase
Excursion, or APEX) which must be booked a
certain time in advance.
excursionist
LIONEL BECHEREL, UK
A traveller on a brief recreational trip, typically not
involving an overnight stay away from home.
Excursionists often travel in groups, sometimes at
reduced rates. They resemble tourists but,
because of their brief stays, their use of tourism
facilities is more limited. Today, excursions between
neighbouring countries are a common and
significant phenomenon, and are often listed
separately in tourism statistics.
executive development
ERIK COHEN, ISRAEL
Executive development is also known as professional
development, advanced management or,
more generally, continuing education, in which
tourism and hospitality educational and training
programmes are prepared and delivered. This,
typically done for middle and senior managers, is
offered by universities, colleges, polytechnics,
related education/research institutes, trade or
professional, private advisory firms or governments.
It is normally a form of collaborative
education between educational institutions and the
tourism industry �see education/industry relationship).
Over the past twenty years, the importance and
popularity of tourism executive development
programming have substantially increased, especially
in hospitality management. This new
awareness of the need to be more knowledgeable
executive development 213
and better skilled stems from increased competition,
new technology, changing business conditions
and strategies, and the need for greater
productivity in service organisations. Tourism
practitioners view executive development as part
of `life-long learning', increased professionalism
and career enhancement. Tourism organisations
see it as an investment in their people, culminating
in greater competitive advantage and improved
corporate performance. The anticipated
outcomes of executive development are complementary,
with both individuals and organisations
developing strong core competencies and more
effective leadership acumen. Other potential
benefits include staying current with leading-edge
industry thinking and applications, gaining a new
appreciation of global opportunities and threats,
and acknowledging new trends and critical
success factors.
The focus of most tourism executive programmes
is on current and future understanding
of the strategic implications of key business issues
and challenges, general management concepts and
practices, critical organisational, sectoral and
functional knowledge and technical skills, leadership
and business visions, and team and teamwork
development. Programme design and delivery vary,
but normally feature a limited participant enrolment,
highly qualified course moderators/instructors,
and course workbooks and texts. Executive
programmes emphasise interactive class sessions
that combine techniques such as pre-assigned
readings, case studies, workshop exercises, idea
exchanges, computer labs, videos, guest speakers
and small group discussions. Courses can also be
fully or partially delivered by distance education
�correspondence or electronic mode). Most
executive development programmes recognise
successful completion through certificates of merit
and/or equivalent university credits. There are
other programmes which follow a rigorous certification
process leading to a professional designation.
In the tourism and hospitality field, executive
development programmes are primarily prepared
by sectoral, functional or destination specialisation.
Some of the more well-known programmes internationally
are offered by Cornell University �hotel
and restaurant management), University of Hawaii
�tourism), University of Calgary �tourism destina