The Future of Tourism from edX

As a tourism professional , you face a rapidly changing world with ever-increasing disruptions, including climate change, pandemics, and changing consumer preferences. These disruptions can significantly impact your tourism organization and/or destinations, making preparing for and adapting to future uncertainties crucial.

In this MOOC , you will learn how to think about the future and make decisions based on possible scenarios. You will also develop the skill of "Futuring" to help you be more prepared for whatever the future brings.

The course offers a tool for strategic futuring, which you can use in your daily life and organization. This will make you a more reflective individual and offer you confidence in making decisions.

For who?

This online course is perfect for tour operators, hotels, airlines, DMOs, and governmental organizations. Travellers and anyone interested in tourism are also welcome to join.

Professional Certificate Programme

This online course is part of the Professional Certificate Programme Tourism in Transition: Exploring a Sustainable Future, along with the MOOCs: Sustainable Tourism: Society & Environmental Aspects and Tourism and Climate Change.

What you'll learn

Familiarize yourself with diverse tourism futures, some more mainstream, some more radical
Identify needs concerning more resilient/regenerative destinations
Explore systemic tendencies to act upon threats and opportunities
Reflect on personal/organizational tendencies to act towards uncertain tourism future(s)
Apply the art of futuring to make well-informed and creative decisions for a future-proof travel
Back-cast and identify steps that are required to get there

What's inside

Learning objectives

Familiarize yourself with diverse tourism futures, some more mainstream, some more radical
Identify needs concerning more resilient/regenerative destinations
Explore systemic tendencies to act upon threats and opportunities

Reflect on personal/organizational tendencies to act towards uncertain tourism future(s)
Apply the art of futuring to make well-informed and creative decisions for a future-proof travel
Back-cast and identify steps that are required to get there

Familiarize yourself with diverse tourism futures, some more mainstream, some more radical
Identify needs concerning more resilient/regenerative destinations
Explore systemic tendencies to act upon threats and opportunities
Reflect on personal/organizational tendencies to act towards uncertain tourism future(s)
Apply the art of futuring to make well-informed and creative decisions for a future-proof travel
Back-cast and identify steps that are required to get there

Syllabus

Module 1: Future Tourism Pathways

Introduction to the course and a preview of the course; how the course is organized and what to expect; Introducing methods, tools and assignments; Introducing the team and the opportunity to meet other learners.

Being Familiar with the pros and cons of diverse tourism future pathways and exploring alternative tourism pathways; introducing of course assignment: learners start identifying typical path dependencies in real-life cases.

Module 2: Status Quo of Tourism

Evolving and complex systemic tendencies to act upon threats and opportunities; Dominant ideas and discourses; A systematic analysis of the present; Learners must challenge taken-for-granted ideas/actions by incorporating events and knowledge beyond their known knowns.

Module 3: Transforming Tourism

Engagement with a plurality of perspectives and wider goal dependencies/ how to trigger a change; barriers and opportunities to change; learners reflexively unpack their envisioned actions in light of plural goals adopted towards a (seemingly) common tourism future. They will identify potential barriers in their pathway and how to bridge them.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on applying theory to practical situations, which is perfect for non-theorists

Suitable for individuals interested in mapping out career pathways in travel and tourism

May be too beginner-level for those who have prior knowledge of the tourism industry

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Future of Tourism with these activities:

Develop Data Analysis Skills

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Sharpen your data analysis skills to effectively collect, analyze, and interpret tourism data, enabling you to make informed decisions.

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Review basic statistical concepts and techniques
Learn data visualization tools and techniques
Practice analyzing tourism data sets

Review Key Tourism Concepts

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Refresh your understanding of essential tourism concepts, ensuring a strong foundation for the course.

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Review notes or textbooks from previous tourism courses
Read articles or blog posts on key tourism topics
Complete online quizzes or practice tests

Review Core Tourism Principles

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Refreshes students' foundational knowledge of tourism principles and concepts, ensuring a strong understanding of the industry context.

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Review textbooks and course materials from previous tourism courses.
Participate in online quizzes or self-assessments to test your understanding.
Attend refresher lectures or webinars on core tourism principles.
Engage in discussions with peers or mentors to clarify any concepts.

11 other activities

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Explore Online Tourism Resources

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Familiarize yourself with valuable online resources to enhance your knowledge and stay updated on the latest trends in tourism.

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Visit tourism industry websites such as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
Subscribe to industry newsletters and blogs
Follow tourism experts and organizations on social media

Participate in Tourism Industry Discussions

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Engage with professionals and peers to share insights, discuss emerging trends, and learn from diverse perspectives in the tourism industry.

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Join online forums or discussion groups
Attend industry events and conferences
Connect with tourism professionals on LinkedIn or other social media platforms

Explore Futuring Tools and Methods

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Provides students with hands-on experience using futuring tools and methods, enhancing their understanding and ability to apply these techniques.

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Review online tutorials on futuring methods.
Participate in online workshops or webinars on futuring.
Experiment with different futuring tools such as scenario planning and forecasting.
Apply futuring techniques to analyze tourism trends and developments.

Attend a Tourism Futuring Conference or Workshop

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Provides students with exposure to industry experts and practitioners, broadening their perspectives on tourism futures and best practices.

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Research and identify relevant tourism futuring conferences or workshops.
Register for and attend the event.
Engage with speakers, presenters, and fellow attendees.
Take notes and document key insights and learnings.
Follow up with speakers or attendees to continue discussions.

Conduct a Tourism Impact Assessment

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Master the techniques of tourism impact assessment to evaluate the potential effects of tourism development on a destination.

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Identify and define the scope of the assessment
Collect and analyze data on tourism impacts
Assess the significance of the impacts
Develop recommendations to mitigate negative impacts and enhance positive impacts

Engage in Peer Discussions on Tourism Futures

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Fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among students, allowing them to exchange ideas, perspectives, and insights on tourism futures.

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Join online discussion forums or social media groups dedicated to tourism futures.
Engage in regular discussions with peers, sharing articles, research, and perspectives.
Organize or participate in virtual workshops or meetups to discuss specific tourism future topics.
Provide feedback and support to fellow learners on their futuring projects or ideas.

Develop a Futuring Plan for a Tourism Destination

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Helps students apply the concepts of futuring to a real-world tourism destination, enabling them to develop a practical plan for addressing future challenges and opportunities.

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Identify a specific tourism destination.
Conduct a thorough analysis of the destination's current tourism industry and market.
Develop a vision for the destination's future tourism development.
Identify potential future challenges and opportunities for the destination.
Create a detailed plan outlining strategies and actions to address the identified challenges and opportunities.

Design a Sustainable Tourism Plan

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Develop practical skills in creating sustainable tourism plans that balance environmental, economic, and social considerations.

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Identify stakeholders and gather data
Analyze the current tourism situation
Develop a vision and goals for sustainable tourism
Create a plan of action with specific objectives and strategies
Monitor and evaluate the plan's effectiveness

Explore 'Sustainable Tourism'

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Gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainable tourism practices and principles, enhancing your ability to make informed decisions in the industry.

View Advanced Introduction to Sustainable Tourism... on Amazon

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Read and summarize Chapters 1-4
Identify and analyze case studies of sustainable tourism initiatives
Discuss the challenges and opportunities of sustainable tourism

Develop a Tourism Futuring Blog or Podcast

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Empowers students to actively engage with the broader tourism community by sharing their insights and perspectives on tourism futures.

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Establish a blog or podcast on a platform of your choice.
Develop a content calendar that covers various aspects of tourism futures.
Create original articles, interviews, or episodes that explore emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in tourism.
Promote your content through social media and other channels.
Engage with your audience by responding to comments and feedback.

Create a Tourism Resource Notebook

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Organize and store important materials, notes, and resources gathered throughout the course for easy reference and future use.

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Establish a filing system for course materials
Summarize and condense key concepts and theories
Include relevant articles, case studies, and examples

Career center

Learners who complete The Future of Tourism will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Tourism Researcher

Tourism Researchers study the social, cultural, and economic impacts of tourism. They use research methods to collect and analyze data on tourist behavior, preferences, and spending. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to be a successful Tourism Researcher by providing you with a foundation in the methods and theories used in tourism research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tourism Researcher

Tourism Consultant

Tourism Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses and organizations in the tourism industry. They help clients develop and implement marketing strategies, improve customer service, and optimize operations. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to be a successful Tourism Consultant by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the tourism industry and the challenges and opportunities it faces.

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Tourism Development Manager

The role of a Tourism Development Manager is to promote tourism growth and manage resources in a sustainable way. Requires an advanced degree.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tourism Development Manager

Sustainability Manager

A Sustainability Manager is tasked with identifying and executing on initiatives that improve the social and environmental performance of an organization. Most of these managers hold advanced degrees in either business, sustainability, or environmental science. Familiarity with future trends and strategic planning are highly valued skills in this role. Tourism falls under the purview of this role in many companies.

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Environmental Consultant

Environmental Consultants assist businesses and organizations to comply with environmental regulations and reduce their environmental impact. Careers in environmental consulting typically require advanced degrees in environmental science, geography, or a related field, but can also be accessed through the completion of coursework in the field.

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Destination Marketing Manager

Destination Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns to attract tourists to a particular destination. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to be a successful Destination Marketing Manager, such as how to conduct market research, develop marketing strategies, and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.

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Travel Writer

Travel Writers research and write articles, blog posts, and other content about travel destinations and experiences. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to be a successful Travel Writer, such as how to write engaging and informative content, find story ideas, and market your work.

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Tour Operator

Tour Operators plan and sell tours and travel packages to individuals and groups. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to be a successful Tour Operator, such as how to create and price tours, market your services, and manage customer service.

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Travel Agent

Travel Agents help clients plan and book travel arrangements. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to be a successful Travel Agent, such as how to research destinations, book flights and accommodations, and provide customer service.

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Event Planner

Event Planners plan and coordinate events of all types, including conferences, weddings, and corporate events. This course may be useful for Event Planners who want to learn more about the tourism industry and how to plan and execute events that are sustainable and meet the needs of travelers.

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Hospitality Manager

Hospitality Managers oversee the operations of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses. This course may be useful for Hospitality Managers who want to learn more about the tourism industry and how to manage hospitality businesses in a sustainable and profitable way.

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Risk Manager (Tourism)

Risk Managers (Tourism) identify and assess risks to tourism businesses and develop strategies to mitigate those risks. This course may be useful for Risk Managers (Tourism) who want to learn more about the tourism industry and how to manage risks in a changing and uncertain environment.

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Marketing Manager (Destination)

Marketing Managers (Destination) develop and implement marketing campaigns to promote tourism destinations. This course may be useful for Marketing Managers (Destination) who want to learn more about the tourism industry and how to develop and implement effective marketing campaigns.

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Project Manager (Tourism)

Project Managers (Tourism) plan and execute tourism projects, such as the development of new tourism products or the renovation of tourism infrastructure. This course may be useful for Project Managers (Tourism) who want to learn more about the tourism industry and how to manage tourism projects effectively.

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Financial Analyst (Tourism)

Financial Analysts (Tourism) analyze the financial performance of tourism businesses and make recommendations for improving profitability. This course may be useful for Financial Analysts (Tourism) who want to learn more about the tourism industry and how to analyze financial data to make sound business decisions.

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