Sport, Tourism and Heritage Minister, David Evenett MP, visits Bournemouth University

Posted May 27, 2016. Filed under Research.

Sport, Tourism and Heritage Minister, David Evenett MP, visits Bournemouth University and launches 2016 National Coastal Tourism Academy report at BU’s Executive Business Centre

A report into seaside tourism has been launched by Sport, Tourism and Heritage Minister, David Evenett MP, who visited the Academy’s offices at Bournemouth University’s Executive Business Centre. Coastal Tourism 2016 was presented to the Minister by Academy Director Samantha Richardson, who was joined by members of the NCTA Board including BU’s Professor Keith Wilkes, Dean of the Faculty of Management. Local business owners and tourism industry representatives were also invited to the meeting, including restauranteur James Fowler and Bournemouth Tourism Management Board Chair Des Simmons. The report’s findings highlighted the importance of seaside tourism to the UK’s economy; worth more than £8billion a year, as well as the benefit of sharing advice and research across destinations, as the Government released its plans for a four-year Coastal Communities Fund, which will invest £90million to revitalise seaside areas.

Dean of the Faculty of Management at BU, Professor Keith Wilkes said: “This is a unique project that started three years ago with a joint bid to the funding body. It engages academics, undergraduates, post-graduates, and we currently have three PhD students funded by the project. A lot of our students have also independently become ambassadors for Bournemouth since they live here and use the facilities. We host the project on Bournemouth University’s campus, and it’s worked very well. The three key markets in the UK are coastal, rural and cities, and from the latest figures produced by the NCTA, coastal has gone back to top place. Gone are the days where people went for 14 days by the seaside. Now it’s about trying to develop the short-break market either side of the peak summer months, developing products for empty-nesters for example, and upping the quality of the seaside/coastal offer.”

Sport, Tourism and Heritage Minister, David Evenett MP said: “Britain’s coastline is a beautiful and valuable asset and this report underlines the importance of seaside tourism not only to local communities but the nation’s economy as a whole. The Discover England Fund, on top of Government’s investment in coastal communities, will provide further opportunities for seaside towns to grow local tourism and make sure visitors from home and abroad know about the wonderful attractions on offer.”

NCTA Director Samantha Richardson said: “There’s no doubt that our coastline is much-loved and cherished by the nation and yet for many, visiting the coast isn’t a high priority – this is fundamentally because of a lack of awareness. What’s needed is stronger communication with clear messages, carefully-targeted for their audience. To thrive for the next generation, each destination needs to match its product to the appropriate market, whether that be wellness breaks, shoulder season holidays or to attract a younger audience.”

The full report, Coastal Tourism 2016, produced by the NCTA, is available here:http://coastaltourismacademy.co.uk/resource-hub/resource/2016-coastal-tourism

Bournemouth University Department of Tourism and Hospitality becomes a strategic partner with New Forest Tourism

Posted May 27, 2016. Filed under Featured, News, Student Experience.

Bournemouth University Department of Tourism and Hospitality becomes a strategic partner with New Forest Tourism. Invited by Anthony Climpson OBE Employment & Tourism Manager New Forest District Council, a delegation of students and staff from Bournemouth University visited the New Forest on the 26th May and had strategic discussions with the hoteliers and tourism businesses.

This will result to placements and graduate employment for students, testing and developing theory and assisting tourism and hospitality organisations to develop their strategies and operational management. Hotels such as Rhinefield House Hotel one of the Hand Picked Hotels, Balmer Lawn Hotel, Careys Manor and SenSpa and Montagu Arms Hotel in addition to well established partners Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa | Luxury Country House Hotel as well as Attractions such as the Paultons Family Theme Park – Home of Peppa Pig World and Lost Kingdom are some of the businesses in the New Forest that will participate in the strategic partnership.

Head of Department of Tourism and Hospitality Professor Dimitrios Buhalis said it is great working strategically with our natural lab co-creating fantastic opportunities for knowledge creation with local and regional partners, our students and the research capacity of Bournemouth University. Not only this activity will enable us to test theory into practice but will also give great opportunities to our students to develop their professional experience, see tourism and hospitality excellence in practice and also contribute to the regional economy and development.

Rio 2016 Olympic Games volunteer opportunities

Posted May 27, 2016. Filed under News.

As Brazil prepares to host the in just over two months’ time, now is the final chance for your students, staff, and alumni to take advantage of two exclusive and life changing opportunities available this summer. London-Rio City Links is working in partnership with a highly rated university in Brazil to offer a unique six week long, Olympic-themed programme of Portuguese language and Brazilian culture in the picturesque city of Juiz de Fora. We also have exclusive Rio 2016 volunteer opportunities for students, staff and alumni who can speak any of the following languages:

Arabic
Japanese
Korean
Mandarin
Russian
Portuguese

Additionally, there are a limited number of places for Journalism students and alumni who have industry experience. Thanks to your help, we have so far placed 25 students/graduates from UK universities with roles as official specialist volunteers at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August. The organising committee recognises the high calibre of your students and would like to recruit even more students/alumni, who have the desired skills. We would appreciate your help once again in circulating this once-in-a-lifetime offer to the relevant departments and to any students, alumni and staff who may be interested. If you would like to promote this opportunity to your students, staff and/or alumni, please use this leaflet. Finally, we are always recruiting students/graduates of Portuguese or Spanish courses to teach English in Brazil with our five month paid internships programme. If you would like to know any more details, please do not hesitate to contact me or my colleagues Julian Vennis on Jvennis@worldcitylinks.net or Rachel Banks on rachel@worldcitylinks.net

Thanks and best wishes,

Matthew

Matthew Haley
Communications and Marketing Director
World City Links
0207 960 6348
www.LRCL.net
10 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB

Derek Robbins contributes to the discussion of the true cost of flying

Posted May 25, 2016. Filed under Featured.

Derek Robbins, a senior lecturer at Bournemouth University, told MailOnline Travel: ‘In mid 2000s the fuel cost on short haul flights was estimated at 20 per cent of total costs based on UK figures. ‘Whilst the price of oil has fallen considerably, it should be noted that many airlines have hedged the cost of their fuel so have not received the full benefit of the falling oil price. ‘ The crew cost of the journey, calculated using average salaries on jobs website Glassdoor, comes to just $1.50 (£1.03) per passenger, including both the pilots and stewards.

explaining flight costs

Bournemouth Pier and Rock Reef Field Visit and experience, storification

Posted May 24, 2016. Filed under Featured, News, Research, Student Experience.

Thursday 16th June 16:00-21:00 Bournemouth University Department of Tourism and Hospitality
field visit, social media storyfication, video and photo competition and hopefully creating a student music band at Bournemouth Pier and Rock Reef !

To celebrate the end of the academic year the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Bournemouth University and our partner RockReek Bournemouth Pier http://www.rockreef.co.uk are inviting students and staff to a Field Visit and experience at the RockReek Bournemouth Pier http://www.rockreef.co.uk/ and a Social media exercise RockReef WebSite Facebook Twitter Instagram Tripadvisor

Provisional schedule

16:00 Arrive at the Pier with your FREE ticket and student Identity Card !

16:00-19:00 We will experience the Zip Wire, the Clip n Climb and the highline and share our experience through storification #bournemouthpier #BUTourism, social evening (FREE with your student card)

19:00-21:00 Social event – flexible dining at Key West Restaurant on Bournemouth pier (at participants expense – 30% on normal food and drink prices)

Also:

MUSIC : Bring a guitar or any musical instrument you play and lets create the Departmental music band!

PHOTO Competition: upload photos of the day using #bournemouthpier #BUTourism and win a meal for two
VIDEO Competition: upload videos of the day using #bournemouthpier #BUTourism and win a meal for two

the winners will be announced at 21:00 on the 16th June 2016 at the Bournemouth Pier and vouchers will be issued then.

Current BU Tourism and Hospitality students Get your FREE ticket on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bournemouth-pier-and-rock-reef-field-visit-and-experience-storification-bournemouthpier-butourism-tickets-25664984660 Password: #BUTourism and also bring your BU ID card

WHEN Thursday, 16 June 2016 from 16:00 to 21:00 (BST) – Add to Calendar
WHERE Bournemouth Pier – Pier Approach, Bournemouth, BH2 5AA – View Map

Dr Susanna Curtin joined a research expedition in January 2016 to Sumatra

Posted May 23, 2016. Filed under Research.

As part of a LEAP project, Dr Susanna Curtin from the Department of Tourism and Hospitality joined a research expedition in January 2016 to Sumatra with Associate Professor Amanda Korstjens and Professor Ross Hill from the Department of Science and Technology. The primary purpose of this expedition is to pave the way for research students to determine habitat requirements for primates and elephants; examining how forest structure influences primate and elephant populations. However part of the funding for the expedition was also designated to support research into the strengths , opportunities and threats of ecotourism in the Genung Leuser National Park as tourism may be a way of protecting this highly biodiverse and important habitat.

Whilst Orangutan tourism can protect areas of forest which otherwise would be cleared for palm oil plantation, Indonesia is currently squandering a huge opportunity to offer a high quality, unique ecotourist experience. Sumatran rainforests have a wealth of flagship species as well as interesting birds, insects, mammals and reptiles. There are Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, rhino and several species of primate including Orangutan (which only occur in Sumatra and Borneo). But as it is, the ecotourism that is offered at Bukit Lawakng and Tangahan is mostly orientated towards mass tourism and focused on single species.

Now a few months later a small team of students are travelling back to Sumatra to interview tourists as to their motivations to visit Sumatra, the types of wildlife tourism they engage in, the knowledge of the wildlife guides they encounter and the overall quality of their ecotourism experiences. It will be really interesting to collate the findings and to publish the results.

Dr Lorraine Brown visited the two Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona in order to conduct research on the link between tourism and the Spanish civil war

Posted May 22, 2016. Filed under Guest speakers, Research.

In April 2016, using BU Fusion funding, Dr Lorraine Brown visited the two Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona in order to conduct research on the link between tourism and the Spanish civil war, with a particular focus on the way that tourism can mobilise and consolidate political identity.

She took part in Spanish Civil War walking tours where she interviewed tourists, and made useful connections with tour guides. She also met with Spanish academics interested in the topic and agreed a research agenda, including the writing of a research bid on tourism in post-conflict destinations.

In July, she will attend a conference with the title: ‘Spain’s Civil War 80 years later: The wound that will not heal’. This will allow me further useful networking opportunities with academics from around the world, including Spain. She is m currently working on writing up my findings into an article that revolves around a topic similar to the conference title: how to commemorate a traumatic historical event whose repercussions are still felt today?

Graduate Christy Hehir works at VisitBritain as a Research and Evaluation Specialist #BUProud

Posted May 22, 2016. Filed under Alumni News, Student Experience.

I graduated with an MSc Tourism Management and Planning in 2009 and i am now working at VisitBritain as a Research and Evaluation Specialist. My MSc sparked my passion for research. Now at VisitBritain I lead on all stages of the research process – to champion, develop and deliver a return on investment process for VisitBritain’s commercial partnerships, online marketing and travel trade work globally across 23 offices in 21 core and emerging markets.

Many aspects of my course helped me succeed after graduating, My award winning MSc dissertation titled, ‘The future of Antarctica. Is tourism an ally or an enemy?’ propelled my polar research. After graduating, I was invited by Dr. Peter Prokosch, Managing Director UNEP/GRID-Arendal to participate in a 7-day training and research expedition in Svalbard, subsequently leading to my first book ‘Arctic to Action’, published in 2012. My advice to recent graduates looking for work is to attend as many industry events/conferences which are of interest as possible. Not only will you keep your industry trends knowledge up to date, you will also have the opportunity to network and meet key players within that sector. Bournemouth University gives you so many opportunities to do that! Just grab them !

Top tip: request the delegate list ahead of the event and plan your networking before you arrive!

Advancing Green Growth in Peru: A spotlight on tourism, transport and the blue economy

Posted May 20, 2016. Filed under Research.

Advancing Green Growth in Peru: A spotlight on tourism, transport and the blue economy, field visit 14^th – 17^th March, Lima, Peru

Drs Susanna Curtin and Viachaslau Filimonau attended a British Council workshop in Lima dedicated to sustainability, green growth and green economy transitions in ground transport, tourism and coastal industries in Peru. Poster presentations, key note speakers and collaboration from industry and government organisations facilitated group discussions regarding the green and blue economy: challenges and opportunities. A Green Economy is a development model that promotes well-being and meaningful jobs for society, reduces poverty, adapts and mitigates to climate change and conserves critical ecosystems. Participants brought their individual expertise to develop a coordinated research agenda and sector strategies that promote green jobs. The workshop identified opportunities for international exchange, cooperation and dialogue in low carbon development between the two countries. Visits included the local fish market, a trip to ancient ruins, a guided tour around Lima and cocktails at the residence of the British Embassy.

Susanna brought her expertise in nature-based and wildlife tourism; particularly how the conservation and protection of landscapes and habitats provide new opportunities to support economic growth and wellbeing of local people. As part of her research she visited the ‘Little Galapagos’ (Islas Ballestas, in the Paracas National Reserve). Tourism here is well-developed and revealed the high tourist demand to see charismatic marine species such as fur seals, sea lions and particularly the penguins. It is still too north (warm) for penguins, however the Humboldt current with its cold nutrient-rich water sweeps up from the Southern Pacific and is largely responsible for the coastal deserts of Chile, Ecuador and Peru. Named after this current, Humboldt penguins are the major draw; these and the strange geoglpyh etched on the desert cliffs.