Tourism and Hospitality

Bournemouth University Disaster Management Centre (BUDMC) provides world class training and technical assistance in disaster management to help reduce risks, build resilience and ensure rapid and sustainable recovery when disaster strikes.

The BUDMC operates globally providing services to government ministries, industry, international agencies, emergency services, the military and non-governmental organisations.

Bournemouth University’s International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR) and BUDMC have been selected to undertake vital research into global disaster management for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). This firmly places BUDMC at the centre stage of disaster management within the field of tourism.

Disaster Management is rapidly becoming a central feature of the 21st Century world in which we live and BUDMC has global experience in the field of delivering disaster management training and developing disaster management strategies. This expertise is combined with the international experience and reputation of ICTHR in the realm of tourism impacts and planning to place the School of Tourism firmly in the cutting edge.

Bournemouth University Disaster Management Centre offers a range of intensive and highly interactive courses which are designed for the specific needs of tourism professionals and the tourism industry to meet the ever-increasing challenges of Disaster Management. They are delivered through a combination of lectures, practical exercises, discussion sessions and case studies.

All courses focus on the theory and practical applications of Disaster Management planning and cover natural disasters, human made disasters and complex emergencies. They provide a timely opportunity for tourism professionals to develop their understanding and strategies for integrating their organisation’s plans and structures with those of the host country’s government agencies and emergency services.

Watch a short video by Richard Gordon MBE, Director BUDMC on the objectives of these courses.

Bournemouth University is launching the eTourism Lab (eTL) as a part of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR) in the School of Tourism. The eLab is exploring cutting edge information and communication technologies and e-based strategic management and marketing for tourism and hospitality organisations.

(more…)

The School of Tourism at Bournemouth University is a world-leader in tourism research and a leading provider of degree courses uniquely focused on the environmental, economic, social and cultural impacts. We are experts in the contemporary tourism sector, encompassing hospitality, retail, leisure, sports and events. Most of our graduates get jobs as soon as they leave the University and our alumni are working for companies and organisations throughout the world.

We are using our global tourism training, consultancy and research expertise as part of a forum to discuss tourism futures at the WTM. You can book to participate in the forum here.

This BU Tourism Futures Forum will engage leading tourism practitioners from around the world in an interactive discussion about the future of tourism. We think that tourism managers will require genuine innovation to thrive against a backdrop of geo-political change, economic pressures, new technology, exponential growth in new markets and rising costs of food, fuel and energy. We believe these shifts call for a major rethinking of tourism management and that the forum and our presence at WTM 2011 will allow us to share expertise and participate in the growing discussion. The forum will benefit managers from all spheres of tourism and travel and those who have an interest in the future of the industry.

Bournemouth University has an amazing talent pool of undergraduates, postgraduates and world leading experts. At WTM 2011 the School is offering the tourism and travel industry a brand new opportunity to engage with this talent pool for the pick of placement students, consultancy, research, continuing professional development and bespoke training.

BU’s Professor Dimitrios Buhalis has featured in today’s Wall Street Journal in a special feature on Greece, the politics and the impact on tourism.

In the article Professor Buhalis comments on rising unemployment figures saying, “There are a lot of very qualified people looking for jobs right now.”

The article discusses the number of natural and cultural resources that could attract tourism to the country.

Rallye Sunseeker's Magazine front page

School of Tourism research has made the front page of Rallye Sunseeker’s flagship magazine.

In 2009 BU’s Motor Sport Research Group carried out a study focussing on the economic impact of the British Rally Championship (as pictured above) which takes place in Bournemouth and Poole.

The academic research into round one of the British Rally Championship was designed to look at the economic impact of the event. The findings featured in the magazine and on the website included that over 60% of the event spectators were from the A, B, C1 category and over £700,000 of revenue was put into the economy as a result of the championships.

At the time of the research, Rick Smith, Rallye Sunseeker Event Director commented “We have always been certain in our own minds of the economic value of the event to the region, to have that quantified by this robust research by Bournemouth University is excellent news.”

The full Rallye Sunseeker website can be viewed here.

The Sport Tourism Opportunities for Research, Mobility and International Networking Group (STORMING) Initiative awarded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ERSC) to Dr. Richard Shipway offered seventeen travel and conference bursaries for UK-based early career researchers to each attend one of three international networking events. This grant scheme formed part of the ESRC’s ‘International Training and Networking Opportunities Programme’. The project utilised the bursaries to both increase international mobility and provide networking opportunities for emerging early career researchers with a commitment to supporting and further developing sport tourism research. Bursaries were awarded across eleven higher education institutions. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games also acted as a catalyst for this project, highlighting the impacts of sport events.

(more…)

There are new and exciting developments within the School of Tourism with ground breaking research identifying the fusion between recreation, leisure and wellbeing. The rationale for co-locating a tourism and public health strategy is based on the recognition that creating a community culture where a tourist destination is seen to enhance and promote physical and mental health for both locals and tourists is desirable. A community that supports health creation can be a re-branding opportunity within a destination management approach, dovetailing health and wellbeing alongside a marketing and economic positioning. The concept of wellness tourism is emerging and is an area where strategic priority is being given in many European destinations. It is estimated that the market is currently worth $106.0 globally¹ with predictions of major growth in the coming 5-10 years².

(more…)