GLOBALTOURISMRESILIENCE:ITISTIMEFORASHARED EDUCATIONALSTRATEGICGLOBALRESPONSE
Dr CoryRoss,MichaelEliadis,JonasRoss
ABSTRACT
Thetourismindustrywasoneoftheworld'sgreatestmarkets;untiltheworldmetapandemicinthe21stcentury,COVID-19.(Ugur,Akbiyitik2020).TheGlobal TourismResilienceCrisisManagementCentre(GTRCMC)wasestablishedin2018bytheHon.EdmundBartlettandDr TalebRafai(FormerSecretaryGeneralof theUnitedNationsWorldTourismOrganization)asaglobalthinktankthatfocusesexclusivelyonbuildingresilienceandmanagingcrisesthatdisrupttourism.The tourismindustrywasoneoftheworld'sgreatestmarketsuntiltheworldmetapandemicinthe21stcentury GeorgeBrownCollegeisthefirstCanadianpartnerofthe GlobalTourismResilienceCrisisManagementCentre(GTRCMC).ThesatelliteCentrewillfocusonresearchanddevelopment,policyadvocacyandcommunication management,program/projectdesignandmanagement,andtrainingandcapacitybuildinginvariousareas.ThedesignatedfocusofthisCentrewillbeoverallhealth andwellness.
Introduction
Tourism prior to the pandemic is one of the world's fastest growing and oldest industries. (Narendar 2022). Tourism is a highly respected global product and operates as a valuable commodity and resource for the entire world. Statistics gathered by theWorldTravel andTourism Council (WTTC), as of 2017 noted thatthetotalcontributionofTravel&Tourismaccountedfor10.4%ofGDPas wellas9.9%ofjobs.
WhentheCovidpandemichittheglobalmarkettheWTTCestimatedthat62millionjobswerelost.Theglobaltourismdownturnalsoresultedina49.1%reduction in GDPdue to the reduced level of tourism activity.The highly infectious novel coronavirus continues to thwart the sector and raises serious questions aboutthepresentandfuturesurvivalofthesector.(Kaushal&Srivastava2021).
Throughout the ages tourism has helped countries develop their economies. Otherbenefitsof tourismhaveledtodisseminatedknowledgeof differentculturesandrelationshipsthathavemutuallybenefitedmanycountries.Tourismhas alsobeenthecatalystforglobalexchangesandcooperationamongstcountries. Theagreementssignedandoperationalizedbetweennationshavebenefitedthe worldinaprofoundmanner Thereforeithasbeensaidthatanythreattoacountry's tourism is therefore a threat to globalization and international harmony Today,thetourismindustryofallcountriesarevulnerabletoamyriadofthreats. Thesedisruptionsinclude,amongotherthings,climatechangeandnaturaldisasters.
GlobalTourismResilienceCrisisManagementCentre(GTRCMC)basedatthe UniversityoftheWestIndies'MonaCampusinJamaicawasfoundedtoaddress thesedisruptions.TheultimatepurposeoftheCentrewillbetoassistdestination preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and/or crises that impacttourismandthreateneconomiesandlivelihoodsglobally TheCentrewill becalledupontooperateinaglobalcontextthatischaracterisedbynotonlynew challengesbutalsonewopportunitiesfortourism.Endresultwillbeimproving thetourismproductaswellasensuringthesustainabilityoftourismglobally
The Centre will be positioned to offer several products and services to address tourism resilience and crisis management issues in every region around the world. Some of these products and services include: 1) Climate Change and Disaster Management 2) Entrepreneurial Management 3) Security and CyberSecurity Management 4) Pandemic and Epidemic Management 5) Health and Wellness.
ThispartnershipannouncementbetweentheGTRCMCandGeorgeBrownCollegecomesatacriticaltimefortheindustryasitrecoversfromaglobalpandemic anddealswitheconomicfalloutfromtheongoingwarinEastEurope.TheCentrealsofocusesonresearchandanticipatingthenextinevitablecrisesandtourismdisruptorssothatglobaltourismdestinationscanbetterpreparethemselves andensuretourismresilienceandabilitytorecoverfromthesedisruptors.
This partnership with the GTRCMC at the University of the West Indies in JamaicaisanexcitingopportunityforourCanadianCollege,particularlyforour SchoolofHospitality&Tourism.TheGeorgeBrownCollegeSchoolofTourism and Management has established a worldwide reputation for producing gradu-
atesthatareactivetrailblazersinthefield.Bybuildingastrongcurriculumand marrying program advisory experts the Program has developed a passion for though leadership both locally and globally The following Program standards andlearningoutcomeswillnowbeinfusedwithdiscussionandcoursematerial that directly place a focus on reliance in the tourism trade. Our graduates must reliablydemonstratetheabilityto:
1. Provideprofessionalguestservicestoenhancecustomersatisfactionby anticipating, meeting and /or exceeding individual and organizational standardsandobjectives.
2. Create marketing plans informed and supported by market research, socialnetworks,productknowledgeandsalesstrategies.
3. Contributetoeffectivemanagementinhospitality,tourismandleisuresettingsbyimplementingleadershipskillsandstrategies.
4. Evaluateandapplyeffectivefinancialmanagementandaccountingpracticestosupportoperationsinthetourismindustry
5. Complywithrelevantorganizationalandworkplacesystems,processes, policies,standards,legalobligationsandregulations,anduseknowledge ofriskmanagementprinciples,tosupportandmaintainefficient,productive,safe,secureaccessibleandhealthytourismoperations.
6. Apply principles of teamwork and constructive relationship managementtosupportapositiveworkplaceculture.
7. Integratehospitalityskillsandknowledgetopromoteongoingpersonal andprofessionaldevelopment.
8. Designanddeliverinclusivetourismandhospitalityprograms,products andservicesthatcomplywithallrelevantlegislation,conformtorelevant ethicalguidelines,andpromotebestpracticesofcorporatesocialresponsibility
9. Analyzeandimplementsustainabilitypracticesintourismandhospitalityindustrybyadaptingtoenvironmental,social,cultural,politicaland economictrendsandissues.(GBCProgramguide2022).
Onecanseethatthestandardsandoutcomeslistedabovewillaffordtheopportunityforourprogramtoembraceprinciplesofresilienceveryeasily Thelessons learntfromthismostrecentpandemicwillbeusedasexamplesforassignments andcapstoneprojects.Therewillbetremendousimpactgainedbytheformation ofthisGlobalTourismResilienceCrisisManagementCentre(GTRCMC).The immediateimpactswillincludeandarenotexclusiveto:
1. Leveragingopportunitiestoandshareinformationandtrainingcollateral onaworldwidescale.
2. Enjoyeconomiesofscalewhenrollingouttrainingprogramsandmaterial.
3. Exposing students to industry liaisons and allow them to collaborate interprofessionallywithworldproblems.
4. Serveasamagnettoattractfacultyfromallcornersoftheglobeunitingin solvingacommonproblem.
5. Using social determinants of health to underpin the solutions affecting Tourism.
6. Helpsecureabetterfutureforthisgenerationandfutureones.
7. Allowfortheconceptofresiliencetobetopofmindfortheoperatorsof businessesandgovernmentagencies.
Throughtheuseofcolloquia,journalarticlesandreports,strategiccharettes,cap-
Copyright©2023,IERJ.Thisopen-accessarticleispublishedunderthetermsoftheCreativeCommonsAttribution-NonCommercial4.0InternationalLicensewhichpermitsShare(copyandredistributethematerialinany mediumorformat)andAdapt(remix,transform,andbuilduponthematerial)undertheAttribution-NonCommercialterms.
stoneprojectsandotherstudentfocusedactivities,theGTRCMCwillbeamajor drivingforceinbuildingthepracticesoftourismresilience.Itwillactasarepositoryforeducationandtransmissionofsolutionsonatimelybasisfortheglobal tourismmovement.
Conclusion:
ThispartnershipbetweentheGTRCMCandGeorgeBrownCollegecomesata criticaltimefortheindustryasitrecoversfromaglobalpandemicanddealswith economicfalloutfromtheongoingwarinEastEurope.ThisCentrewillfocuson Health and Wellness. It will also join a number of sister chapters worldwide focusing on research and anticipating the next inevitable crises and tourism disruptors.Theabilitytosomewhatpredictthefutureasitrelatestoglobaltourism impacts will better prepare themselves ensuring tourism resilience and to exercising best practices and promising practices in dealing with these disruptors.
“COVID-19hasprovidedaperfectstormofuncertainty,rangingfromdiffering entryrulesatglobalborders(e.g.,whichnationalscanbeadmitted,underwhat circumstances and with what quarantine or related requirements), refund policies (e.g., airfares, hotels and for business event planners, a range of greater costs), as well as constantly changing infection rates (e.g., Delta variant) and restrictions.Thefocusforindustryandgovernmentsaroundtheworldwillbeon practicaltoolstolimitvirusspreadandreduceoutbreaksthroughdigitizationof health information, coordination of border openings and controls and ensuring destination readiness through efficient approaches to admitting (or turning away) visitors. Modernization of border control procedures may occur much morerapidlythanpreviouslythoughtastheworldworkstoreopenandraisesthe possibilityofincreasedairportfees.Vaccinepassportswillbecomethenormin mostglobaldestination”(DestinationCanada2021).
A quote from the Minister of Tourism, Jamaica, really places a spotlight on globalcooperation.“WearethrilledtoembarkonthispartnershipwithGeorge Brown College as they establish a GTRCMC Satellite Centre in Canada. This Centre will be a Centre of excellence for research related to tourism resilience and an opportunity to exchange knowledge between our countries to benefit globaltourism.Thisisacriticaltimeinhistoryforustoforgeglobalpartnerships inordertoensuretheresilienceofourindustry.”(Hon.EdmundBartlett).
REFERENCES
1. Ugur, NG.,Akbiyik,A. Impacts of COVID-19 on global tourism industry:Acrossregional comparison.TourismManagementPerspectives(2020),ElsevierPress.113.
2. Narendar KVS.,AnAnalytical Study On Development OfTourism Infrastructure In Telangana,InternationalJournalofEducationandResearchVolume8,Issue10,October2022.1-3.
3. Kaushal V., Srivastava S., Hospitality and tourism industry amid COVID-19 pandemic:PerspectivesonchallengesandlearningsfromIndia.IntJHospManag,2021, Jan:92:102707.
4. GeorgeBrownCollegeProgramguide,GBCPress2022.
5. Hon.EdmundBartlett,personalcommunicationGTRCMC,Nov,2022.
6. DestinationCanada,Tourism'sBigShift:KeytrendsShapingtheFutureofCanada's TourismIndustry November2021.