Background:
The World Tourism Organization and European Travel Commission appointed Tourism Development International to develop of a ‘best practice’ Handbook for Tourism Product Development Manual to assist National Tourism Administrations and Organisations (NTAs/NTOs) and other destination marketing organisations (DMOs), including those at regional and local levels, through the provision of ready-to-use tools, and guidance on why and how product development should be adopted, and what kind of role they should have in the destination’s product development.
Project Objectives:
The purpose of the Handbook on Tourism Product Development was the production of a practical, user-friendly and accessible handbook that inspires the implementation of, or improvement in, the existing methods and uses of effective product development in tourism. A key objective was to empower the staff of NTAs/NTOs and similar organisations with superior knowledge to enable them to initiate and oversee a successful product development strategy.
Project Activities:
- Definitions
- Destination Survey of WTO’s/DMO’s
- Consultations with Private Sector
- Preparation of Case Studies
- Analysis
- Principles of tourism product development
- Toolkit and guidelines for tourism product development
- Presentations, seminars and workshops
Project Outcome and Impacts:
The Handbook is being used by national tourism organisations and regional tourism organisation officials throughout the World as a tool in facilitating effective tourism product development planning. It is available for purchase through the UNWTO and ETC websites.
Links:
UNWTO - Hanbook on Tourism Product Development Purchase
Fundamentals & Principles of Tourism Product Development, Presentation by Peter Mac Nulty to the Tourism Forum Switzerland