History & Context

A Growth Industry

How would your business thrive if you were the first to build a footprint in a new destination? Imagine the opportunity you’d have to own desirable new product, exciting experiences and innovative itineraries while your competitors are dusting off tired packages from twenty years ago. Need to earn community support for developing your region as a tourism destination? This course has got you covered too. In this fun, quick course, you’ll learn how tourism has grown to be one of the world’s biggest industries. We’ll show you how major destinations sprung up around the globe.  You’ll step away from this course knowing how to spot emerging destinations and exciting tour products that inspire a new generation of customers so you can sell more trips. We break down complex economic data, open up the resource library and put you in touch with industry leaders so you have the tools you need to convince your stakeholders. Tourism is a concept, an industry and a valuable commodity! Let’s take a look, together, at these fascinating, practical trends from both domestic and international marketplaces so you can be more successful! A brief history of tourism growth, development, local and global impact.

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome to The Tourism Academy

    2. Download Your Course Workbook

    3. How to Get Help (Additional Resources)

    4. Introduce Yourself

    1. Tourism Defined

    2. Early Origins: The Birth of Tourism

    3. Technology & Globalization - Before WWII

    4. Post WWII Technology, Globalization

    5. Workbook Activity

    1. Local Getaways - Day Trips and Domestic Tourism Growth

    2. Cast Study: The Beach Holiday

    3. Quick Exercise

    1. The Impact of Tourism Development

    2. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs.

    3. Tourism: An Export Product

    4. Economic Diversity

    5. Gathering Additional Data & Statistics

    6. Quick Quiz

    1. Course Recap & Wrap Up

    2. Next Steps & Action Items

About this course

  • Free
  • 20 lessons
  • 0 hours of video content

Instructor

Stephen Ekstrom

CEO & Co-founder at Learn Tourism - the nonprofit academy

Stephen Ekstrom is the embodiment of a passionate lifelong learner and a seasoned professional in the tourism industry, serving as the CEO and co-founder of the nonprofit Learn Tourism | learntourism.org. With over 25 years of experience, he has cultivated a deep understanding of tourism development and education, driven by his commitment to advancing the industry and fostering sustainable economies. Stephen's insatiable curiosity and love for knowledge have led him to be a proud nerd, constantly seeking to expand his expertise and share his insights with others. Alongside his faithful furry companions, Rudy and Marjorie, he embraces the digital nomad lifestyle, traversing the globe and immersing himself in diverse cultures. A dedicated advocate for continuous improvement, Stephen is a professional member of the Association for Talent Development, a member of Skal International, and holds prestigious certifications in Inclusive and Ethical Leadership from USF and Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard Business School.

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