BU experts at World Travel Market

Date: 25 November 2010

BU experts at World Travel Market

Academics from Bournemouth University (BU) led discussions on international tourism and sports tourism at this year's World Travel Market.

Experts from BU's International Centre for Tourism & Hospitality Research (ICTHR) hosted the annual Tourism Futures Forum on Thursday 11 November at the four-day event for travel industry professionals, which was attended by thousands of visitors from all over the world.

The Forum brought together leading academic and professional tourism experts from around the world to facilitate debate about new industry trends as well as opportunities and challenges.

Proceedings were directed by Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, who is Deputy Director of ICTHR, and the interactive debate was led by an invited panel of experts, including Flo Powell, Director of the Association of Cruise Experts (ACE) and Philip Evans, National Strategy Manager at visitengland.org.

Professor Buhalis said: "This annual event has become one of the key highlights of the World Travel Market. Since it is the last event of the show participants debate all the key tourism trends and developments with the panel."

Professor Alan Fyall and Professor Adam Blake both delivered research-based presentations on market trends and economic recovery during the discussion.

Senior sports lecturer Dr Richard Shipway was also invited to speak at this year's World Travel Market. Speaking at the Sports Tourism Conference, Dr Shipway discussed key emerging trends and issues associated with sport tourism development and outlined the potential legacies and impacts of international sport events in front of an audience of 150 of industry experts and journalists.

Dr Shipway sat alongside other speakers including South Africa's Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Head of Visit Britain's 2012 Games Unit Chris Foy, and Executive Director of the European Tour Operators Association Tom Jenkins.

Dr Philip Alford, a Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality Marketing, attended a World Travel Market Advice Clinic, which offered visitors the chance to quiz professionals in their field of expertise and get advice on dealing with challenges in today's market.

Dr Alford was quizzed by guests about using technology for strategic management, such as developing policies and plans, allocating resources and evaluating performance. Visitors to his 'clinic' included the owner of three mid-range hotels in India who was interested in finding out how he could use e-marketing more effectively in attracting international guests. This work complements the work that Dr Alford is doing with the Digital Hub project.