Empowering tourism education as a destination management tool

Abstract

The expansion of the tourism industry in the past few decades has resulted in rising of negative connotations such as overtourism, gentrification, and antitourism movements globally. Earlier studies have highlighted the importance of tourism education as a measure to handle the mismanagement occurring at famous destinations. This study proposes ways to empower tourism education among the various group of stakeholders involved in the system. Additionally, authors have also mentioned the three stages of travel wherein the implementation of appropriate strategies related to tourism awareness can lead to better management of destinations. The study is descriptive and uses secondary sources. It has emerged as a multi-disciplinary concept in academic discourses; tourism education is a pre-requisite in transforming the tourism industry both responsibly and sustainably. The chapter results in categorising and empowering two aspects of tourism education, i.e. formal education and informal education. The findings indicated the importance of both forms of tourism education and enabling them could be an initial step towards the management of destinations affected by overtourism. The chapter intends to give an insight into channelling and empowering tourism education in such a way that it contributes towards managing a destination affected by overtourism more responsibly. Apart from introducing subjects in the curriculum designed by management organisations, policies for tourism awareness are also equally important to empower the stakeholders. The current study adds value to the existing literature on tourism education and its role in managing a destination within the backdrop of overtourism.

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