TOURISM & TRAVEL SECTOR

ROLE OF TOURISM ORGANIZATIONS

SADEKE SMITH

COLBOURNE COLLEGE

CONTENT Names and abbreviations of various

tourism organizations Role and structure of local, regional and

international organizations: WTO, WTTC, CTO, IATA, ASTA, CHA, etc.

TOURISM ORGANIZATIONS Exist to monitor tourism, internationally,

regionally and local/national Devolop policies and laws to facilitate

tourism activities Establishing educational training for

industry or sector Promotional activities for tourism Devising codes and conducts for

members Limiting or controlling entry to industry

or sector.

TOURISM ORGANIZATION Government – involves travel across

intenational borders Non Governmental ( NGO) Decisons are made surronding: Hotels Airlines National parks Heritage preservation Economical preservation Environmental protection Etc.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

World Tourism Organization World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) International Civil Aviation Organization

( ICAO) Organization for Economic Cooperation

and Development ( OECD) The International Ecotourism Society

(TIES)

WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION

WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION

A specialized agency of the United Nations and the leading international organization in the field of tourism.

The most widely recognised organization in tourism today.

Serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how.

Plays a central and decisive role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the interests of developing countries.

Located in Madrid, Spain

WTO - OBJECTIVES1. To accelerate and enlarge the contribution

of tourism (international and domestic) to peace, understanding, health and prosperity throughout the world.

2. To facilitate, in travel, man’s access to education and culture.

3. To raise standards of living in the less developed areas of the world by helping provide facilities for tourism and the promotion of tourist traffic to these areas.

WTO OBJECTIVES CONT’D4. To better the conditions of country

dewellers thereby contributing to an expanding world economy.

5. To act as an international agency of coordination and cooperation to spread tourism.

6. To provide a service to members valuable to their tourist operations.

WTO OBJECTIVES CONT’D

7. To provide a point for meeting and coordination of all tourist interests of member countries.

8. To establish permanent liaison and consultation with the various sectors of tourist operators.

9. To do all this in the most efficient way.

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

The forum for business leaders in the Travel & Tourism industry. WTTC works with governments, local leaders and WTTC’s Global Members with a regional presence, to identify and eliminate barriers to growth. WTTC undertakes extensive annual macro-economic research, which assesses the current and projected impact of Travel & Tourism on a total of 176 national economies around the world. It’s a private org..

http://www.wttc.org/

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONT’D

World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) The forum for business leaders in the Travel & Tourism

industry; members are the Chief Executives of some one hundred of the world's leading Travel & Tourism companies; overviews all matters related to Travel & Tourism.

WTTC works to raise awareness of Travel & Tourism as one of the world's largest industries.

International Air Transportation Association (IATA) Principal function – to simplify and speed the movement of

persons and goods around the world; located in New York City.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Responsible for regulation of air navigation

recommendations regarding formalities such as customs and immigration; located in Montreal, Canada.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONT’D Organization for Economic Cooperation

and Development (OECD) OECD brings together the governments of countries

committed to democracy and the market economy from around the world to: Support sustainable economic growth; Boost employment; Raise living standards; Maintain financial stability; Assist other countries' economic development; and Contribute to growth in world trade.

The Organisation provides a setting where governments compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice and coordinate domestic and international policies.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) A non-profit organization/global network of ecotourism

professionals and travellers dedicated to promoting ecotourism; founded in 1990; leads the development of ecotourism and the efforts to make tourism a viable tool for conservation, protection of bio-cultural diversity, and sustainable community development.

Provides guidelines and standards, training, technical assistance, research and publications.

REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Established in 1989 with the merger of the Caribbean

Tourism Association (founded in 1951) and the Caribbean Tourism Research and Development Center (founded in 1974). 

Exists to increase significantly the inclusion of the Caribbean region in the set of destinations being considered by travellers.

Creates and manages the partnerships necessary to increase the purchase of travel to and within the Caribbean that result in sustainable economic and social benefits for the people.

Comprises 32 member countries, including English, French, Spanish and Dutch countries and territories, as well as private sector allied members. These include the Caribbean Hotel Association, companies, organizations and persons providing products and services to the Caribbean tourism industry.

Headquarters in Barbados.

Caribbean Tourism Organization's (CTO) Barbados

Its main objective is the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of Caribbean people. The CTO provides to and through its public and private sector members, the services and information to accomplish this goal. The CTO, with headquarters in Barbados, comprises 32 member countries. Its acts as a regionally body to govern and direct the policies of Caribbean tourism ensuring that fair play is always used.

REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONT’D

Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) CHTA, founded in 1962, represents the entire

spectrum of the hospitality industry's private sector including 36 national hotel associations across the Caribbean region, over 850 hotel members with approximately 125,500 rooms, and more than 600 supplier companies represented as 'Allied' members.

Headquarters in Miami, Florida. Caribbean Tourism Research Council

(CTRC) Involved in providing consulted advice and

technical assistance in research matters; located in Barbados.

REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONT’D Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC)

A marketing and business development unit, owned equally by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

Its mission is: To own, promote, protect, advance and enhance the Caribbean brand.

Combines the resources of the Caribbean region’s destinations, accommodations and service providers to create a viable, cohesive, business unit that is able to identify commercial opportunities and allow the members of CHTA and CTO to benefit collectively from those opportunities in ways that individually they could not. 

Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) A non-profit trade organization (an alliance and partnership of travel

organizations) that represents and speaks for the common interests of the US travel industry

A public voice and political liaison for the entire industry Promotes increased travel to and within the United States through

marketing initiatives; The authoritative and recognized source of travel research Based in Washington, D.C.

REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONT’D

American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) World’s leading association of travel professionals; members

include travel agents and the companies whose products they sell such as tours, cruises, hotels, car rentals, etc.; leading advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the travelling public; primarily involved in policy, planning, product improvement and development.

Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Regulate airline routes, scheduling of prices and fares of air

travel in the United States; located in Washington DC. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)

An agency of the Department of Transportation of the US government; prime function is the regulation of airport administrators.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention Provides up-to-date, accurate medical travel information,

including disease warnings and vaccination requirements.

Many countries have created National Tourism Organizations (NTO’s) to take on the marketing and promotional aspects of tourism. In most cases the NTO is a statutory board or an executive agency meaning that it has some degree of autonomy from the government in its budget and decision making powers. NTO act as national bodies for tourism concerns, it governs and oversees the country’s tourism drive. In many cases NTO will fall under the mandate of the ministry of tourism, controlled by the tourism minister.

ORGANIZATIONS IN JAMAICA Ministry of Tourism

The primary responsibility of the Ministry of Tourism is the overall development of the tourism industry. It seeks to: Facilitate sustainable development of the tourism

product and investment in the tourism industry as a whole

Ensure maintenance of standards and human resource development and training

Facilitate marketing and promotion of the tourism product in such a way that Jamaica will remain a premier tourist destination

Maximise the social and economic benefits for the Jamaican people.

Structure of Jamaica’s tourism environment

The Ministry of Tourism

Initiate and establish policy/framework for tourism development and sustainability

Safeguard the industry via enacting laws and regulations

Ensure compliance to regulations Reduce bureaucracy Develop linkages for sustainability

Who is the minister of tourism?

ORGANIZATIONS IN JAMAICA CONT’D Tourism Product Development Company

Limited (TPDCo) TPDCo Limited has the mandate of developing and

improving Jamaica’s tourism product. Its main responsibilities are: Returning the national budget to a surplus position Acting as a catalyst and facilitator in developing and

implementing plans to improve the main resort areas Identifying and prioritizing the area with potential for

enhancing Jamaica’s tourism product, and to plan, develop and implement initiatives, in order to improve Jamaica’s competitiveness as a preferred tourism destination

Facilitating the best practicable reconciliation of aesthetic, cultural, architectural, economic and environmental considerations, all of which must be taken into account in securing co-operation from all parties concerned, in any specific project.  

Eg. Team Jamaica Certification + Training

The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDco.)

Facilitate the development and sustainability of the product (promulgation of standard /standard assessment/consultations /seminars /workshops build awareness to Benchmarks)

Monitor , inspect and evaluate the product/services Provide product data to facilitate

development/sustainability Facilitate the development regarding safeguards for the

product/services Facilitate development of Human Resource Training

(Team Jamaica /skills training) Develop linkages with relevant agencies-public and

private (health/security/safety/environment/parish councils-accommodation/attractions/cruise ship agents/tour operators /ground transport operators etc)

http://www.tpdco.org/

ORGANIZATIONS IN JAMAICA CONT’D

Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB)Founded in 1965Headquartered in a modern office building

in New Kingston, JTB is responsible for marketing Jamaica so the island will retain its position as the Caribbean's premier tourism destination.

Carries out its mission through an international network of offices and representatives in key markets - New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, London, Frankfurt, Toyko, Rome, Dallas, Atlanta, Paris, etc.

http://www.jtbonline.org/pages/default.aspx

The Jamaica Tourist Board Promote and market the destination Implement market research Develop linkages with destination

management companies ( local and foreign / tour operators/travel agents)

Assess product offerings ensure standard requirements

Develop linkages with local providers/agencies (JHTA/AJAL) Ass. Of Jamaica Attractions Ltd.

Ensure compliance to regulations (Tourist Board Act)

What is the marketing slogan for Jamaica right now? Once you go, you know

The JTB has offices in many countries. Can someone tell me why, and where may you find one

ORGANIZATIONS IN JAMAICA CONT’D Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF)

An agency of the Ministry of TourismPlays a pivotal role to improve the

country's tourism product, by providing funds for sustainable development projects.

Established in 2005 with the primary role of funding projects earmarked for execution in the Tourism Master Plan, which is aimed at enhancing Jamaica's image and positioning the country as a premier tourist destination.

Spruce Up Jamaica Campaign etc

ORGANIZATIONS IN JAMAICA CONT’D

Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA)Established in 1961The organisation which represents

Jamaican hotels, other visitor accommodations as well as most suppliers of goods and services to the tourism industry.

The main aim of the JHTA is to promote the development of Jamaica’s hospitality industry and to represent the interests of its members in all fora, locally, regionally and internationally. 

Host & conduct trade shows and sales blitz worldwide.. Has Various chapters to represent the various Resort Areas

The Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA) is the organization, which represents

Jamaican hotels, other visitor accommodations as well as most suppliers of goods and services to the tourism industry. The main aim of the JHTA is to promote the development of Jamaica’s hospitality industry and to represent the interests of its members in all foray, locally, regionally and internationally. 

http://www.jhta.org/

CONTINUE

There are many other agencies that I could list, however I gave you the most predominant ones. I could have mentioned NEPA, the national environment and planning agency. Who is a government agency with a strict mandate to protect the environment and ensure its sustainability. (land, water sheds, flora and fauna)

Jamaica Vacation Market and develop vertical integration via

packaging the product –air links /tour operators/travel agencies and accommodation

Eg. Provision of Airline marketing and Air Seat Risk Support

List of the Private Sector organizations involved with local tourism

Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association Association of Jamaica Attractions Jamaica Association of Villas and

apartments Jamaica association of tour operators

(JUTA ect.)

The Role of the Public sector Implement a framework for development (policy/master

plans) Build linkages / partnerships for development and

sustainability (public and private sectors) Safeguard industry (laws and regulation/monitoring

/compliance) Facilitate Development

-infrastructure/investment/human resource/product diversification

Ensure environmental sustainability -capacity carrying/environmental impacts/resort development/impact assessments

Enhance visitor experience -facilitate development of standards/benchmarks/ quality offerings

Create employment opportunities Provide an environment to attract investment Coordinate, plan; legislate and regulate and ensure that

social and environment are included in development

The Role of Tour Operators in tourism  Tour operators are commercial tourism

firms that specialize in the manufacture of travel packages. The term tour wholesalers and tour operators are often used interchangeably however the wholesaling function means assembling the tour. It involves tour planning, preparation, marketing and reservations. By definition a wholesaler doesn’t sell directly to the public but receives reservation from the intermediaries such as travel agents and tour escorts.

The role of the public sector

The public sector is that part of economic and administrative life that deals with the delivery of goods and services by and for the government, whether national, regional or local/municipal. The public sector in tourism is concerned with national benefits presented through politics, which can embrace economic factors like balance of payments and employment.

Governments in the public sector

Tourism is subject to direct and indirect government intervention primarily because of

its employment and income producing possibilities which is an integral part of the

machinery of many modern governments, and of many government programmes in both developed and lesser-developed countries.

(Lea 1988, Pearce 1992, Richter1989).

The Role of the Private Sector in Tourism 

Both the government and the private sector have important roles to play in tourism development. The private sector’s main role is to develop and operate tourism facilities and services for visitors while maximizing financial returns, however today, many private companies focus on the social and environmental responsibilities that they must uphold in achieving profit goals.

Eg. Green Globe certification, recycling,

sponsorship and donations to community projects

Key Role of the private sector Project ideas, sponsored research studies, assessments of

supply and demand relationships, idea generation, the entrepreneurial role which is the heart of the private sector’s involvement in tourism development, development project implementation, financial risk-taking, investment and the management of operations are key roles of the private sector.

However, the private sector also provides the specialized technical skills required in the development through tourism consultants, market research firms, economists, environmental and social experts, architects, engineers, designers, lawyers, project managers and builders.

  The private sector, through its financial institutions,

others corporate lenders, and individual citizens, provides a large proportion of the financing for the investment in tourism development projects.

Non Profit organizations  NPO or the volunteer sector as its formally called, play an

important role in tourism development in most destinations. These organizations include:

Convention and visitor bureaus Chambers of commerce Travel association Foundations Historical and cultural societies Recreation and sports associations Service clubs Community associations and religious groups

The government’s role in this equation

The most widely accepted function of government in tourism development is as a stimulator or catalyst for development. Governments complement the efforts of the private sector and the non profit organizations.

http://jis.gov.jm/ministries/tourism-and-entertainment/

Areas of overlapping and clash with the Private sector

Many should not try to do what the private sector is able and willing to do. There are many countries where the two overlap. In some countries, the federal, state or provincial, and local governments are involved in the operation of parks, most of which include camping facilities.

 Many private campground operators felt that the government operated- facilities offer unfair competition and the government should not be in the campground business.

Another area of contention is the provision of boat docking facilities where both private sector and government agencies operate competitive facilities.

A further area of director competition is that of government owned airlines versus private carriers.

The reasons for Gov’t involvement in tourism

It is not always reasonable to expect tourism to develop in the manner and at the speed contemplated in the tourism plan if left entirely to the private sector. Government then finds themselves with a more direct role in tourism of monitoring and watch dogging the sector. (To be more specific ) Reasons vs situations

 

Bankruptcy Existing tourism facilities becomes bankrupt and cannot

be sold on the market; the government is obligated to acquire the facility. The reverse for air Jamaica

Pilots or demonstration projects Government wants to encourage private sector

development by pioneering new types of developments through demonstration or pilot projects

 

Profitability Concerns Private sector is unwilling to finance a project because of

limited profit potential; the government has given this project a high priority due to its regional economic contributions or its pivotal role in stimulating tourism.

Social tourism Government wants to provide low-cost vacation

opportunities for disadvantaged groups within the population, such as the poor, the sick, victims of tragedy and the aged.

REFERENCE

• (http://www.jtbonline.org/pages/default.aspx).

• (http://jis.gov.jm/ministries/tourism-and-entertainment/).

• (http://www.jhta.org/).