Join eTourism Lab @ BU Tourism Futures Forum at WTM2015 and Tourism Routes and the Holy Grail

Tuesday 3 November
World Travel Market, ExCeL, London,
South Gallery 13&14

Chaired by Professor Dimitrios Buhalis

Free Registration: http://goo.gl/FLnXRQ
Please note the Forum is Free but you need to register and gain access to www.wtmlondon.com/‎

BU Tourism Futures Forum @ WTM2015   South Gallery 13&14   15.00 – 16:30

Bournemouth University tourism experts organise again the BU Tourism Futures Forum @ WTM2015 and engage leading tourism practitioners from around the world on an interactive discussion to examine the future of tourism. The global challenges and opportunities for both tourism destinations and suppliers around the world require innovation in management and operations, calling for a major rethinking of both strategic and tactical Tourism Management.

The Tourism Futures Forum will provide an insight into the future dimensions of the tourism industry. It examines major trends in tourism demand and supply and explores the strategic changes that lead to the international tourism industry restructuring. The Forum will be organised by The University of Bournemouth in partnership with the World Travel Market and the TravelDailyNews are organising this forum to facilitate debate about the key strategic changes and to engage in a discussion about the successful response of the industry. The event will involve two short research-based presentations to stimulate discussion. Chairman Prof Dimitrios Buhalis will encourage all participants to contribute to the debate and discussion.

Short Presentations : © indicated confirmed

© Christopher Rodrigues (VisitBritain) Global trends and British Tourism
Marcio Favila (UNWTO) Global Tourism trends and developments
© Professor Dimitrios Buhalis (Bournemouth University): Smartness and smart tourism

Invited Panelists:  © indicated confirmed

Alexandros Angelopoulos, Aldemar, Greece
Earlston McPHEE Bahamas, Bahamas
Andreas Andreadis,, Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises, Greece
Helena Egan, Tripadvisor
Sofia Panayiotaki PRMediaCo
Ufi Ibrahim, British Hospitality Association
Claire Steiner, The Institute of Travel and Tourism
Xu Jing, UNWTO

Tourism Routes and the Holy Grail

 16:30-18.00
Chaired by Professor Dimitrios Buhalis

Tourist routes have been established as a successful method of linking places and developing tourism. The Holy Grail EU-sponsored research project aims to establish a route as a way of developing and improving regional tourism throughout Europe based on Spirituality, Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage. Central to this is the creation of a new tourism product and associated opportunities for tourism businesses, but also increasing the attractiveness and awareness of different regions, which spans six different countries. In Christian tradition, the Holy Grail was the cup Jesus used at the Last Supper. This was subsequently used to collect Jesus’ blood during his crucifixion. It was said to have the power to heal all wounds.

The research has shown the different traditions linking the Grail to sites in the UK – from biblical references, association with the Knights Templar and Arthurian legend to more modern popular cultural references including Monty Python and the Da Vinci Code. The project will not only lead to a boost for local economies, but will also serve to unite different European cultures and the tourism industry behind the Grail tradition.

Speakers:

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis (Bournemouth University): Routes and Tourism
Alla Peressolova (UNWTO Silk Road Programme Manager): Routes and tourism development – the Silk Road
Professor Paul Fidgeon (University of West London) :The Holy Grail as a unifying narrative for European Tourism
Open focus group discussion on the Holly Route and tourism development