Integrated knowledge toward experiential tourism Erasmus Project

Project Title

Integrated knowledge toward experiential tourism

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Rural development and urbanisation; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship)

Project Summary

The project had the aim to improve skills and competences in the rural tourism sector, especially for the hospitality industry and services, by developing the contents related to the experimental tourism approach. Experimental tourism is the current trend in tourism, which is recognized by tourism services, tourism operators or entry agencies, while it is not well exploited by the hospitality industry. In order to achieve its objectives, the project develops a training path and associated tools aimed at equipping tourism professionals with the skills needed to implement an experimental approach and very personalized marketing skills and skills. Experimental tourism has become the current term that includes a variety of tourism and travel categories, including: cultural tourism, ecotourism, educational trips, experimental tourism, cultural tourism and natural tourism where activities are environmentally friendly, respecting culture in the host area and trying to experiment and learn, back and look. Experimental tourism includes active participation, involvement, and even immersion. It is, in particular, a sense of participation that attracts tourists and builds loyalty on the contemporary tourism market. This is also evidenced by the proliferation of tourism services in the sharing economy around the world, which have the particularity of allowing tourists to “experience the real experience”. The results were achieved through two main outcomes: O1: EXPERIENCIAL TOURISM STRATEGIES: GUIDE TO RURAL TOURISM PROFESSIONALS O2: THE ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT The idea of the project was raised from the shared experiences of the project partners and the analysis of the recent trends of the tourist market. Some of the partners have already collaborated in various actions, either in the field of rural tourism or in the field of vocational education. Other partners are new to the program, so much of the experiences and practices to consolidate all organizations involved. The action the project wanted to implement: Innovative skills inspired by the experimental tourism approach, powerful capabilities in customizing services and entrepreneurial attitude. Therefore, the organizations involved in the project represent these areas of interest and have brought knowledge and expertise to the general development of project activities in different ways. The organization is an important representation of the different geographical features in Europe: North, Central, South and Eastern Europe, which have experiences in different trends and tourist flows but share the common denominator of being placed in territories considered “rural”.
Due to this variety of representation, the funded model included the results of different traditions and expertise at EU level and the requirements of a variety of tourist markets. The model is easily adaptable to other contexts and is accessible in several ways: – ECVET tools allows recognition of learning outcomes across all EU Member States; – The content is aligned with European policy and quality standards in terms of sustainability and energy management – the model was tested in different EU countries, taking into account feedback and user reviews – educational content and tools are available online, available and translated in all languages of partnership, therefore, are accessible in many ways and for many people.
The main outcome of the project is the definition of the vocational training model by applying the practices of experimental tourism and approaching the hotels in the rural tourism environment, which leads to the improvement of their skills and aptitudes and to defining the service strategy towards a more consumer oriented product. Furthermore, the project aims to introduce ECVET principles within the model, so that mobility and European recognition of competences are improved from a wider perspective.
Rural tourism professionals after training are able to focus their marketing strategy and product development on the experiential approach that has been proven to be the current way of involving consumers, especially in rural tourism and tourism in general.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 170120,25 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASOCIATIA ANTREC NEAMT & Country: RO

Project Partners

• EUROCREA MERCHANT SRL
• NORTH WEST REGIONAL COLLEGE
• EUROGITES – FEDERATION EUROPEENNE DE TOURISME RURAL
• DANIEL SG LTD
• AVACA TECHNOLOGIES CONSULTING, INFORMATICS AE
• C.V. Agrotourism Co Ltd