The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented global crisis, significantly affecting young Europeans. The UpSocial project focuses on three main areas:
Digital Skills and Competences
Youth Employability
Entrepreneurial Learning - Entrepreneurship Education
The project's specific objectives align with the main areas of focus, aiming to increase youth organizations' capacities, contribute to inclusion and diversity, facilitate young people's transition to the labor market, promote key competencies, and consolidate an inclusive tourism model.
Module 1, "Introduction," introduces the transformative Digital Tourism Toolkit, empowering youth trainers and entrepreneurs in the dynamic digital tourism landscape. It highlights the tourism sector's global economic impact and its significance, mentioning international tourist numbers and GDP contribution. The module emphasizes tourism's economic and societal importance, extending to transportation, food, retail sectors, and community revenue generation.
Module 2's introduction explores "Understanding Digital Tourism" in two sections. First, it delves into the concept's definition, impact, and evolution. Then, it examines the advantages: enhanced visibility, better customer experience, efficiency, and novel business prospects.
Module 3, "Entrepreneurial Skills for Digital Tourism," is divided into sections A, B, and C. It explores entrepreneurship's impact on the tourism economy and its social aspects, along with essential entrepreneurial skills such as risk-taking, creativity, decision-making, problem-solving, financial literacy, teamwork, and technology usage. The role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in entrepreneurship is also emphasized, covering its applications, impact, emerging trends, and digital literacy's significance for entrepreneurs in the tourism sector.
Module 4, "Developing Volunteering Initiatives in Digital Tourism," begins with an overview and history of volunteering in tourism, covering concepts, historical context, and impacts. The role of volunteering in supporting communities, promoting culture, and enhancing tourism is discussed. Benefits for young people engaging in volunteering are highlighted. The integration of digital and volunteering aspects is explored, emphasizing technology's significance, best practices, and the need for sustainability and inclusion in designing digital tourism volunteer programs.
Module 5, "Best Practices and Case Studies," explores effective strategies in digital tourism entrepreneurship. It delves into building trust, sustainability, competitiveness, social media management, and strategic partnerships. Business models, like online travel agencies and technology-oriented models, are explained. Success stories include WeChat's use in Helsinki, personalized itineraries in Nice and Malaga, and AI in Copenhagen. The module concludes with references and readings.
Module 4, "Resources and Tools," provides an overview of its purpose, target audience, and selection criteria. A diverse collection of resources and tools for youth trainers and young entrepreneurs is offered, including communication, travel planning, navigation apps, language translation, and virtual experiences. It also covers tools for digital literacy, entrepreneurship, innovation, volunteering, and social entrepreneurship skills. Future aspects like sustainability and privacy challenges in digital tourism are mentioned. The module concludes with a comprehensive view of resources and tools.
Module 7, "Conclusion," wraps up the Digital Tourism Toolkit's significance. It equips youth trainers and entrepreneurs with essential skills for digital entrepreneurship and social innovation in tourism. The toolkit's objectives include fostering understanding of digital tourism, promoting skills, supporting social entrepreneurship, and translating ideas into successful businesses. It empowers individuals with practical resources and adaptability. While valuable, the toolkit could evolve to match industry changes. The toolkit emphasizes the need for skills in navigating digital transformation's impact on the tourism industry for young people.
The activities in this project can be implemented as part of the normal planning, allowing for adapting the times to be dedicated to the actions in a coherent way with the educational goals. Suggestions on time dedication are provided, but each facilitator can adjust as needed.
The handbook is designed for youth workers to be used autonomously. Each module and the corresponding units can be implemented individually or inserted into a new or existing learning path/curriculum.
Each module and teaching unit contains a list of further recommended reading as well as resources quoted.
Collaboration with Local Communities: Engaging with local organizations may enhance the impact of educational activities.
Continuous Feedback and Improvement: Encourage participants to provide feedback and continuously improve the materials and approach.
We hope that this handbook will be a useful and inspiring tool to accompany youth workers in their daily activities with young people. Enjoy reading and good luck!