The tourism International Learning Journey programme has been organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is being managed by the Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism Business Development based at Glasgow Caledonian University.

It kicked off today (Friday 21st February) with a workshop at HIE's head office in Inverness before delegates returned home to start work on a series of distance learning assignments.

At the end of March the group will head off to the Canadian Rockies in Canada for a five-day intensive programme looking at case studies of best practice models delivering tourism products and services.

On return the group will continue with distance learning assignments before becoming ambassadors to disseminate helpful information from the programme to other tourism-related businesses across the Highlands and Islands.

Audrey MacLennan, HIE's development manager with responsibility for tourism skills, said:  "Tourism is a major player in the economy of the Highlands and Islands, and it is essential that operators are given the necessary support to enable them to meet the growing expectations of visitors to the area.  It is also important that the experience gained by participants in the programme is shared with others in the tourism sector, to spread the benefits as widely as possible."

Prof. John Lennon of the Moffat Centre, who also acts as an independent policy advisor to VisitScotland said:  "Benchmarking and best practice are now established in many industries as crucial techniques in developing real competitive advantage.  The Canadian Rockies offer many lessons in tourism products and services which can assist in driving innovation in the tourism industry."

Among the delegates on the programme is Laurence Young, Chairman of The Freedom of the Glen Family of Hotels and member of the Scottish Tourism Innovation Group. Commenting on the programme, he said: "It's often difficult to find time to raise one's head above the grinding pressures of business.  But every time I get away from the work routine, when I get back to it, I find there are better, smarter ways of getting the old stuff done more quickly.  And new things to do which bear better fruits! 
 
"The trip to Banff is an extra-ordinary and very special opportunity to see how others approach business problems that are common to us all.  I know we will find innovation, creativity and wisdom at play - and look forward to sharing this learning back home."