Developing world-class destinations

Date: 05 September 2008
Author: taylor
Last updated: 22/02/2008 09:53:51
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Scenery, adventure and activity breaks in the Highlands

The tourism industry of the 21st Century is a very different place from that of, say, 20 or 30 years ago. There is simply no comparison as far as customer choice is concerned: the world really is your oyster. The customer of today is discerning and increasingly well informed. To cater for this new breed of customer we must think big. We must think global.

For Highlands and Islands tourism to continue to grow, we must focus on competing not just on a national or European stage – but a global one. What we offer in the Highlands and Islands has to be world-class quality and best of breed. Top priority, then, is the development of world-class destinations; iconic brands that are the primary lure in persuading visitors into the Highlands and Islands.

But it is not merely about creating stand-alone attractions, the emphasis is on building up the surrounding tourism infrastructure to become part of the wider whole of world-class destinations. Put another way, to attract and disperse visitors throughout the region by levering the maximum from our undeniable world-class assets.

Take our taster tours a very small sample of projects that HIE has helped or provided assistance for in the Highlands and Islands. Find out more about what constitutes a world-class destination. Or gauge your own performance with the Hospitality Assured online tool.

Key links

Tourism and communities Tourism and how it impacts on local communitiesTaster tours Tourism taster tours and showcases

World-class destinations What do we mean by world-class destinations?Hospitality Assured Excellence in tourism: Hospitality Assured, an online self-evaluation tool and road map to accreditationBusiness leadership and productivity Why business leadership is important for the future success of tourismInternationalisation Tourism in the Highlands and Islands performs on the world stage, so fundamental to capturing our share of the market is the development of international clientele.Quality and training Quality assurance in tourismTaster tours Tourism taster tours and showcasesSend a postcard Send a virtual postcard from the Highlands and Islands

This is a printable version of www.hie.co.uk/world-class-showcase.html

to view this page please visit the site and click World-class destinations on the menu.