Recreation, Sport & Tourism

Olympics : news

2012-01-27T16:59:00.000Z

With exactly 6 months to go to the Olympics, a handover to LOCOG marked the day with work to begin on fitting out almost 3,000 apartments in the Olympic and Paralympic Village.

Travelmole today reports on an ABTA poll of 2018 adults to find out what Brits, not attending the Olympics, are planning to do instead. The poll revealed that 12% would be going overseas between July 27 and August 12; the older generation are least keen to stay in the UK, with 22% of over 65s intending to head overseas to avoid the event, and 18% of 55-64 year olds. This figure may well be offset by numbers predicted to visit the UK this year by VisitBritain.

Key dates to the Olympics can be found here.

Strategic Framework Second Phase Action Plans

2012-01-24T10:30:00.000Z

This month's Bulletin is a message from CEO, James Berresford who talks about the Strategic Framework for Tourism in England 2010–2020, which was launched in March 2010 and identified the need to develop nine Action Plans to assist in coordinating and driving forward priority actions.

The aim of this consultation is to gain your feedback on the actions identified. In particular is the need to identify:

• Who will take responsibility for leading each action and driving its implementation?

• Which organisations, businesses and partners should sign-up to deliver the actions in their area, business, organisation, destination or association?

VisitBritain are seeking feedback from all parties with a stake in the visitor economy, on each of the Action Plans. To help you formulate your response, a set of consultation questions is included at the end of each Action Plan.

The consultation closes on 1 March 2012 and all feedback should be emailed to frameworkconsultation@visitengland.org. Please clearly label which Action Plan your feedback relates to or whether your feedback is general and relates to all of the Action Plans. The completed Action Plans will be published in March 2012.

Find out more here

Costa Concordia Disaster - 2

2012-01-20T16:46:00.001Z

Today, Travelmole's newsletter reports on Concordia's emergency procedures following new video footage, in this article. Euromonitor comments on the likely cost of the tragedy to the cruise ship industry whilst Thomas Cook offer their own opinion. The disaster has so far claimed 11 lives with 24 passengers still missing.

Crisis Management - Costa Concordia Disaster

2012-01-19T09:23:00.000Z

In the latest issue of Docleaf's newsletter, the recent Costa Concordia cruise ship tragedy is discussed, in this case from a crisis management viewpoint; the author goes on to mention an article which appeared in USA Today, on how the disaster may impact the cruise ship industry.

Can UK sport do business?

2012-01-18T09:00:00.001Z

This month’s issue of Management Today takes a peek at the sport business model in the UK. Contents include Business of Sport Special and Life after Sport : where next after hanging up the boots.

Read these articles + more online

Extreme Sport

2012-01-16T16:51:00.001Z

A series of fascinating photographs exploring the non-competitive sport of Parkour, high energy sport that involves moving through landscapes by running, climbing and jumping launches at The Public.

The exhibition runs from 27 January to 20 May 2012 -

find out more here

Underwater tunnelling, suspended electric wires, broken glass, mudpools and fire - this describes an assult course for extreme running, which according to this article by the BBC, is becoming increasingly popular

ABTA magazine

2012-01-13T16:04:00.001Z

Fancy putting your feet up with a magazine this weekend?

Then have a flick through ABTA magazine online...

This month the spotlight is on West Africa, Austria and sporting destinations in 2012, with special reports on Cape Town, New Zealand, St Vincent and the Grenadines. As well as the latest industry reports, they list destination trends to watch this year.

Date for your diary

2012-01-12T13:39:00.004Z

Where : Rooms 501 & 502, UCB, Colmore Row, Birmingham

When : 11am-1pm on Monday, 16th January 2012

Who : MA Marketing students

You are welcomed to an exhibition by the students, to showcase the culmination of their work and to demonstrate the creativity of their ideas for a client organisation. Please come along and share your opinion, expertise and feedback on their style of presentation and level of creativity.

2012 Travel Trends Report

2012-01-12T09:41:00.001Z

ABTA has published a report on what they believe will be the key travel trends this year, such as:

Growth in demand for specialist holidays
Luxury and budget breaks expected to perform well
Baby boomers set to fuel the market
High street bookings on the rise
Tried and tested destinations likely to be popular
More weddings abroad

Find out more and download the report here

Birmingham - a foodies' paradise!

2012-01-11T08:00:00.002Z

The newly opened Spiceal Street

It's what we always suspected but now it's been confirmed - Birmingham is one of the greatest places to eat out! So much so, it's worth travelling across the world for - that's according to the New York Times, which recently published an article listing the top 45 places to visit in 2012.

Eurostat regional yearbook 2011

2012-01-10T08:58:00.002Z

The European Commission provides a central point for statistics on the 27 Member States of the EU, covering 16 areas - namely population, labour market, labour cost, education, health, European cities, gross domestic product, household accounts, structural business statistics, information society, tourism, land cover and land use, coastal regions, transport, science, technology and innovation as well as a study on trends in densely and thinly populated areas.The Eurostat regional yearbook 2011 gives a detailed picture of a large number of statistical fields in the 27 Member States of the European Union, as well as in EFTA and candidate countries. The text of each chapter has been written by specialists in statistics and is accompanied by maps, figures and tables.

Download the Yearbook

ICOT 2012

2012-01-10T03:55:00.000Z

ICOT 2012

Archanes, Crete, Greece - 23-26 May 2012

ICOT 2012 aims to contribute to the ongoing debate on the issues posed by special interest tourism. Although special interest tourism is being seen by many governments and tourism organisations as a means of alleviating the impacts of mass tourism, the conference will argue that little is still known in this area, therefore the conference will seek to inform future policy on the management of special interest tourism projects. More details can be found on their website.

On what constitutes a Package Holiday

2012-01-09T09:48:00.004Z

"It's important that agents are explicit with their customers on what they are selling and they ensure their customers understand that they are, where relevant, only acting as an agent. They need to ensure the customer understands what this means in the event of any incidents whilst on their holiday...If an agent is advertising an inclusive price then it's perceived that they are advertising a package and therefore need to comply with the Package Travel Regulations."

These comments came from Julia Lo Bue-Said, leisure director of consortium Advantage Travel Centres, following a case where a customer was hurt while on a holiday he had booked through Qwerty Travel, featured on Teletext Holidays...
read more

Call for papers

2012-01-07T09:27:00.000Z

Anthropology in the World Conference

8th-10th June 2012 - at the British Museum, Clore Centre.

Deadline for abstracts is 16th January.

Find out more here...

RGS-IBG Annual Conference : The Geographies of Leisure?

3rd-5th July 2012 - to be held at Edinburgh University

Deadline for abstracts is 23rd January

Find out more here...

Soundtracks: Music, Tourism and Travel conference
6-9 July 2012 - in Liverpool

Deadline for abstracts is 6th February

Find out more here...

Welcome Back!

2012-01-06T10:46:00.001Z

Hope you're all feeling rested and ready for a new semester!

Don't forget workshops resume next Monday; as usual, you will find a Subject Librarian in the LSDC (next to Finance, first floor) between 1-2pm, Monday to Thursday. If you need help with resources outside of these times, please drop me an email; alternatively I can be contacted by phone (ext: 2412) or pop into the office.

You can also find us at the Postgrad centre on Tuesdays (1-2pm) and Thursdays (12-1pm).

2011-12-16T12:13:00.000Z

RASAALA Journal

2011-12-16T11:23:00.000Z

Recreation and Society in Africa, Asia & Latin America (RASAALA) is an open access e-journal; the current issue covers lifestyle migration and an archive is available. They are currently inviting papers on the subject of Sport Event Legacies (abstract deadline 22/2/120 and the Power of Place: Heritage, Archaeological and Sacred (abstract deadline 16/1/12).

Call for papers

2011-12-16T11:01:00.000Z

This is a request for submission of full research papers, working papers, and/or posters for the 7th International Coastal & Marine Tourism Congress. It will take place 4-8 June 2012 in the Netherlands with keynote speakers, Dr Sheela Agarwal and Dr Brian Wheeller. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 13th January 2012.

2011-12-15T11:50:00.001Z

Registration is now open for ENTER2012 - 'eTourism : present and future services & applications' at Helsingbord, Sweden from 24th-27th January 2012. Register here

Journal of Tourism Consumption & Practice

2011-12-15T10:17:00.038Z

The current issue of this journal is now available online; contents include the following articles:

Tracking tourists: Mobility, experiences and the supply-demand gap in a Swedish mountain resort. Bo Svensson, Robert Pettersson and Ingrid Zakrisson

Madrid: Literary Fiction and the Imaginary Urban Destination.Graham Busby, Maximiliano E. Korstanje and Charlie Mansfield

Research Notes:

Hispaniola: The future tourism Destination of the Caribbean? Hugues Séraphin

Conference Reports:

British and American Studies XXI, Timisoara, 19-21 May 2011
Sixth Annual International Conference on Tourism, Athens, 1-4 July 2010

Book Review:

Flirting With Space: Journeys and Creativity by David Crouch. Reviewed by Les Roberts

Seminar

2011-12-08T09:45:00.000Z

The Centre for Death in Society (University of Bath), will be hosting a morning seminar tomorrow, 9th December, on Death Education in the UK. If you are unable to make it, Dr Philip Stone will be making his lecture slides available on his website next week.

Seeking Sport Charity Trustees

2011-12-06T09:08:00.007Z

ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT SPORT?
WANT TO HELP CHANGE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE?
THEN WHY NOT JOIN OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES?

Sport 4 Life is a local charity dedicated to bringing about real improvements to local communities and to the lives of children and young people most in need in Birmingham; they are now looking for 2 new Trustees to join the team - click here for more details.

Event

2011-12-05T14:00:00.001Z

Can culture transform our cities?

Can we justify expending precious resources in an age of austerity?

Does art transform communities?

Beyond the Creative City:
Cultural Policy in an Age of Scarcity

Be prepared to be inspired, provoked and challenged by this Talking Cities lecture by Dr Jonathan Vickery, Associate Professor in the Centre for Cultural Policy Studies, University of Warwick.

Date: Thursday 8 December 2011

Time: 6pm

Venu: MADE, 7 Newhall Square, Birmingham B3 1RY

Organiser & Tickets: MADE

IQS Travel

2011-12-05T08:34:00.001Z

I spoke about IQS Travel in a previous post, when they opened earlier this year. Just months later, they are celebrating after winning the Social Enterprise West Midlands (SEWM) 'Choose Social Enterprise' SE Profit Award ! find out more...

Climb a wall

2011-11-29T12:04:00.001Z

The BMC website provides news, features and events on climbing; equipment, safety and medical advice is available as well as various downloadable guidebooks. Whether you want to get the hang of climbing or need to stretch your skills a little further, the BMC Climbing Wall Directory gives details of all facilities around the UK here or try the Regional Access database. Their website also very helpfully contains videos, giving a step by step guide to beginners. For those researching the topic, grab this survey on climbing wall users,

Johnny Dawes will be making a flying visit to the Redpoint Climbing Centre in Birmingham soon - book now for a masterclass or lecture.

Catch some of the action...

2012 Adventure Travel World Summit

2011-11-18T09:28:00.000Z

Registration is now open for the ninth Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) to be held at Lucerne in Switzerland, from 8th to 11th October 2012. Adventure Travel Trade Association’s (ATTA) annual event will be held at the KKL Luzern (Culture and Congress Centre), built by renowned architect Jean Nouvel and is expected to draw 600 adventure tourism professionals from more than 50 nations more...

Links to reports and pictures from previous summits, can be found on this page.

2012 - Year of the Domestic Holiday?

2011-11-17T12:52:00.001Z

Britannia Hotel, Manchester

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed plans for hotel operators across the UK to offer discounts to British holidaymakers next year as part of efforts to boost domestic tourism. Addressing the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Hunt said he is in talks regarding the possibility of offering a 20.12 per cent discount at hotels and B&Bs. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and associated events, including the Torch Relay, were highlighted by Hunt as having the potential to “transform” the UK’s tourism sector. Working in partnership with tourism minister John Penrose, Hunt said the government will be looking to turn “strong interest into good business”. Last month, Hunt announced that £3m from the Olympic budget had been allocated to help boost domestic tourism based around the Torch Relay and the Cultural Olympiad. Hunt said: “We want to use next year to transform our domestic tourism industry. We want next year to be the year to have a holiday at home.” (IMSPA Digital magazine, Oct 11)

IMSPA news

2011-11-17T10:12:00.000Z

Sean Holt, the interim chief executive officer of the new Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA), has said the body will look to draw members from a much broader cohort than its forerunners. In an interview with Leisure Management, Holt said that while core membership will still comprise those employed by operators and suppliers, the institute hopes to attract professionals working across the physical activity sector. The broadening of the net is part of IMSPA’s aim to represent the whole of the active leisure sector. IMSPA was formed as the result of a merger of Institute of Sport and Recreation Management and the Institute for Sport, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL). While IMSPA will look to expand its reach within the active leisure sector, Holt added there would be less involvement with parks – formerly a key element of ISPAL. Read the full interview

Top Cities of 2012

2011-11-02T10:00:00.000Z

Lonely Planet have just released their top 10 cities
for 2012,

catch them here!

Employability Week

2011-11-01T14:51:00.001Z

Employability Week is full of activities and events designed to support UCB students as you develop your career options and prepare to enter the world of work. Themes this year are:

Employability Skills Activities
Short courses to help boost your skills and CV!
Employer events

Find out more here

VisitEngland’s Regional Growth Fund Bid is Successful

2011-11-01T11:32:00.000Z

A message from James Berresford, CEO, VisitEngland:

"I am delighted to inform you that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced today that VisitEngland’s bid for funding from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) was successful.

The money will be used on a three-year project entitled, Growing Tourism Locally which has been designed to stimulate economic growth and employment locally. A key part of the project will be a national campaign aimed at inspiring Britons to take more short breaks and holidays at home and in doing so create the equivalent of 9,500 full time jobs across the country.

VisitEngland will work with tourism partners and the private sector at a national and local level. Partners will manage elements of the campaign for their destinations, whilst VisitEngland will manage the national strategy supporting this local activity. The campaign will capitalise on next year’s once-in-a-generation events like The Diamond Jubilee, the Torch Relay, the Cultural Olympiad and the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games that will act as a catalyst to showcase the whole of the country.

The funding will be divided into two parts, with some allocated to a number of destination partners who will work closely with VisitEngland to design and implement their campaigns, and the rest will be devoted to thematic activities, enabling a greater number of destinations to get involved and benefit. The thematic campaigns include countryside, heritage, coastal and business tourism.

VisitEngland and its delivery partners will work closely with private sector partners to match fund the grant received from the RGF. VisitEngland is currently working with Government on the next stage of the RGF process to confirm the fine detail and the terms and conditions of the funding.

This is great news for tourism businesses and English destinations and we will keep you up to date with the progress".

Tourism and more.com

2011-10-31T14:01:00.003Z

Tourism & More.com is a website set up and run by Dr Peter Tarlow (author of 'Event Risk Management and Safety') which provides details on upcoming seminars, conferences and training. It also features the 'Tourism Tidbits' newsletter, aimed at giving "travel professionals a monthly, easy-to-read overview of creative ideas". It's published in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Turkish.

Sign up to receive the newsletter by emailing ptarlow@tourismandmore.com. Please contact them if you would like to see a particular topic covered by 'Tourism Tidbits'. Articles submitted for consideration for publication are welcomed.

Read the current issue of Tourism Tidbits here

NOW LIVE! Routledge Online - Olympic and Paralympic Games

2011-10-27T13:47:00.004+01:00

ROSO contains Olympic and Paralympic content from over 1000 book chapters and journal articles including handbooks and major reference works on themes including the media, education, gender, politics, governance, management, law, business, ethics, legacies, the environment, disability sport, athletic performance and history. Routledge has commissioned over 40 new journal special issues across disciplines on Olympic and Paralympic Studies that will be revealed on our innovative platform.

· Read a selection of articles and chapters online free of charge
· Purchase online access to individual articles of your choice
· Search the platform by theme, author or publication
· Download reading lists, case studies and teaching materials
· Watch videos as academics share their thoughts on the Games
· Find research collaborators on our Resources page
· Submit online journal articles, book reviews and proposals
· Discover worldwide Olympic/Paralympic courses, projects, events and contacts
· Enter a free monthly prize draw

· Coming Soon - communicate live with leading authorities in the field

Keep up to date with the latest Olympic and Paralympic research!

Sign up for our e-alert.

Symposium - iDTR

2011-10-27T09:33:00.000+01:00

This is an advance notice of a one day symposium convened by Dr Philip Stone and Professor Richard Sharpley to formally launch the Institute for Dark Tourism Research (iDTR) at the University of Central Lancashire (UK), will be held on 24 April 2012.

There will a panel of six keynote speakers, from both private and public sectors, the University of Cambridge, Kings College London, UCLan and the University of Limerick. The event is aimed at academics, students, industry and the media who have an interest in dark tourism.

Find out more...

Most Brits prefer to be beside the seaside...

2011-10-26T09:00:00.001+01:00

The majority of Brits prefer to head to the beach on holiday, according to the results of a recent ABTA survey. More than a third of Brits (37%) chose a beach holiday as their perfect getaway, with women (42%) preferring to be beside the seaside more than men (31%). But as the majority of people prefer to travel with their family (42%), it is likely that the men will get dragged along.

City breaks were the second most popular type of holiday, favoured by 17 percent of Brits, and more popular with men (19%) than with women (16%). Cultural breaks came third (11%) following by romantic getaways which, curiously, were more popular with men (9%, compared with 8% of women).

While family holidays were the most popular with both sexes, men were found to be more inclined to take breaks with their mates (19%) than women (16%). Considerably more men also preferred to go solo. Nine percent of men said they perferred to travel alone, compared to just two percent of women.

Split by age group, mbeach holidays were most popular among 35-44 year olds (44%), while city breaks were favoured more by 25-34 year olds (24%). The 45-54 year-old age group are the most romantic, with 13% fancying an amorous trip.

Speaking from The Travel Convention in Palma, ABTA's chief executive commented; "Our customers' ideal holiday choices are incredibly wide and varied and our survey gives a fascinating insight into what they like to do and who they like to share their ideal holiday experiences with. Whatever their choices may be, there will be an ABTA Member who is ideally placed to make sure that their dream becomes a reality."

From : Travel Daily UK

Tourismos Journal

2011-10-25T10:01:00.000+01:00

The latest issue of Tourismos is now available online and packed full of articles across a range of current topics. Here are the contents:

The impact of macroeconomic country-specific factors on international expansion of US hotel chains
The impact of carbon discharge legislation on future development of maritime tourism and cruising
Tour guiding : interpreting the challenges
Tourism activity and economic conditions in Britain
The effect of wellness brand awareness on expected and perceived service quality
Exploring the effects of destination's positioning on hotels' performance : the Milan case
The economic potential of tourism : a case study of Agra
Tourism development and politics in the Philippines
Jet ski development strategies: the case of Caspian Sea's South-West Beach
Assisted-suicide tourism : is it tourism?
Rural tourism offer and local community participation in the Gambia
Angkor heritage tourism and tourist perceptions
Considerations for sustainable tourism development: perspectives from the South Pacific
Local food in local menus : the case of Gokceada
The D.I.Y. tourist
Case Studies: benchmarking the Egyptian medical tourism sector
Against international best practices: an exploratory case study
The role of alternative types of tourism and ict strategy for the tourism industry of Lesvos
Analysis of the economic impacts of cultural festivals: the case of Calabar Carnival in Nigeria
Movies as a tool of modern tourist marketing
The development of cultural tourism: a review of the UK experience
The environmental management systems and contemporary tourism development

Research Notes:

The sustainability of tourism supply chain: a case study research
Casino v. historical tourism destinations along Route No.9 In Savannakhet City

+ book reviews!

UCB Tourism Newsletter

2011-10-21T13:07:00.000+01:00

Click here to view

the first issue of the

UCB Tourism Newsletter!

Guest Speakers 2011

2011-10-14T13:06:00.001+01:00

The UK Ropes Course Guide 2011

2011-10-11T12:40:00.001+01:00

The AAIAC has produced a document for operators, trainers, builders, inspectors and constructors of ropes courses.

This guidance is intended to assist all those involved with ropes courses to comply with EN15567:2007 which sets out the standards to be met for the installation of new ropes courses and the operation of both new and existing courses.

Tourism "vital" for the UK economy

2011-10-11T08:33:00.000+01:00

In his recent speech, the prime minister said tourism is vital to help the UK get back on track, that it's "fundamental to the rebuilding and rebalancing of our economy". He stated the industry contributes £115bn to the British economy every year, and would provide "one of the best and fastest ways" of generating jobs and income.

Listen to the speech here

No. 11 - a Hidden Tourist Gem...

2011-09-20T10:14:00.003+01:00

An article written by Nicky Gardner made the headlines in a local newspaper recently because it's all about the No.11 bus route. She has described the 27-mile route as one of 'Europe's hidden tourist gems'.

Read the article in the Birmingham Mail and an excerpt of her article can be found in Hidden Europe.

The route will also be covered in a new travel guide 'Bus-Pass Britain', out soon.

Journal of Tourism Challenges and Trends

2011-09-19T15:14:00.001+01:00

There is free access to the archive of the Journal of Tourism Challenges and Trends, available here.

Previous issues have covered the following topics:

Rural Tourism
Tourism assisting Sustainable Development
Health Tourism,
Mountain Tourism
Event Tourism

Call for Papers

2011-09-19T10:44:00.000+01:00

Call for papers:

International conference
Gender issues: Implications for leisure and tourism

March 1st-3rd, 2012
University of Aveiro, Portugal

Key Dates :
Abstract submission: December 15th, 2011
Acceptance notification: January 20th, 2012
Full paper: May 25th, 2012

For further information visit the website
or email: degei-gentour@ua.pt

Need some space?

2011-09-02T09:25:00.001+01:00

Russians plan the first hotel in space

Picture - Courtsey of The Guardian 27.08.11

2011-07-21T08:54:00.000+01:00

Courtesy of The Guardian

2nd International Forum, Russia

2011-06-28T10:35:00.001+01:00

The Second International Forum

St Petersburg, Russia 23rd - 26th November 2011

Organised by St Petersburg State University for Service and Economics, in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, the Forum will feature key speakers from the Russian hospitality, tourism and events industry. The aim is to identify the key problems and challenges faced by these industries and to find practical solutions for these. There will also be ample opportunity to network with many other organizations from around the world.

The Conference takes place in Tavrichesky Palace, the headquarters of Inter-parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States The agenda will be linked to the preparation for the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014.

Academic papers submitted will be published after the event as a book chapter. For more information and to register your interest, email c.green@shu.ac.uk.

Travel Journal.com

2011-06-24T09:45:00.002+01:00

Whether you are a first-time traveller, seasoned explorer or experienced traveller, this website aims to offer a 'travel writing home' to share your adventures. It has a search facility to see posts with photographs of visits from around the world as well as featured journals. There are useful resources and tools and current geo-related information – all in a 'state of the art and fun environment'.

Visit Travel Journal.com

2011-06-22T09:48:00.001+01:00

The winner of the 2011 World Nomads Travel Writing Scholarship was named as Zoe Smith. She’s currently in Turkey with her Rough Guides mentor, Terry Richardson. If you want to follow Zoe’s adventures, keep an eye out for #RGZoe tweets and tales from the road in upcoming Rough Guides newsletters.

Read the winning entry

2011-06-20T11:10:00.000+01:00

The Michael Hoppen Gallery are pleased to announce an exhibition of photographs by Ruth Orkin including American Girl in Italy, one of the most widely known photographs ever taken. Co-curated by Orkin's daughter, Mary Engel, the exhibition will feature rarely seen photographs from Orkin's travelogue encapsulating the tourist's experience in Italy alongside iconic images spanning Orkin’s career.

World Nomads.com

2011-06-14T10:10:00.000+01:00

WorldNomads.com was launched in 2002, with an aim to provide a range of services to help ensure the safety of independent travellers. As well as flexible travel insurance, they have created a number of tools such as language guides and travel blogs plus current travel safety information.

They also run a number of travel programs such as scholarships, where they partner with companies such as National Geographic, Sydney Morning Herald and ABC Radio to provide unique learning experiences for travellers looking to further their experience in the fields of travel documentary, podcasting, writing and photography.

'Tourism and the Truth: Stacey Dooley Investigates Kenya'

2011-06-10T14:57:00.001+01:00

In case you missed it last night, here's a link to a TV programme with Stacey Dooley investigating the side of tourism the average holidaymaker doesn't see, from hotels exploiting workers to tourist developments affecting the environment. Click here to view

Conference

2011-06-09T09:33:00.000+01:00

The Association for Tourism in Higher Education is pleased to announce its

Annual Conference and Call for Papers

VALUING TOURISM IN HIGHER EDUCATION:

Capitalising on HE-Industry Links

7th-9th December 2011, St Anne's College, Oxford

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Kurt Janson, Policy Director for Tourism Alliance

Professor Chris Cooper, Dean of Oxford Brookes Business School
Find out more here...

Sport and Recreation Alliance

2011-06-08T11:43:00.000+01:00

The Sport and Recreation Alliance is the new name for the Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR) and is the umbrella organisation for the governing and representative bodies of sport and recreation in the UK, representing more than 320 members – such as the FA, the Rugby Football Union, UK Athletics, the Ramblers, British Rowing and the Royal Academy of Dance.

Their role, as a trade association, is to speak up on behalf of their members and represent their views. They promote the interests of sport and recreation and also campaign on major issues such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy, the regulatory burden on Sports and Recreation Clubs, attracting major sporting events to the UK and improving access to waterways and countryside.

Report - More than a Game

2011-06-07T08:46:00.001+01:00

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) was set up in 2004 to help find solutions to poverty in parts of the UK. They have since produced over 50 publications looking at asocial issues and seeking to harness the experience and dedication of grass-roots organisations into the policy formation process. In January 2010, they launched six new policy areas, expanding the CSJ’s overview into areas such as youth justice, mental health, older age and sport.

This report is the second of those new areas to publish after Outcome-Based Government in January 2011, while the rest will be released over the course of the summer and autumn. 'More than a Game', seeks to examine the use of sport as a tool to engage and work with young people in deprived communities. Topics covered in the report are:

Sport, disadvantage and social reform
Governance and leadership
Maximising the potential of coaching
Access to facilities
Overcoming the barriers – volunteering and sport
London 2012 and the legacy

TravelGBI

2011-06-03T16:36:00.000+01:00

The latest online magazine from TravelGBI is now available here.

Voluntary Code of Good Governance

2011-06-03T15:07:00.000+01:00

A new 'Voluntary Code of Good Governance for the Sport and Recreation Sector', has been published by the Sport and Recreation Alliance to help sporting and recreational bodies aspire to and maintain good governance and assist those in senior management positions to run their organisations more efficiently. It has been welcomed by UK Sport and the Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Roberts. More...

View the Code of Governance in full here

IMSPA eNews

2011-05-27T16:20:00.003+01:00

Britain is failing to harness the power of sport to divert young people from a life of anti-social behaviour and crime, according to a landmark new report from a major think-tank published this week (May 24, 2011). Read more...

CPD is the mark of a Professional, and IMSPA in partnership with the Regional Management Boards (RMB's) have been working hard to put together a comprehensive and contemporary package of CPD events. Read more...

Seb Coe current Chairman of the London Organising Commitee of the Olympic games will team up with Britain's best known diver, Tom Daley to officially open SportPark at Loughborough University. Read more...

For the past 5 years, ISRM and IQL have run a competition to test the UK's Lifeguards based on 3 elements, timed swim, CPR and theory. Entries are coming in thick and fast click through to see who's winning. Read more...

Journals

2011-05-27T10:41:00.001+01:00

JURN is a search-engine dedicated to indexing free ‘open access’ ejournals in the arts and humanities. Here's a link to the directory for a list of the titles they include.

IMSPA

2011-05-27T09:21:00.002+01:00

ISRM and ISPAL merged to form a new organisation, The Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA), a single professional body for this sector in the UK. Their website offers information and resources including news, qualifications, training and events and a jobs/careers section. There is also a comprehensive online shop selling publications, posters for health and fitness suites as well as swimming pool areas, information notices, management information and training DVDs.

IQS Travel

2011-05-17T15:56:00.002+01:00

“We have opened IQS Travel because we want to make a difference for the people who find it hard to book their holidays due to an illness, disability or limited mobility. We have dedicated, experienced advisors who have the knowledge to go the “extra mile.”

Carol Goff, chairperson of Ideal For All

A brand new local travel agency, IQS Travel, opened its doors recently to offer a much needed service for people who have specific accessible needs when going on holiday. The service was officially launched by the Patron of Ideal For All, Dave Heeley (pictured above). The IQS Travel agency will not only provide a specific focus when booking holidays for disabled people, but will also be available to the wider community.

Customers can make a difference by booking their holiday with IQS travel agency, as the service is being run as a social enterprise; any profits made will be reinvested for the benefit of disadvantaged communities of Sandwell and beyond. Find out more

SportExcel CPD events

2011-05-09T15:52:00.000+01:00

Creating a quality experience - Thu 09.06.11 at Barcelo Angel Hotel, Cardiff

Project management in leisure services - Thu 09.0611 in Glasgow

Public health, fitness and gyms for the future - Wed 15.06.11 in Stirling

Project management in leisure services - Tue 05.07.11 in Bristol

Creating a quality experience - Thu 07.07.11 at Barcelo Harrogate Hotel, Harrogate

Public health, fitness and gyms for the future - Thu 14.07.11 at University of Bristol, Bristol

Public health, fitness and gyms for the future - Thu 15.09.11 in Blackpool

Public health, fitness and gyms for the future - Tue 15.11.11 in Stratford

2011-04-19T09:32:00.001+01:00

Grass Roots Football Show 2011

Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th June

Adult - £15, Child (under 16) - £7.50
Senior Citizen - £7.50, Family (2+3 ) - £37.50

(+ transaction fee)
Tickets: The Ticket Factory or 0844 338 0338

"This year we have more coaches, more experts, more players and greater participation and we aim to reinforce the Grass Roots Football Show as the must attend event for coach education and development in the UK.” Joanna Burns, Grass Roots Football Director

The Grass Roots Football Show is the premier destination for the grass roots football family with leading sports brands, governing bodies, coaches and youngsters attending - click here for further information...To discuss the hottest Grass Roots Football topics, 365 days a year, head to the dedicated Facebook page or follow Grass Roots Football on twitter.

Dark Tourism

2011-04-13T10:07:00.002+01:00

A new research paper has been written by Philip Stone entitled, 'Dark Tourism and the Cadaveric Carnival: Mediating Life and Death Narratives at Gunter von Hagens' Body Worlds'.

The fulltext article is available online here...

Film

2011-04-11T14:45:00.000+01:00

'There once was an Island'

Thursday 14th April, 7pm (doors open at 6.45)

Tickets: £4.50 (standard) / £2.50 (members)

(Membership: £10 per year, first film is free)

Birmingham Co-operative Film Society

Birmingham & Midlands Institue,

Margaret St, Birmingham B3 3BS

Find out more...

Lottery boost for student sport

2011-04-05T09:22:00.000+01:00

The Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson MP, and Olympic Gold medalist, Amy Williams, joined Sport England in Birmingham recently to announce projects benefitting from investment to get more university students playing sport. Forty-one initiatives have secured National Lottery funding through Active Universities which will give thousands of students the chance to try out a new sport, or get back into one they’ve tried before, as part of the mass participation legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Boosting student participation will have a lasting impact on grassroots sport because research shows that students who do play sport at university are far more likely to continue participating throughout their lives. It will also help tackle the issue of drop-off in sports participation that sees many young people giving up sport in their late teens and early twenties. More...

1st April 1977 : San Serriffe

2011-04-01T10:25:00.000+01:00

The Guardian published a special seven-page supplement devoted to San Serriffe, a small republic said to consist of several semi-colon-shaped islands located in the Indian Ocean. A series of articles affectionately described the geography and culture of this obscure nation. Its two main islands were named Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse. Its capital was Bodoni, and its leader was General Pica.

The Guardian's phones rang all day as readers sought more information about the idyllic holiday spot. Only a few noticed that everything about the island was named after printer's terminology. The success of this hoax is widely credited with launching the enthusiasm for April Foolery that gripped the British tabloids in subsequent decades. For more hoaxes ....

2011-03-29T09:12:00.004+01:00

@ your leisure is the new eNewsletter for Tourism, Hospitality, Leisure and Events students and has been put together based on feedback from academics. It features the lastest newsfeeds with the help of Travelmole and Pearson books, learning tips, competitions and in future issues - a student focus piece.

Sign up for quarterly issues to be emailed to you

Upcoming events...

2011-03-28T14:55:00.002+01:00

NET-STaR – Network for Social Tourism and Regeneration

Mapping the territory: social tourism in regeneration and social policy

30th March, 5 pm– 8 pm, Seminar 1 - University of Westminster

On the Surface: The Heritage of Mines and Mining

14-16 April 2011 in Innsbruck, Austria

ATLAS Spa and Wellness SIG Meeting - Innovations in Spa and Wellness Tourism
9-11th June 2011 in Finland

Landscape and tourism: The dualistic relationship

Valmiera, Latvia, 20 - 23 September 2011

Relationships in sustainable tourism development

19– 21st October 2011 in Savonlinna, Finland

First International Conference on Emerging Research Paradigms
in Business and Social Science

+ 3rd CALL FOR PAPERS for the Tourism and Hospitality Track
(including the sports and events industries)

22-24th November 2011 - Organised by Middlesex University Dubai, UAE

Tourismos - Vol. 6, no. 1

2011-03-24T15:58:00.002Z

Research Papers:

Nicosia - concerted retailing and tourism strategies to awaken a neglected and sleeping beauty
Local residents' preferences for second home tourism development policies: a choice experiment analysis
The management of uncertainty in tourism: strategic paradoxes and communication
Community-based tourism in developing countries: a case study
Ethical approaches and their application in hotel managers' decision making
Gendered leisure: are women more constrained in travel for leisure?
Market segmentation in wine tourism: a comparison of approaches
Second homes and the need for policy planning
New tourism in a new society arises from “peak oil”
Measuring results of training with ROI method: an application in a 5-star hotel in Antalya region of Turkey

Case Studies:

Mice tourism in Piedmont: economic perspective and quantitative analysis of customer satisfaction
Nautical tourism in fostering the sustainable development: a case study of Croatia’s coast and island
International tourism, domestic tourism and environmental change: environmental education can find the balance
Ecotourism and its impact on the regional economy – a study of North Bengal (India)
Rent-a-car industry: a case study in Argentina

Research Notes:

Assessment of nature-based tourism in South Kelantan, Malaysia
The role of transportation in the development of tourism in Nigeria

Click here to view the issue

Sports Grounds Safety Authority Bill

2011-03-17T13:33:00.002Z

The Sports Grounds Safety Authority Bill was given an unopposed third reading in the House of Commons on Friday, 11th March and will now go to the Lords for further deliberation. If passed through the Lords, it will mean that the Football Licensing Authority (FLA), set up in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, would for the first time be able to advise on safety at stadiums used for sports other than football under the changes agreed by MPs.

At present the FLA's role is limited to providing specific advice on spectator and venue safety in relation to football stadia only. Speaking in the House of Commons when the Bill was being debated, Sport Minister Hugh Robertson said, "We are absolutely committed to maintaining the services and standards provided for football but believe there is a unique opportunity to extend the reach and remit of the FLA for wider benefit....Of course, the fact that the London Olympics is upon us in 18 months time means that it is important and timely to do this today." more...

Special Issue - Sandals Resorts

2011-03-16T16:10:00.000Z

Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (Vol 3, issue 1)

publishes a themed issue entitled:

To what extent can action learning enable Sandals Resorts International to sustain its position as the world’s leading luxury all-inclusive resort company?

This issue is based on the workplace learning experiences of Sandals Resorts International, the world’s most celebrated ultra all-inclusive resort company. Six of the articles are founded in the work of Sandals professionals. The theme issue charts aspects of the progress made and assesses the role and impact of action learning as an enabling process for personal change, professional development and business innovation and management.

Available in Emerald (Athens)

Report - Visitor Attractions

2011-03-10T09:44:00.000Z

This is a detailed report produced by BDRC for VisitEngland that gives an insight to visitor attractions trends in England, over 2008-09. Contents include attraction category, admission type, volume of visits to attractions, geographic location, overseas and child visits. It also considers revenue and marketing expenditure. A useful breakdown of visits to individual attractions across England between 2006-09 is also provided.

The latest England Attractions Monitor - Quarter 4 report is also available here.

2011-03-08T10:47:00.001Z

Conference & Call for Papers

2011-03-04T09:57:00.000Z

The School of Adventure Studies UHI in Fort William and Lochaber Outdoor Learning Partnership are pleased to announce an upcoming Conference

“Meanings, markets and magic” - 2011 Adventure Conference

Dates: 15th/16th September 2011

Venue: School of Adventure Studies, Fort William, Scotland

Click here for more details

Tourism Review

2011-03-04T09:48:00.000Z

Tourism Review have recently published a special issue on 'Destination Governance', which looks at how tourist destinations must be organized, coordinated and governed through mechanisms of action and control.

Contents:

Governance: a review and synthesis of the literature
Analysing tourism stakeholders networks
Park visitors' perceptions of governance: a comparison between Ontario and British Columbia provincial parks management models
Improving tourism destination governance
Archetypes of destination governance: a comparison of international destinations
Roles and opinions of primary and secondary stakeholders within community-type destinations

Stories of the World London 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme

2011-03-02T12:50:00.001Z

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Shropshire joins the national Stories of the World programme as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

One of 60 museums across Britain preparing to welcome more than 2.5 million visitors to Stories of the World projects, the Ironbridge Gorge Museum will present Science, Sport, Life. A celebration of sport and science, and an exploration of the stories behind the headlines from 19th century sporting heroes to the latest 21st century space-age materials that help to create the record-breaking performances of the world’s greatest athletes, it will encompass a thrilling series of exhibitions, events, festivals and fun hands-on activities. More on this story...

More on the Cultural Olympiad

More on Stories of the World

Guest Speakers @ UCB

2011-03-01T11:44:00.000Z

2011-02-24T12:03:00.000Z

Considering studying in a city?

Think Birmingham!

Birmingham and its universities have plenty to shout about.
This app combines high-functionality with expert local knowledge to create the comprehensive guide to academic (and social!) life in the vibrant
metropolis that is Birmingham.

Download the App here

Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report

2011-02-17T11:06:00.000Z

The 2010-11 Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum is now available online here.

It provides country/economic profiles of 124 countries which allows cross-country analysis in order to make informed business decisions on how attractive a country is in terms of potential for development in travel and tourism.

Connect@UCB - New Library Service!

2011-02-15T13:25:00.018Z

Connect@UCB is an online help desk which you can visit to get support in finding useful information. Simply log on during the advertised hours and a member of staff will be available to help with your enquiry - perfect if you're unable to make it into College! The desk will initially be open:

Monday to Friday
10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm

To access Connect@UCB, you will first need a Wimba Pronto account - information about this software and getting a free account is available from UCBOnline. A user guide for UCBConnect is available from this link.

Tourism Review.com

2011-02-07T11:33:00.000Z

Tourism Review.com is a website containing a comprehensive range of information and articles; daily, weekly and 'Top 10's' travel news is included as well as an e-marketing section. A comprehensive directory provides industry links, events calendar and a festival finder. There is also a monthly online magazine which regular features on Heritage, Professional, Medical, Transport, Destinations and Events stories; view the archive here.

Sign up for the free weekly newsletter

VisitEngland e-News Feb 2011

2011-02-04T13:26:00.003Z

This week, VisitEngland launched a comprehensive business case for accessible tourism in England. The booklet, entitled ‘At Your Service’, reveals a lucrative market worth over £2 billion. Endorsed by the Tourism Minister, the booklet contains an easy to follow ‘Map Through Access’ helping operators to improve their accessibility. Read the booklet here plus case studies.

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The annual International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) conference supported by VisitEngland and ABTA was held in January 2011 and provided a great insight into future strategies on tourism sustainability for the UK. For more on the conference and to hear presentations click here.

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On 24th January VisitEngland hosted the first in a series of tourism workshops for the newly approved Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). The workshop, addressed by the Tourism Minister John Penrose MP, focused on the positive impact that tourism brings to local economies and opportunities for local growth. More...

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A conference was recently held to review ETIP’s (English Tourism Intelligence Partnership) three year programme and identify future priorities. Announcements included the continuation of the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Tourism Intelligence Unit for one year, the creation of a new Day Visits Survey and the extension of David Quarmby’s Chairmanship to July. Read more on the ETIP Conference

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The majority of the draft Action Plans will go out for industry consultation next week for a 5-6 week period. The consultation period has been extended to allow the industry the opportunity to review the draft action plans alongside the Coalition Government’s tourism policy expected to be published shortly. More on the Action Plan consultation

Hotels

2011-02-03T10:53:00.000Z

For an update on the changing landscape of Birmingham, take a look at this blog post where a number of new hotel projects in the city centre have been highlighted.

2011-01-31T14:03:00.001Z

The Journal of Tourism Challenges and Trends would like papers on the theme of Rural Tourism for a forthcoming issue. The submission deadline is
19th February 2011

More information can be found here

2011-01-27T09:00:00.001Z

Travel Management Priorities for 2011: Insights into the Rebound is a new report by Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Part one of the report covers the Business Travel Market in 2011, Part two gives the survey results and 2011 priorities.

Register here to access...

2011-01-25T11:32:00.009Z

Tourism Concern:
Ethical Tourism Master-class

February 12, 2011

Graduate Centre, London Met University

Find out more...

UNWTO

2011-01-24T14:54:00.001Z

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues. Its members include 154 countries and 7 territories as well as many Affiliate Members from both public and private sectors. UNWTO's mission is to promote and develop tourism as a significant means of fostering economic development, trade and international peace and understanding

The website contains a wealth of information including details of events and publications. One of their publications is entitled Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals. They have also produced the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and further documents related to this.

The 1st Report on the Implementation of the Roadmap for Recovery provides feedback from countries worldwide on their future tourism strategy, under three headings Resilience, Stimulus and Green Economy.

A special edition e-magazine covers Tourism and Biodiversity. Past issues of the World Tourism Barometer can be found here. For an overview of tourism trends and statistics in 2009, try Tourism Highlights.

UNWTO Video Gallery UNWTO campaigns as well as key figures in the organisation discussing aspects of tourism.

2011-01-21T09:18:00.000Z

A conference on film tourism has been announced to run on

18th March at BAFTA, in London’s Piccadilly.

“The London International Film Tourism Conference” will showcase international best practice in this growing sector, and is aimed at tourism operators, destination and attraction marketing managers, tourism consultants and academics from the UK, Europe and further afield. It will run towards the end of British Tourism Week (12th and 20th March).

Register to receive the full programme here

2011-01-18T10:00:00.001Z

Vote Now on your choice of seven natural wonders of the world from 28 finalists.

You may also be interested in the 7 modern wonders of green technology, from conceptual floating eco-cities to urban skyscraper farms!

Hub Airports - Heathrow

2011-01-13T10:51:00.024Z

There's no doubt that the snow in December caused disruption; travellers suffered particularly, with many sleeping at airports as snow-clearing continued. Heathrow Airport was hit badly with reported losses of £24m and in a further blow, airlines that had no choice but to cancel flights, are fighting to withhold airport charges. In reply to this, a statement by BAA can be viewed here.

As the UK's only major hub airport, Heathrow is significant in terms of number of destinations, flights and their frequency. The Economic Impacts of Hub Airports takes an in-depth look at Heathrow Airport - its medium- and long-term impact on the economy as well as the competition it faces with tables of statistics. Grounded : A New Approach to Evaluating Runway 3 is another report that may be of interest; the last few pages of this report contain links to further relevant material. 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' is now archived by the Department of Transport and can be accessed here.

BAA, the owners of Heathrow, have produced an Investor Report. A company profile is also available in Datamonitor 360 (Athens) which gives a history of the organisation, SWOT analysis and top competitors.

Welcome Back!

2011-01-06T09:39:00.001Z

As a bit of fun to start the year with, I thought I'd share this post; entitled 'Why I returned my iPad', one owner gives his perspective on what's great about this new bit of technology and perhaps, not so. For anyone who owns an iPad, or not...

2010-12-22T11:36:00.002Z

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Research on the Tsunami, Phuket

2010-12-14T11:35:00.000Z

For those of you who may be conducting research into the Tsunami of 2004 in Phuket, Thailand, here are links to documents which include detailed data on issues in the aftermath of the disaster. These have been kindly provided by a Lecturer at Mahidol University International College, Thailand.

Adjustment and Recovery in Thailand Two Years after the Tsunami

Post-tsunami reconstruction and tourism: a second disaster?

Thailand Destination Vulnerability Assessment

Should you require further information on this topic, please contact me.

Reports

2010-12-08T15:00:00.000Z

This report, entitled 'Backing UK Tourism: Destination Recovery,' is published by the British Chambers of Commerce in conjunction with Travelodge. Chapters consider the Current Situation, Problems in the Sector, Areas for Reform and Recommendations for Reform. Statistics and a number of case studies from the tourism sector are included. The Economic Impact of Hub Airports is another report by the BCC which may be of interest to those studying leisure and tourism.

Sports Personality 2010

2010-11-30T11:35:00.001Z

The nominees will be put to a public vote on the night of the live show:

Venue: Birmingham LG Arena

Date: Sunday, 19th December

Time: 1900 GMT

Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sport website.

The public will be able to choose who they want to see crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year by telephone and details of the numbers to phone will be given out during the programme, which will be presented by Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey.

Before the big event there will be an Inside Sport preview show on Monday 13th December at 2305 GMT.

Find out more here

The Bulletin - Issue 2

2010-11-30T10:38:00.002Z

The second issue of
the UCB Bulletin is out now.

Click here to view.

UCB Students - We Need your Reviews!

2010-11-25T10:31:00.013Z

University College Birmingham is working with VisitBritain to provide suggestions for its next marketing strategy - a social media website, similar to the concept of Trip Advisor. We are asking students to write reviews on attractions, events and restaurants in Birmingham and the West Midlands region - upload your photos and video clips too. You can review anything you think tourists might be interested in; all reviews will be linked to VisitBritain’s website and potentially reach tourists worldwide. This is a great opportunity for you learn about how social media influences tourists and could help with your studies.

Spread the word amongst other students at UCB!

Click here to upload a review. Need some help? Contact Kathryn Bell.

The Staycation: Making a Virtue out of Necessity

2010-11-23T11:56:00.003Z

Throughout October and November, The Independent Online is partnering with the Battle of Ideas Festival to present a series of guest blogs from festival speakers on the key questions of our time.

This article by Dr Jim Butcher discusses the arguments for and against 'staycations'; a reduction in holidays abroad in favour of a domestic holiday will hurt the overseas tourism trade - on the other hand, they undoubtedly benefit the domestic market.

Dr Jim Butcher is a lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, a Fellow of the RSA and author of several books and articles on the politics of travel and tourism.

Here's a link to current debates and the archive.

Destination Slum

2010-11-23T09:24:00.000Z

A preliminary programme is now available for conference entitled 'Destination Slum', to be held at the University of the West of England from 9-11th December. This conference relates to a recent post on slum tourism.

To register, click here...

Latest on Birmingham

2010-11-23T08:57:00.000Z

The Birmingham Central blog aims to inform readers of the latest in planning and developments in Birmingham, with a spotlight on the City Centre.

The Big City Plan appears to be back on the agenda and this post provides links as well as images of how the city centre could look in the future. Similarly, the website BusinessDesk.com, is also designed to keep you abreast of local development news. Register to read the stories in full.

BrumCityCentre and BirminghamMail.net also provide up to the minute news stories on the city.