Destination competitiveness in Russia: tourism professionals’ skills and competences
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
ISSN: 0959-6119
Article publication date: 15 January 2019
Issue publication date: 15 February 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to address one of the main issues in Russia’s efforts to enhance tourism competitiveness: to educate a qualified workforce at the university level.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of tourism professionals was conducted to assess importance and performance toward a set of hospitality- and tourism management-related skills and competences. An importance-performance analysis was performed to identify relative strengths and weaknesses.
Findings
Russian professionals need improved competences with respect to sustainable management, marketing and research skills.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to surveying professionals in the western part of Russia (St Petersburg, Moscow, Krasnodar and Sochi). Nevertheless, its implications for curriculum reform and development should be considered in the whole country.
Practical implications
The study identifies specific areas for Russian universities to address and focus on in their curriculum reform and development efforts.
Social implications
Better education at universities enhances students’ employability at the time that supports tourism firms to perform better. Both together help to boost tourism destination competitiveness and sustainability, favoring progress and socio-economic development.
Originality/value
Few studies have addressed human resource development in Russia. This study investigates the need for developing skills and competences in hospitality and tourism in Russia. This country has a significant potential for tourism development. Other countries with a developing tourism sector should benefit from the results of this study.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was conducted, in part, with the support of the European Union (EACEA) through a TEMPUS grant awarded for project NETOUR (Network for Excellence in Tourism through Organizations and Universities in Russia), which involved 16 partners from Europe and Russia and which investigated tourism development in Russia. Project number: 530529-TEMPUS-1-2012-1-ES-TEMPUS-JPCR (2012-3110/0001-001). www.netour.eu.
Citation
Andrades, L. and Dimanche, F. (2019), "Destination competitiveness in Russia: tourism professionals’ skills and competences", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 910-930. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-11-2017-0769
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited