PROJECT INFO
digitourism
Development of the Digital Marketing Competence of Adult Learners for Small and Medium-sized Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs) in Europe
2019-1-TR01-KA204-074619
01/11/2019 - 31/12/2021
TECHNICAL INFO
ERASMUSPLUS
ACTION KA204
CALL 2019
CEN
digitourism
Development of the Digital Marketing Competence of Adult Learners for Small and Medium-sized Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs) in Europe
Project Description
This project addresses the critical need for digitalisation in the tourism sector to ensure that businesses maintain their competitiveness and sustainability in the current market. Since ninety per cent of the industry is composed of small and medium-sized family-run enterprises, many face difficulties in attracting qualified staff or developing internal digital training programmes. The initiative seeks to close this skills gap by providing specific knowledge on information and communication technologies that formal educational institutions often do not integrate quickly. The main focus is on improving digital marketing and electronic management so that these businesses can fully exploit online distribution channels. By using new learning and teaching methods, the project aims to equip both entrepreneurs and employees with the necessary tools to attract modern travellers. In this way, the project strengthens the capacity of European SMEs to adapt to a rapidly changing technological environment. The final result is a more robust tourism industry, capable of offering high-quality services and thriving in the global digital economy.
Objectives
- Develop the digital marketing competencies of adults working in European small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs), helping them to improve their visibility and competitiveness in the online environment.
- Strengthen the capacity of tourism SMTEs to manage their digital presence: websites, social media, online campaigns, SEO/SEM and data analysis.
- Improve the digital readiness and basic digital competency level of adult workers in the tourism sector, facilitating access to jobs and more qualified qualifications.
- Create open materials and resources on digital marketing applied to tourism, designed for adult training and usable in different regional and national contexts.
Implementation
Project implementation is based on the design and launch of a training course aimed at adults in the tourism sector (workers and self-employed in SMTEs), which addresses key topics in digital marketing: digital transformation of tourism, channel and social media management, SEO, SEM, tourism content, data analysis and online promotion strategies, through a self-learning and blended learning approach (online and face-to-face) that is tested with real groups of tourists and companies from different partner countries; participants work on practical activities with real tools (social media, management platforms, analysis tools), develop campaigns and improve the digital presence of their own businesses while good practices, didactic materials and methodological guides are documented, published in open format and on a common training platform for use by trainers and SMTEs across Europe.
Expected Results
Greater capacity of tourism SMTEs to effectively manage their digital presence and design digital marketing campaigns adapted to their customers and contexts.
A significant number of adults in the tourism sector trained in digital marketing competencies, with greater employability and opportunities to access more qualified positions.
Existence of a structured digital marketing course for tourism, with open materials and resources (modules, case studies, exercises, strategy guides) for adult training and VET.
Strengthening of cooperation between training centres, tourism entities and SMTEs for the dissemination and continuous improvement of digital training in the European tourism sector.