Latest News

Development of Tourism Chapter for the UNEP/UNWTO Green Economy Report.

(Added April 2010)
UNEP are currently in the process of producing The Green Economy Report (GER), a ground-breaking study being conducted as part of the Green Economy Initiative (GEI). The GER uses economic analyses and modelling approaches to demonstrate that investment in greening the economy across a range of sectors, including tourism, can drive economic recovery and lead to future prosperity and job creation, while at the same time addressing social and environmental challenges. TEAM, in partnership with INCAE Business School Costa Rica, have been contracted by UNEP and UNWTO to project manage the development of the Tourism Chapter for this exciting project. The Tourism Chapter will focus on how investment in sustainable tourism solutions can contribute to the sustainable development of the sector as well as a move to the Green Economy at both national and global level. We are currently working with an assembled team of world-renowned experts and institutions from both developed and developing countries to produce the report. An "open architecture" framework has been adopted in preparing the report to allow the gathering of a wide-range of analyses and examples.

Potential of Medical Tourism for VisitLondon and the LDA.

(Added April 2010)
TEAM (in partnership with Treatment Abroad and Boultbee & Co.) has recently prepared a report for VisitLondon and the London Development Agency to explore the potential of Medical Tourism in London. Travel into the UK for healthcare has existed for many years, well before medical tourism became a business. The Promote London Council has identified medical tourism as a sector with potential for investment and growth in the next few years. However, there is little research which seeks to understand the opportunities for medical tourism in the UK, and in London in particular. This research project provides intelligence on the value of the global market for medical tourism, including future potential value and major inbound recipient markets. Other key global aspects of international medical related tourism (e.g. medical seminars, conferences and congresses and medical study) are also considered. In both cases the research identifies London's key strengths (and weaknesses) as well as its potential.

TEAM Tourism Training - experts in DMO staff e-business training.

(Added April 2010)
TEAM has brought together its e-business expertise and its training experience in a new set of e-business training services under the banner of TEAM Tourism Training. We offer either comprehensive programmes or individual seminars on any of 12 topics. These range from creating successful websites and search engine optimisation to email marketing, social media marketing, e-commerce and exploiting mobile. Before training starts, we offer DMOs help to audit their staff e-business skills levels so that staff can get exactly the personal development that they, and the organisation, want.

Delivery can be via formal seminars, informal on-the-job coaching, or workshops - or a combination. TEAM Tourism Training provides follow-up support for staff, and evaluation too.

And of course all our training is exclusively designed for DMO marketing staff and/or the tourism businesses in their area. We always use relevant tourism case studies and practical exercises for trainees drawn from TEAM's worldwide knowledge. More...

Welcome to Yorkshire re-commissions TEAM for research into business tourism.

(Added April 2010)
TEAM Tourism Consulting have been re-commissioned by Welcome to Yorkshire to undertake a comprehensive programme of research into business tourism. The project aims to monitor regional investment in business tourism. It involves a comprehensive programme of research including a venue survey, delegate survey, conference organiser survey - all of which feed into a volume and value model.

Strategic Support to VisitEngland.

(Added April 2010)
Following on our involvement in preparatory work for the Strategic Framework for Tourism in England 2010-2020, TEAM is now providing consultancy support to VisitEngland in the preparation of a framework for the modernisation of visitor information provision in England. Following input from partner organisations and key industry players, a high level strategy and action plan will be prepared by VE.

In addition, TEAM is assisting VE in reviewing the 'landscape' for the future delivery of tourism support services in England.

Latest on the Daming Palace National Heritage Park project.

(Added April 2010)
As part of the Heritage and Tourism International consortium, TEAM has continued to work on the exciting and vast Daming Palace National Heritage Park project in Xi'an, China. This huge heritage project, based on the walled palace of the Tang Dynasty emperors, is three times the size of the forbidden city in Beijing and is planned to be a major tourist attraction and World Heritage Site. Xi'an, formerly Chang'an, was for many centuries the capital of China and the gateway to the ancient Silk Routes.

TEAM has been working with its HTI partners, Oxford Archaeology and Imagemakers, together with architects Kilburn Nightingale, in assisting the Palace project development organisation with plans for the interpretation, presentation and visitor management of the site, including the concepts and designs for a large new archaeology museum. HTI has produced detailed designs for the displays within a series of old converted warehouses and associated new buildings that will become the International Heritage Research Centre, one of the key attractions within the heritage park.

Together with Oxford Archaeology we have also been helping to develop a new Foundation that will help manage the site and use it as a demonstration for the dissemination of good practice in heritage management and interpretation.

Our work in Xi'an is ongoing and we have signed a long term cooperation agreement with the Park Management to assist and advise throughout the development of the site and in its early years of operation.

Working on a new publication - 'The Best of UNWTO: Policy and Best Practice for the Tourism Industry'.

(Added February 2010)
TEAM have recently commenced an ambitious project for the World Tourism Organization - a publication entitled 'The Best of UNWTO: Policy and Best Practice for the Tourism Industry'. The publication is intended as an easy to use reference, aimed at the private sector, which reinforces the UNWTO's institutional position as an essential reference in world tourism by exhibiting the organizations work and that of its Affiliate Members. The publication will cover 15 - 20 of the most important issues in tourism today. Each of these issues will be introduced by outlining the key concepts, followed by commentary and opinion from leading international experts and illustrations of best practice examples provided by UNWTO Affiliate Members. For each subject a guide to relevant UNWTO publications and other key sources will also be provided. The project is being led by Professor Stephen Page who will be supported by Roger Carter, Mike Fabricius and Davina Stanford.

Commissioning of a third Saudi development project - Al Qunfudah

(Added January 2010)
TEAM has been commissioned by the Saudi Commission of Tourism and Antiquities to develop a concept tourism master plan and anchor projects for three sites around the town of Al Qunfudah on the southern Red Sea. The multi-disciplinary planning team consists of tourism development and marketing specialists, engineers, an urban planner, an architect and environmentalists. The situation analysis and conceptualization stage of the project has been completed and presented to stakeholders. TEAM has proposed a concept of a canal city for Al Qunfudah, since the town has already built two large drainage canals with a third being planned. The next stage of the project includes drafting detailed master plans, anchor project plans, rendering perspectives and financial feasibility analysis. The project is planned for completion in March 2010.

Daming Palace National Heritage Park, Xi'An, China

(Added January 2010)
TEAM consultants, as part of the Heritage and Tourism International partnership, have continued to work on the exciting and vast Daming Palace National Heritage Park project in Xi'an, China. The huge urban archaeology park which is based on the Tang Dynasty walled palace of the emperors is three times the size of the forbidden city in Beijing and is planned to be a major tourist attraction and World Heritage Site in the city, which for many centuries was the capital of China and the gateway to the ancient Silk Road. We have been assisting the Chinese development team with plans for the interpretation, presentation and visitor management of the site, including the concepts for a large new archaeology museum. Together with Oxford Archaeology we have also been helping to develop a new Foundation that will help manage the site and use it as a demonstration for the dissemination of good practice in heritage management and interpretation. Our work in Xi'an is ongoing and we have signed a long term cooperation agreement with the Chinese to assist and advise throughout the development of the site and in its early years of operation.

A Tourism Vision and Strategy for VisitEngland

(Added October 2009)
Over the summer of 2009, TEAM worked with VisitEngland to prepare a draft Tourism Vision and Strategy for England. VisitEngland has now taken ownership of the document and is engaged in discussions with key partners about refining the strategy and developing partnership action plans for each of five 'pillars' of the strategy.

TEAM Prepares Visitor Economy Strategy for One NorthEast

(Added October 2009)
Following completion of its work on collating an evidence base for tourism strategy development, TEAM was commissioned in spring 2009 to assist One NorthEast in the preparation of a new regional visitor economy strategy. The first draft of the strategy was prepared in August and is currently going through various rounds of key player consultation, before a more formal public (or semi-public) consultation exercise takes place later this year.

Weathering the Storm of Global Recession

(Added August 2009)
...is the title of the World Tourism Organization's 5th International Conference on Destination Management which will be taking place from the 21st to 22nd September in Hangzhou, China.

TEAM has assisted the UNWTO in the development of the programme for the conference; and TEAM's MD, Roger Carter, will be giving a keynote presentation on the global economic crisis and its impact on destinations.

Conference: Creating Great Destinations

(Added August 2009)
What is it that makes destinations distinctive and appealing? How can we foster and develop a sense of place in ways which have strong visitor appeal?

The Creating Great Destinations conference is for senior people in local authorities, developers and businesses who want to hear more about how to create a sense of place which recognises historical context but caters for contemporary visitor demand. The conference will look at the components which make a great destination, provide insights into visitor needs and perspectives and, crucially, consider what can be done to create great visitor destinations.

With a mix of international and home-grown speakers, taking case studies from the region and Europe, the conference promises an absorbing and informative look at the Northwest's visitor economy in an altogether new light. TEAM is working with Blue Sail to help the NWDA organise the programme for the conference which will be held in Liverpool, UK, on Wednesday 21st October.

New Strategy for NorthEast England

(Added July 2009)
The current North East Regional Strategy for Tourism ends in 2010 and TEAM Tourism Consulting is busy working with One NorthEast to develop a new Visitor Economy Strategy for the region. TEAM’s role includes the consolidation and interpretation of all relevant evidence, drafting the strategy and managing the consultation process and preparing an action plan.

VisitEngland Tourism Strategy Work Begins

(Added July 2009)
TEAM has been asked to produce an inspiring, evidence-based vision and strategy for the development of tourism in England over the next ten years. The project, which will include intelligence gathering, strategy development and consultation, aims to inspire and guide England’s tourism industry.

Tourism Development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

(Added July 2009)
TEAM has been working with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities on two major tourism development projects. First, we have researched the tourism development potential of the Yanbu Northern Coastal Front area and produced a creative development vision and strategic framework for the future; secondly, we have undertaken a Tourist Sites Development Study in the Al-Lith Governorate of the Makkah Al-Mukaramah Province.

Improving Insight Through Intelligence

(Added July 2009)
Improving Insight from Intelligence is a project that TEAM is carrying out for the Northwest Development Agency. The project aims to improve the way in which research findings (from both national and regional research) are used to support the region’s strategic objectives for development of the visitor economy. Examples include the collation of data on inbound tourism, visits to attractions and the implications of the current economic recession.

Planning a major new heritage park in Xi’an, China

(Added July 2009)
Working with the Xi'an Qujiang Daming Palace Heritage Area Protection and Reconstruction Office (an agency of the Xi’an city government in China), TEAM and Oxford Archaeology have produced a Development, Management and Marketing Plan for the Daming Palace Heritage Park and are now helping to implement it, supporting the local team up until the site is open in October 2010.