YOUR LOCAL GUIDE: DIGITAL SKILLS IN TOURISM

This Erasmus+ KA204 project (N 2018-1-RO01-KA204-049516) focuses on the development of digital competences of seniors willing to work as tourist agents or local guides in order to become experts in destination promotion through a life-long learning perspective. The partnership aims to develop materials that enable staff of tourism agencies or individuals to increase their skills and improve a touristic destination in their local communities in order to compete with the growing global competitiveness.The main target group of Your Local Guide are adult learners, seniors working in tourism or persons who are retired and are willing to find a new career in this sector as experts in destination management and promotion.The results of the project are in line with the funding request and comply with the adaptation requirements for today's times: IO1 - White Paper on Digital Skills needed in Destination Management IO2 - Training kit - EXPERT IN TOURISM DESTINATION MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT IO3 - Videogame Digital Marketing for Tourism Destination.So far, there has been carried out a desktop research translating into a White Paper and a Comparative report which have been the basis for partners to learn about the competences needed by the target groups, with the aim of making the learning materials even more relevant!So far, partners have developed FOUR HANDBOOKS with new and innovative teaching materials which provide a pathway to learn how to manage and promote touristic destinations by using digital tools and platforms. These handbooks focus on the role of digital technology and social media in tourism management and promotion, and are illustrated with case studies and good practices from different countries.After the success of the FOUR HANDBOOKS on Digital Skills for Tourism the Your Local Guide partners propose an interesting and innovative tool for learning, which comes to complete the developed training materials.The “Learn Tourism 4 All” videogame is an online application that works as a gamified virtual assistant during the learning process about the digital skills required to promote and manage a tourist destination. Users will be able to revise all topics covered in the modules in a fun and motivating way. What’s more, the game can be played collectively by choosing several characters, which, by the way, will make the users feel identified with. There is a tutorial available, so that any user or educator wishing to use the game in their learning activities understands the different features and functionalities of the game. In the same way as the manuals, the game covers a wide variety of topics that, nowadays, are essential to build a strong and sustainable tourism destination: •Digital skills in tourism•Tourism destination management•Tourism destination promotion•Social Media Communities in tourismThe Erasmus+ partnership has been working hard to enhance the digital competences of seniors willing to work as tourist agents or local guides in order to become experts in destination promotion through a life-long learning perspective. The materials developed are the result of months and months of hard work, cooperation with local stakeholders and collaboration with entities expert in the sector. Thanks to the piloting of the materials and the events organised locally, the target group of Your Local Guide -adult learners, seniors working in tourism or willing to, and their educators- have been provided with very detailed and specific materials in this sector paving their way to learn how to manage and promote touristic destinations by using digital tools and platforms. With a strong focus on the role of digital technology and social media in tourism management and promotion the handbook and the game are illustrated with case studies and good practices from many EU countries.All details, results and materials can be found on the project website - www.yourlocalguide.org/en/