Resilience as the key to success in tourism

The part-time certificate course Resilience Manager in Tourism*, which runs over two semesters, is aimed at specialists and managers in tourism who want to make their organization or destination more crisis-proof and create strategically sustainable prospects for the future. The integrative and practical approach of the course enables them to act as competent designers and initiators for a resilient tourism industry. Thanks to funding from INTERREG Bavaria-Austria, the course is free of charge for the duration of the Resilient Tourism project until December 31, 2026. The next course will start in fall 2025.

Tourism is a significant source of income and an important foreign exchange earner for the economy. However, many tourist destinations face complex and interrelated risks such as climate change, global pandemics, and a shortage of skilled workers. In order to address increasing uncertainties and increasingly frequent crisis events in tourist destinations, resilience has become a key concept in dealing with these challenges. 

COURSE PROGRAM AND DIDACTIC CONCEPT

During the course, experts from academia and practice will provide participants with in-depth knowledge and skills to help companies, destinations, and organizations in the tourism industry become more resilient to current and future challenges. They will enable graduates to establish resilient structures in companies and destinations, actively shape change processes, and promote sustainable cooperation within the industry. The focus is on individual resilience and leadership skills, operational resilience and crisis management, regional resilience and sustainable destination development, as well as practical application and strategic concepts. Resilience managers in tourism make companies and destinations resilient to crises and enable them to use these as opportunities for transformation.

“In the online phases, participants acquire fundamental knowledge, which is then consolidated in the classroom modules through case studies, group work, and best practice examples,” Situm continues. After passing the exam and receiving a positive grade for their seminar thesis, graduates also receive a university certificate with 16 ECTS credits. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEGREE

In order to participate in the Resilience Manager in Tourism program, you must have completed a tourism education (apprenticeship or three-year HBLA) or have relevant professional experience in tourism or tourism-related industries. The certificate course consists of four modules: Individual Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Regional Resilience, and Practical Transfer in Tourism. For the two modules Organizational Resilience and Regional Resilience, micro-credentials worth 5 ECTS credits each can also be earned (upon successful completion of the exam). It is also possible to take all courses individually without attending the entire program. If you participate without taking the exam, you will receive a certificate of participation.

“Thanks to the support of INTERREG Bavaria-Austria, we are delighted to be able to offer the course twice free of charge until the end of next year. This will enable us to give as many people as possible access to skills and knowledge building on the topic of resilience and to establish long-term, cross-border networking with professional colleagues. A big thank you goes to all project participants and partners from Tyrol, Salzburg, and Upper Bavaria.”

*Start subject to approval by the FH Faculty Council 

Links:

• Resilience Manager in Tourism | Continuing Education
• Resilient tourism | Research project