The QualiTour project aimed to develop a blended-learning tool to improve qualification and job opportunities in sustainable tourism. A consortium of 7 partners from universities, companies, a foundation, and regional/commerce organizations collaborated from 2013-2015. Key goals included improving tourism industry skills, offering youth jobs, and allowing rural residents to pursue employment locally. Target groups were tourism entrepreneurs, local promoters, and technicians. Important steps included defining a framework, creating 8 module contents, developing an e-learning platform, and pilot courses. Challenges arose from diversity in expertise areas among partners and differing views of tourism, sustainability, teaching and project goals. While pilot courses succeeded with in-person teaching, the learning platform lacked user-friendliness

1. QualiTour is….
Vienna Meeting, 15.7.2015
Vienna International Center
Prof. Dr. Harald A. Friedl

2. Welcome to …

3. • Developping Blended-Learning Tool for education and training in the
area of sustainable tourism
• project consortium: 7 partners
• universities, private companies, a foundation, regional authority and a
chamber of commerce…
• 10.2013-09.2015

4. Aims of QualiLearning
• improving the qualification of
the people employed in the
tourism industry
• offer job opportunities
to young people
• allow learners to continue
living in the rural areas by
increasing new opportunities of
employability
• raise awareness on relevant
stakeholders and local
development associations
about tourism potential of their
regions

5. Target Groups
• (Future) Entrepreneurs in Tourism
• Local Development Promoters
• Technicians and Professionals of
Tourism Sector

6. Important steps
• Scientific Frame Work
• Content Development of
8 Modules
• Development of eLearning
Platform
• Pilot Courses in
Italy, Poland and
Austria
• Finalisation of
eLearning
Platform

7. Scientific Frame Work
Some interesting details:
Identifying relevant terms
related to
•Sustainable
•respectful
•high quality tourism
• Sustainability…
• ….is a holistic approach
of a living culture or life style
compatible with future challenges:
• How are we treating each other
(socio-cultural and political aspect),
• In order to use which resources in
which way (ecological aspect)
• to put them into value (economic
aspect)
• for being able to live a healthy life on
the long run (spiritual aspect).

8. Challenges
Diversity in participating Experts
•Experts on eLearning:
Aidlearn, Consultoria em Recursos Humanos, Lda, Portugal
•Experts on Commercial Administration:
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vratsa, Bulgaria
•Experts on Sustainable Energy:
Fondazione Fenice Onlus, Italy
•Experts on Rural Tourism Marketing
Molise Region, Italy
•Experts on Management:
Spoleczna Akademia Nauk, Poland
•Experts on Sustainable (Nature) Tourism Development:
FH JOANNEUM Ges.mbH, Austria :

9. Leading to divers ideas about…
• Tourism
• Sustainability
• Teaching
• eLearning
• Aims of EU-projects…
• Resulting into
high degree of
• Efficency orientation
• instead of Target- and
Effectivness-Orientation
• Doing instead of Discussing

10. Results I
• Pilot courses were very successful due to
face-to-face teaching…

11. • Learning Platform is not very user-friendly…
Results II

12. Aims:
• Learning from successful
project cooperation like…

13. Thank you for your
attention!