January 14, 2020 – The Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (GTTP), which educates secondary and vocational students on the industry’s career opportunities, announced that 22 pupils from 11 countries presented their winning research findings on Events Tourism at the recent annual student/teacher conference in Nice, France. GTTP is a reputed nonprofit that aims, with the support of global companies, to encourage students to build a profession in the Travel and Tourism industry, a sector that supports one in 10 jobs (319 million) worldwide and generates 10.4% of the global GDP (source: World Travel and Tourism Council).
The students were selected as 2019 Student Research Competition winners out of approximately 1,000 entries. At the GTTP conference the pupils presented their case studies on events, such as music and food festivals, sporting events and art exhibitions held by destinations to provide meaningful experiences for travelers. The students also discussed learnings from their research including observed responsible environmental practices, as well as the use of events to drive local economic development, help preserve cultural heritage, and potentially also support women’s empowerment.
The markets represented this year by the students and their accompanying teachers included: Brazil, mainland China, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, India, Kenya, Russia, South Africa, and Tanzania.
Amadeus, a GTTP Global Partner, provided the conference facilities at its Executive Briefing Centre.
Marriott International, also a GTTP Global Partner, donated meals and hotel rooms for the students and teachers at the Le Méridien property in Nice.
Before the conference took place the students and their teachers enjoyed a tour of the local area in groups of mixed geographies so that the attendees could have fun getting to know their peers from other countries. The delegates also visited “behind the scenes” of Le Méridien to obtain first-hand knowledge of how the hotel operates.
Student competition entrants annually research GTTP-assigned topics, which vary year to year. Working in teams, the students develop their skills in research, analytics, and communications, all of which are essential for a successful career in Travel and Tourism.
This competition – now in its 20th year – is sponsored by GTTP’s Global Partners and the Aldo Papone Endowment. The current Global Partners are Amadeus, American Express Global Business Travel, Carlson Family Foundation, CWT, dnata, KDS, Marriott International, Travelport, The Travel Corporation, and World Travel and Tourism Council. Their executives serve on GTTP’s Advisory Board.
About GTTP
The Global Travel & Tourism Partnership is a leading charitable organization bringing travel and tourism education to more than 710,000 students in public secondary and tertiary schools annually. Its mission is “to inspire and enable young people to build careers in Travel & Tourism.”
GTTP works with education authorities, tourism ministries and local businesses to bring a quality travel-related curriculum to schools. This curriculum is a unique program that introduces students to the Travel and Tourism industry, and is delivered in more than 5000 schools in 15 countries – Brazil, Canada, mainland China, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom. School systems provide teachers and classrooms. Approximately 1,500 local and international companies share their expertise with teachers and students and provide financial and in-kind support.
Through GTTP courses and activities, students gain self-confidence, awareness of the companies that comprise the travel industry, become interested in the wide range of careers open to them, and develop the attitudes and skills important to workplace success. Nearly three million students have participated in the GTTP since it was founded in 1996.
For more about GTTP visit http://gttp.org or Facebook.
