Fostering tourism: The Future Role of Embassies
Turunen, Maija (2016)
Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu
2016
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2016100914965
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2016100914965
Tiivistelmä
Describing the collaboration between embassies and stakeholders in the tourism field will be one of the key aims of this thesis. The thesis pursues to explain the benefits of such partnerships as well as identify pitfalls that might exist. Through these discoveries, the efforts embassies make to support the travel & tourism industry are preferably made more visible to the public.
In addition, future outlook for embassies will also be provided. After reviewing what actions has been taken in the past, the thesis aims at presenting current measures as well as briefly forecast two plausible scenarios for the future. The forecasts will have a subtle linkage to tourism, however they will be more or less concerned with the overall development.
In light of theory, key characteristics of diplomatic missions together with peculiarities in tourism industry are introduced. Here tourism is argued to be a driver for economic well-being as well as a catalyst for peace and tolerance in its cultural contributions. Since diplomacy shares a set of similar aims, common ground can be found.
The thesis exploits qualitative research methods, and in particular semi-structured inter-views to gain a descriptive view on embassies and their future. Six of these interviews were conducted abroad in Dublin, Ireland and the remaining ones in Helsinki, Finland resulting in nine interviews altogether. Meetings were arranged during the time period of 13.4.2016 – 11.5.2016.
Despite the prevailing challenges, embassies do show interest towards fostering tourism within the resources they have. Reducing costs in terms of budget and staff are seen as the main constraints. Nonetheless, the perceived value of tourism motivates embassies to continue integrating tourism strategies in their operations. These strategies follow the country specific interests and are affected by a multitude of players with varying desires, even though embassies are empowered to make individual decisions as well.
Future outlook is much divided, but a positive attitude on maintaining some formal representation prevails. The form of embassies will be left unclear, however as long as there are entities resembling societies, representational establishments are needed. Whether or not tourism will remain in the future agenda, will be greatly dependent on the way embassies overcome the barriers within their discipline.
In addition, future outlook for embassies will also be provided. After reviewing what actions has been taken in the past, the thesis aims at presenting current measures as well as briefly forecast two plausible scenarios for the future. The forecasts will have a subtle linkage to tourism, however they will be more or less concerned with the overall development.
In light of theory, key characteristics of diplomatic missions together with peculiarities in tourism industry are introduced. Here tourism is argued to be a driver for economic well-being as well as a catalyst for peace and tolerance in its cultural contributions. Since diplomacy shares a set of similar aims, common ground can be found.
The thesis exploits qualitative research methods, and in particular semi-structured inter-views to gain a descriptive view on embassies and their future. Six of these interviews were conducted abroad in Dublin, Ireland and the remaining ones in Helsinki, Finland resulting in nine interviews altogether. Meetings were arranged during the time period of 13.4.2016 – 11.5.2016.
Despite the prevailing challenges, embassies do show interest towards fostering tourism within the resources they have. Reducing costs in terms of budget and staff are seen as the main constraints. Nonetheless, the perceived value of tourism motivates embassies to continue integrating tourism strategies in their operations. These strategies follow the country specific interests and are affected by a multitude of players with varying desires, even though embassies are empowered to make individual decisions as well.
Future outlook is much divided, but a positive attitude on maintaining some formal representation prevails. The form of embassies will be left unclear, however as long as there are entities resembling societies, representational establishments are needed. Whether or not tourism will remain in the future agenda, will be greatly dependent on the way embassies overcome the barriers within their discipline.