What is a learning Area?

A Tourism Learning Area Definition

Here are three ways how pilot Learning Area Coordinators described what a Learning Area is:

'A learning area aims to bring together people in a destination (or thematic area) in order to work together to improve their individual performance and the quality of tourism (in the area) through the development and exchange of skills, knowledge and experience. This should include public sector bodies involved in tourism management and development, representatives of tourism enterprises and facility managers, and training and enterprise support bodies.'

'A Learning Area aims to maximize the opportunities for learning within an area (destination). Learning may arise from participation in courses and from local experiences. Opportunities will be stimulated and coordinated to take into account of what enterprises need to learn. Such needs will be determined by a co-operative approach between public authorities, learning institutes and enterprises themselves.'

'A Tourism Learning Area (TLA) is a concept aimed at improving skills in tourism. It is based on an exchange of learning experiences aimed at increasing quality and competitiveness within the industry. A TLA consists of a network of all sectors and individuals who contribute to tourism (including local authorities, entrepreneurs, learning institutions, community groups, and farmers). It can focus on a geographical area or a specific type of tourism activity. A TLA recognises the importance of Life-Long Learning and accepts that learning takes place in a variety of formal and informal settings, from classrooms to chatting in the street. The process requires an element of central coordination, but ultimately depends on the contribution of all suppliers and consumers of tourism-related learning.'

From both the theoretical concept in the previous section, and now these viewpoints of how to describe a Tourism Learning Area, we can formally define the concept using a technical definition that elaborates both the processes and structure found in the approach:

' A Tourism Learning Area (TLA) is a concept of a multi-stakeholder, inter-sectoral, partnership approach aimed at improving human potential for running the tourism sector at the local/regional level. The TLA approach holistically engages a broad range of stakeholders with an interest in employment, education and new technology. A Tourism Learning Area brings stakeholders together in coherent information and cooperation networks, in order to pay specific attention to the sector's performance and governance issues related to regional eco-system security, human capital and SME/Micro-enterprise development. A TLA network addresses contemporary tourism sector challenges by developing inter- and intra-organisational collaboration and learning experiences aimed at improvements in entrepreneurial quality, innovation, competitiveness and sustainability.'

Benefits of a Tourism Learning Area

From that definition, it's worth asking what would be achieved in practical terms if the concept were to be implemented and functioning effectively. When applied to the tourism sector, a Learning Area should develop stakeholders who are more capable of:

• Creating quality products and services,
• Demonstrating innovative capability,
• Increasing performance and outputs
• Being more autonomous
• Forming partnerships, networks and clusters
• Displaying greater work-place flexibility
• Operating in an entrepreneurial context
• Working with changing technology
• Developing adaptive strategies in the face of globalisation and global change
• Understanding how to work in a more sustainable way

Decision makers should be made aware of these benefits so that a Learning Area implementation is backed by the necessary level of political support .