Tourism policy director

Description

Tourism policy directors develop and implement policies to improve tourism to their region. They develop marketing plans to promote the region in foreign regions, and monitor the operation of the tourism industry. They conduct research to investigate how tourism policies could be improved and implemented and investigate the benefits of the tourism industry to the government.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to tourism policy director:

visitor attraction director
economic development director
manager of tourism policy
tourism policy manager
director tourism strategy
director of visitor attractions
tourism strategy director
director of economic development
policy director tourism

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as tourism policy director. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Tourism policy director is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Tourism policy director career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to tourism policy director.

foreign affairs officer
political affairs officer
embassy counsellor
international relations officer
diplomat

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of tourism policy director. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of tourism policy director with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of tourism policy director.

Tourism market: The study of the tourism market on a international, regional and local level and considering worldwide tourist destinations.
Environmental impact of tourism: The study of the environmental impact of travel and tourist activities on tour destinations.
Tourist resources of a destination for further development: The study of touristic resources in a specific area and its potential for further development of new touristic services and events.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of tourism policy director.

Coordinate public-private partnerships in tourism: Oversee public and private partners to achieve touristic development.
Assess an area as a tourism destination: Evaluate an area by analysing its typology, characteristics and its application as a tourist resource.
Deliver presentations on tourism: Make presentations about the tourism industry in general and about specific tourist attractions.
Develop tourism policies: Develop strategies for the improvement of the tourism market and operations in a country, and to promote the country as a tourism destination.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of tourism policy director. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Foreign affairs policy development: The development processes of foreign affairs policies, such as relevant research methods, relevant legislation, and foreign affairs operations.
Foreign affairs: The operations of a foreign affairs department in a government or public organisation and its regulations.
Government policy implementation: The procedures related to the application of government policies at all levels of public administration.
Marketing principles: The principles of managing the relationship between consumers and products or services for the purpose of increasing sales and improving advertising techniques.
Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
Geographical areas relevant to tourism: The field of tourism geography in Europe as well as the rest of the world in order to point out relevant tourism areas and attractions.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of tourism policy director. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Manage distribution of destination promotional materials: Oversee the distribution of touristic catalogues and brochures.
Speak different languages: Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
Analyse foreign affairs policies: Analyse the existing policies for the handling of foreign affairs within a government or public organisation in order to evaluate them and search for improvements.
Show intercultural awareness: Show sensibility towards cultural differences by taking actions which facilitate positive interaction between international organisations, between groups or individuals of different cultures, and to promote integration in a community.
Perform public relations: Perform public relations (PR) by managing the spread of information between an individual or an organisation and the public.
Develop international cooperation strategies: Develop plans which ensure a cooperation between international public organisations such as researching different international organisations and their goals and assessing possible alignment with other organisations.
Report analysis results: Produce research documents or give presentations to report the results of a conducted research and analysis project, indicating the analysis procedures and methods which led to the results, as well as potential interpretations of the results.
Present reports: Display results, statistics and conclusions to an audience in a transparent and straightforward way.
Build international relations: Build positive communication dynamics with organisations from different countries in order to build a cooperative relationship and optimise information exchange.
Advise on foreign affairs policies: Advise governments or other public organisations on the development and implementation of foreign affairs policies.
Manage production of destination promotional materials: Oversee creation, production and distribution of touristic catalogues and brochures.
Plan event marketing for promotional campaigns: Design and direct event marketing for promotional campaigns. This involves face-to-face contact between companies and customers at a wide range of events, which engages them in a participatory position and provides them with information about a specific product or service.
Build a strategic marketing plan for destination management: Create a framework and general direction for marketing activities surrounding a tourist destination. This includes market research, brand development, advertising and promotion, distribution and sales.
Manage government policy implementation: Manage the operations of the implementation of new government policies or changes in existing policies on a national or regional level as well as the staff involved in the implementation procedure.

ISCO group and title

1213 – Policy and planning managers

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Tourism policy director – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022