National tourism policies: implementing the human resource dimension

Abstract

This paper addresses an area that has, largely, been neglected in academic discussion: that of the specific position of human resource factors in tourism policy formulation. In addition, responsibility for the management of policy and its implementation has also been subjected to similar neglect and this paper reports a survey into the role of national tourism organizations and other agencies in this area. A comparative dimension is provided, within this discussion, through the replication of a 1975 WTO study into NTO functions (the only comparable work in this area) which allows some assessment to be made regarding changes in NTO roles in the human resource domain. The outcomes of the study point to considerable fragmentation in the management of human resource matters within tourism at a national level. A diversity of agencies, including NTOs, were identified as key actors in this area, but with oversight and coordination. NTO functions have not changed significantly in the time between the two studies reported here, although reduced roles for NTOs in developed countries and increasingly sophisticated commitments among NTOs of developing countries were reported. The conclusions suggest a classification of the agencies which play a role in human resource policy development and implementation within tourism and also point to areas where further research would be desirable.