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The Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) has launched a new higher national diploma in e-Business for Tourism to cater for an industry that is increasingly dependent on technology to provide and to market its products and services.
A profile of today’s typical tourist or traveller would include most of this behaviour: search on internet before choosing a destination; seek the views of fellows travellers on special websites and Facebook; buy tickets and make bookings online; check in online before going to the airport; take the smartphone and maybe a tablet for their usefulness to get information on the go and the GPS function etc; and then publish snapshots on Facebook and videos on YouTube.
Technology today is highly embedded in the tourism and hospitality industry and is one of the success factors for any operator in this highly competitive sector. e-Business and e-commerce are a major pillar of a rapidly evolving industry and have achieved strategic importance both in Malta and abroad.
The institute said its new HND in e-Business for Tourism, being offered from October 2013, is designed to provide an ideal skill set for students wishing to understand and apply information and communication technologies within the tourism industry.
The course focuses mainly on an e-business perspective, with a pronounced, practical emphasis on ICT applications (including geographical information systems, property management systems, multimedia, web design, online marketing, mobile applications and robotics) and seeks to provide insights from both a technical and managerial perspective.
It will look at business strategy and how it is now being shaped by the threats and opportunities provided by new and emergent technologies, especially social media and new media.
At the end of the their studies successful students can look forward to a rewarding career as ICT consultants, ICT managers, project managers encompassing ICT, e-marketing and social media specialists, and specialists in property management systems such as Opera.
The entry criteria are: Matriculation Certificate (2 A level Subjects, 3 Intermediate Subjects and Systems of Knowledge), plus: Secondary Education certificate passes at grade 5 or better in English and Mathematics.
More information in the ITS Prospectus for Academic Year 2013/2014 at http://www.its.edu.mt/EN.ITS_Prospectus.aspx or contact the Registrar’s Office on e-mail: registrar.its@gov.mt and telephone number: 2379 3100.