Frances Devine - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Frances Devine

Are indigenous students prepared for employment in a multicultural working environment?This is a ... more Are indigenous students prepared for employment in a multicultural working environment?This is a relevant and important topic as every year at least 1 in 3 of our students in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management decides to go International for their placement experience of 48 weeks at level 5. Many of these students will then return and enter the workforce in the Hospitality and Tourism sectors either here in Northern Ireland, the wider UK or abroad. In recent years the Hospitality and Tourism sectors in Northern Ireland have become increasingly multi-cultural in that 1 in 4 (25%) employees are born abroad (Labour Force Survey, 2015), therefore new graduates, ready to enter employment need to be prepared and be more culturally aware when interacting with both the employee and customer alike. Cultural Diversity is an increasingly important factor in working life as tourism organisations, worldwide, become more diverse in terms of the race, ethnicity, natural origin and other personal characteristics of their members, Shaw and Barrett-Power (1998). The terms multiculturalism and cultural diversity in this paper is used interchangeably, aiming at providing and yielding important insights into the students’ learning and knowledge of cultural awareness issues. It is hoped that the findings from this research will help us as academics to release how best to prepare our students to become global citizens before going on international assignments and/or entering the multi-cultural world of work. If the preparation is successful then harnessing cultural differences will create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, where their talents are being fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met (Devine et al, 2009).

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Mar 13, 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the opportunities and challenges faced by hospitality employers... more PurposeThis paper aims to explore the opportunities and challenges faced by hospitality employers in accommodating a culturally diverse workforce in Northern Ireland.Design/methodology/approachThis is an exploratory paper based on interviews with hospitality employers in Northern Ireland. It seeks to answer the question “What opportunities and challenges does a culturally diverse workforce create for hoteliers in Northern Ireland?”.FindingsThis research highlights the potential of international workers as an invaluable new source of labour for the hospitality industry, provided that they are properly looked after and managed.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could analyse the role of multicultural management in assuring business benefits associated with cultural diversity.Practical implicationsThe research suggests the importance of a positive proactive management system and solutions for training that could be incorporated into the workplace that celebrates its employee's cultures, that values and explores differences and that actively seeks to learn from other cultures, demonstrates tolerance, respects differences, identifies similarities and strives for inclusiveness. Training solutions are provided.Originality/valueThis study suggests the removal of barriers to the successful integration of international staff into the workplace and society, while benefiting all staff, their organisations and the Irish tourism product.

Event Management, 2023

The Virtual Sport Experience Design (VSX) framework, which was adapted from Funk’s (2017) Sport E... more The Virtual Sport Experience Design (VSX) framework, which was adapted from Funk’s (2017) Sport Experience Design (SX) framework, was used to examine the event experience of cyclists who competed on the Mixed Reality platform, Zwift. Using a mixed methods approach, the findings suggest that Zwift is a viable substitute for real-life cycling events in that it provided users with realistic and serious competition in a social environment. High levels of technological embodiment, the quality of the in-game graphics and the gamification elements added to the experience by creating a sense of presence and control. However, it was the social dimension and the ability to communicate and create a sense of ‘communitas’ with other riders that provided the most compelling argument that Mixed Reality can provide a digital alternative to real-life events.

The word ‘event’ is derived from the Latin word ‘e-venire’ meaning outcome and in the contemporar... more The word ‘event’ is derived from the Latin word ‘e-venire’ meaning outcome and in the contemporary era events are staged for a variety of reasons and have many different outcomes. According to Getz (2012) much of the importance attached to planned events is related to their economic benefits, leading many governments to view event development as a legitimate, strategic policy field. This in turn has lead to the creation of specialist public sector organisations dedicated to the development of events and event tourism. Although academics such as Alan et al. (2005), Getz (2012), Bowden (2011) and Whitford (2009) believe that this form of government intervention in events is desirable and practical, there is a major gap in the literature when it comes to analysing the role and performance of these government funded agencies. In an attempt to address this gap this paper focused on the institutional arrangements in Northern Ireland. This provided an interesting case study because in 1999 Northern Ireland set-up a National Events Agency but as a result of mismanagement it was forced to close in 2008 and its functions were transferred to the National Tourism Organisation. MethodologyThis longitudinal study which was conducted over an eight year period (2006-2013) examined how these two organisations performed. Using critical case purposive sampling technique a total of sixty-two interviews were conducted with event organisers and public officials who had worked directly with these two organisations during this period.FindingsOne of the key findings from this study was that a National Events Agency that operates at arms length from government may have a competitive advantage when it comes to bidding for events. However, this freedom and flexibility can be costly if not properly managed. Transparency is crucial and accountability should be at the heart of every decision as this type of organisation is spending public monies. It is also important that a National Events Agency sticks to its remit and that there are processes in place to monitor performance on a regular basis.There are also lessons to be learnt for those countries that have or are considering setting up an events unit within their National Tourism Organisation. Inevitability event tourism will be the priority under this structure but this is something that event organisers are now more willing to accept as they recognise the mutual benefits that can be gained from promoting tourism through their event. However, the National Tourism Organisation must acknowledge that event tourism is a bi-product of events and it is therefore important to work with event organisers to improve the quality of their events and raise the profile of the industry.Originality/ValueEach country has unique, geographical, economic, political and social characteristics and the institutional arrangements that work in one country may not be suitable for another. However, as this case study of Northern Ireland has shown, regardless of which system is in place it must be managed properly and hence the need for further research to highlight other examples of good and bad practice.

Irish Educational Studies, Mar 1, 2008

Tourism and Hospitality Research, Sep 1, 2007

Notwithstanding the globalisation of services and the migration of some service providers (call c... more Notwithstanding the globalisation of services and the migration of some service providers (call centres, financial processing) to regions of low cost labour coupled with high levels of education attainment, there are arguments that the skills, which employees bring to the workplace in executing common tasks, are context and culture specific. This paper is concerned with the skills set and training background of one set of service workers, those in hotel front office, located within Northern Ireland. This paper reports the findings of a survey of front office workers working in 4- and 5-star hotels in Northern Ireland. This survey identifies the skills and training profile of this group of employees and measures attitudes to key skills requirements within front office work.

Are indigenous students prepared for international placement and future employment? This is a rel... more Are indigenous students prepared for international placement and future employment? This is a relevant and important topic as every year at least 1 in 3 of our students in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management decides to go International for their placement experience of 48 weeks at level 5. Many of these students will then return and enter the workforce in the Hospitality and Tourism sectors either here in Northern Ireland, the wider UK or abroad. In recent years the Hospitality and Tourism sectors in Northern Ireland have become increasingly multi-cultural in that 1 in 4 (25%) employees are born abroad (Labour Force Survey, 2015), therefore new graduates, ready to enter employment need to be prepared and be more culturally aware when interacting with both the employee and customer alike. Cultural Diversity is an increasingly important factor in working life as tourism organisations, worldwide, become more diverse in terms of the race, ethnicity, natural origin and other personal characteristics of their members, Shaw and Barrett-Power (1998). The relevance of this project is to gain the perceptions of Hospitality and Tourism students currently taking international placement and to investigate how best to prepare these students to become global citizens and be more culturally aware before going on international assignments and/or entering the multi-cultural world of work. If the preparation is successful then harnessing cultural differences will create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, where their talents are being fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met (Devine et al, 2009).

Tourism recreation research, 2007

This paper addresses the contribution of tourism's workforce to destination image and br... more This paper addresses the contribution of tourism's workforce to destination image and branding and considers the role that employees play in visitors' interpretation of their experience of place. The focus of this paper is on the contribution of working people to the image of ...

Journal of Sport & Tourism, May 1, 2004

ABSTRACT Due to political division within Northern Ireland, spectator sports, particularly Gaelic... more ABSTRACT Due to political division within Northern Ireland, spectator sports, particularly Gaelic games, have been a contentious issue and, as result, have not been developed as a tourism product. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how politics can impinge on policies relating to sport, tourism and consequently sports tourism. The first section deals with the political situation in Northern Ireland and how it has affected local tourism and sport. The second section analyses the tourism potential of local sports now that the country has entered a new era of peace. The third and final section of the paper deals specifically with Gaelic games and recommends how Northern Ireland's tourism industry could capitalize on a sport which is unique to the island of Ireland.

Journal of Education and Training, Jul 3, 2007

PurposeThis viewpoint paper aims to assess a curriculum response within a specific vocational sec... more PurposeThis viewpoint paper aims to assess a curriculum response within a specific vocational sector, hospitality, driven by the recent surge in intra EU labour migration and the ensuing increase in workplace cultural diversity.Design/methodology/approachThe paper identifies an appropriate curriculum response by assessing the industry implications and proffering a conceptual model of curriculum response.FindingsThe experience across business sectors, such as hospitality, emphasises the need for training that is geared to meet the needs of both international and indigenous employees and that, critically, intercultural issues represent a significant training gap. It is posited that the curriculum response is multifaceted embracing the need to address course content, learning outcomes, assessment methods and the training needs of educators.Originality/valueThe paper is targeted at academics within applied business education, specifically in those areas of the services sector that have experienced significant labour migration in recent years. It is also of wider value to those involved in curricula design in a vocational context.

Event Management, 2022

Cultural events feature prominently in the economic strategies of many cities. However, culture i... more Cultural events feature prominently in the economic strategies of many cities. However, culture is open to interpretation and cultural expression can be problematic. This paper examines Saint Patrick's Day celebrations in Belfast and how this event has been the victim of a bitter 'cultural war'. Efforts to reframe the event and make it inclusive have had limited success. Like many other post-conflict countries, culture in Northern Ireland is tied to group identity and cultural expression is bound up with the battle for political legitimacy and state sovereignty. This battle for ownership and cultural supremacy has meant that Belfast has been unable to cash in on its authentic links to Saint Patrick. This is unlikely to change because, despite COVID-19 and the prominence given to event tourism in Belfast's new culture strategy, the zero-sum character of the cultural war in Northern Ireland would suggest group identity will continue to trump the economic argument.

Elsevier eBooks, 2007

The peace process has transformed Northern Ireland. Economic progress is evident and political vi... more The peace process has transformed Northern Ireland. Economic progress is evident and political violence, although not extinct, has diminished substantially in terms of the number of deaths and injuries (Tonge, 2005). This is certainly good news for the tourism industry but although peace and economic stability are important prerequisites, they alone will not guarantee tourism growth in Northern Ireland. The key to success is product development and diversification, an area that has been largely neglected during the ‘troubles’. This chapter examines the opportunities for Northern Ireland in one of the world’s fastest growing niche markets - sports tourism. The first section provides a brief but important insight into the country’s political history and how it has affected local tourism and sport. The second section analyses the tourism potential of local sports now that Northern Ireland has entered a new era of peace. The remaining two sections deal specifically with Gaelic games and its controversial governing body - the Gaelic Athletic Association. It is argued that, despite its nationalist ethos, local tourism organisations should now work alongside the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to help develop Gaelic sports into a lucrative tourism product. To establish if there was a latent demand for Gaelic Games a sample of overseas visitors were surveyed and the results are discussed in section three. Given the positive response to the questionnaire the final section of this chapter focuses on how Northern Ireland could promote Gaelic games and recommends how they could be packaged for the sport tourism market.

International Journal of Event and Festival Management, Oct 19, 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine how the structure of government-funded event age... more Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine how the structure of government-funded event agencies affected the development of the events industry in Northern Ireland. The institutional arrangements for two agencies which operated at different times in Northern Ireland were analysed.Design/methodology/approach– A total of 62 in-depth interviews were conducted with event organisers and public officials who had worked directly with these two organisations.Findings– The standalone National Events Agency which began operating in 1999 was found to be more hands-on and worked closely with event organisers to develop the quality of their event. As a quango it worked at arms length from government. Unfortunately it abused this freedom and used public monies to manage its own events, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability when managing this type of agency. In 2008 it was replaced by an Events Unit which was set up within the National Tourism Organisation. Under this structure event tourism and not event development was the priority. For the events industry this created development issues and reduced its clout at government level.Originality/value– This paper addressed a gap in the literature and found that the institutional arrangements did affect how a government-funded events agency operated and what it regarded as a strategic priority. This in turn had repercussions for the development of the events industry.

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2010

... France 33.3 52.3 India 32.6 2.9 ... Page 14. Online destination marketing 71 perspective both... more ... France 33.3 52.3 India 32.6 2.9 ... Page 14. Online destination marketing 71 perspective both Austria and Switzerland are keen to move away from the image that they are winter destinations but this is not emphasised strongly enough in Ironman Austria's race website. ...

Cultural diversity is an increasingly important factor in working life as hospitality and tourism... more Cultural diversity is an increasingly important factor in working life as hospitality and tourism organisations, worldwide, become more diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin and other personal characteristics of their members. Notably, the flow of migrants to peripheral regions of Europe has extended to Northern Ireland. Jarman (2004) estimates some 14,000 non-United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland nationals working in 2001. The retention and skills shortages of the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland are significant factors in facilitating this increase. In the context of this paper, international workers could be an invaluable new source of labour for the hospitality industry, provided that they are properly looked after and managed. Employers face many challenges in accommodating this workforce as these employees in turn have distinct work and life expectations. This exploratory paper draws on information received from hospitality employers in Northern Ireland through a serious of in-depth interviews. In particular, the research centres on the question ‘what opportunities and challenges does a culturally diverse workforce create for hoteliers in Northern Ireland? The paper highlights the over arching importance of a positive proactive management system is a workplace that celebrates its employee’s cultures, that values and explores differences and that actively seeks to learn from other cultures, demonstrates tolerance, respects differences, identifies similarities and strives for inclusiveness. This exploratory study is of value to hospitality practitioners, providing recommendations on how to remove barriers to the successful integration of international staff into the workplace and society whilst benefiting all staff, their organisations and the Irish tourism product.

The tourism potential of events is one of the main economic reasons why Governments are so keen t... more The tourism potential of events is one of the main economic reasons why Governments are so keen to support them. Getz (2008:406) defined event tourism as ‘the development and marketing of events for tourism and economic development purposes’. Event tourism is highly competitive and if a country wants to target this market then it must plan accordingly. In this paper the authors will discuss how a strategic approach to event tourism would involve analysing the unique geographical, economic, political and social characteristics of a country which would help identify the type of events it should and could target. The authors have also identified five generic issues that a country should also consider when planning for event tourism: seasonality, strategic fit, industry development, funding and collaboration.

D estination marketing has assumed heightened importance in the tourism industry as destinations ... more D estination marketing has assumed heightened importance in the tourism industry as destinations are confronted with increasing competition from new and emerging countries. Kolter et al. (1993) employ the term 'place wars' to describe the cut-throat nature of modern tourism. Consumer profiles and preferences are constantly changing and this has implications for Irish tourism. In terms of development, the tourism industries in both the North and South of Ireland have reached a crossroads and to remain competitive they must diversify their product. This paper examines the opportunities that exist for the island of Ireland in one of the world's fastest growing niche markets: sports tourism. The first section provides an update on Ireland's tourism performance and establishes the need for diversification and niche marketing. The second section analyses the sport tourism market from an Irish perspective and stresses the importance of promoting local sport as part of both the sports tourism portfolio in its own right and its contribution to the cultural tourism product. The paper then deals specifically with the tourism potential of Gaelic Games and how they could be developed into an attractive and marketable tourism product. In order to establish whether there

SAGE Publications eBooks, 2017

Are indigenous students prepared for employment in a multicultural working environment?This is a ... more Are indigenous students prepared for employment in a multicultural working environment?This is a relevant and important topic as every year at least 1 in 3 of our students in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management decides to go International for their placement experience of 48 weeks at level 5. Many of these students will then return and enter the workforce in the Hospitality and Tourism sectors either here in Northern Ireland, the wider UK or abroad. In recent years the Hospitality and Tourism sectors in Northern Ireland have become increasingly multi-cultural in that 1 in 4 (25%) employees are born abroad (Labour Force Survey, 2015), therefore new graduates, ready to enter employment need to be prepared and be more culturally aware when interacting with both the employee and customer alike. Cultural Diversity is an increasingly important factor in working life as tourism organisations, worldwide, become more diverse in terms of the race, ethnicity, natural origin and other personal characteristics of their members, Shaw and Barrett-Power (1998). The terms multiculturalism and cultural diversity in this paper is used interchangeably, aiming at providing and yielding important insights into the students’ learning and knowledge of cultural awareness issues. It is hoped that the findings from this research will help us as academics to release how best to prepare our students to become global citizens before going on international assignments and/or entering the multi-cultural world of work. If the preparation is successful then harnessing cultural differences will create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, where their talents are being fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met (Devine et al, 2009).

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Mar 13, 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the opportunities and challenges faced by hospitality employers... more PurposeThis paper aims to explore the opportunities and challenges faced by hospitality employers in accommodating a culturally diverse workforce in Northern Ireland.Design/methodology/approachThis is an exploratory paper based on interviews with hospitality employers in Northern Ireland. It seeks to answer the question “What opportunities and challenges does a culturally diverse workforce create for hoteliers in Northern Ireland?”.FindingsThis research highlights the potential of international workers as an invaluable new source of labour for the hospitality industry, provided that they are properly looked after and managed.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could analyse the role of multicultural management in assuring business benefits associated with cultural diversity.Practical implicationsThe research suggests the importance of a positive proactive management system and solutions for training that could be incorporated into the workplace that celebrates its employee's cultures, that values and explores differences and that actively seeks to learn from other cultures, demonstrates tolerance, respects differences, identifies similarities and strives for inclusiveness. Training solutions are provided.Originality/valueThis study suggests the removal of barriers to the successful integration of international staff into the workplace and society, while benefiting all staff, their organisations and the Irish tourism product.

Event Management, 2023

The Virtual Sport Experience Design (VSX) framework, which was adapted from Funk’s (2017) Sport E... more The Virtual Sport Experience Design (VSX) framework, which was adapted from Funk’s (2017) Sport Experience Design (SX) framework, was used to examine the event experience of cyclists who competed on the Mixed Reality platform, Zwift. Using a mixed methods approach, the findings suggest that Zwift is a viable substitute for real-life cycling events in that it provided users with realistic and serious competition in a social environment. High levels of technological embodiment, the quality of the in-game graphics and the gamification elements added to the experience by creating a sense of presence and control. However, it was the social dimension and the ability to communicate and create a sense of ‘communitas’ with other riders that provided the most compelling argument that Mixed Reality can provide a digital alternative to real-life events.

The word ‘event’ is derived from the Latin word ‘e-venire’ meaning outcome and in the contemporar... more The word ‘event’ is derived from the Latin word ‘e-venire’ meaning outcome and in the contemporary era events are staged for a variety of reasons and have many different outcomes. According to Getz (2012) much of the importance attached to planned events is related to their economic benefits, leading many governments to view event development as a legitimate, strategic policy field. This in turn has lead to the creation of specialist public sector organisations dedicated to the development of events and event tourism. Although academics such as Alan et al. (2005), Getz (2012), Bowden (2011) and Whitford (2009) believe that this form of government intervention in events is desirable and practical, there is a major gap in the literature when it comes to analysing the role and performance of these government funded agencies. In an attempt to address this gap this paper focused on the institutional arrangements in Northern Ireland. This provided an interesting case study because in 1999 Northern Ireland set-up a National Events Agency but as a result of mismanagement it was forced to close in 2008 and its functions were transferred to the National Tourism Organisation. MethodologyThis longitudinal study which was conducted over an eight year period (2006-2013) examined how these two organisations performed. Using critical case purposive sampling technique a total of sixty-two interviews were conducted with event organisers and public officials who had worked directly with these two organisations during this period.FindingsOne of the key findings from this study was that a National Events Agency that operates at arms length from government may have a competitive advantage when it comes to bidding for events. However, this freedom and flexibility can be costly if not properly managed. Transparency is crucial and accountability should be at the heart of every decision as this type of organisation is spending public monies. It is also important that a National Events Agency sticks to its remit and that there are processes in place to monitor performance on a regular basis.There are also lessons to be learnt for those countries that have or are considering setting up an events unit within their National Tourism Organisation. Inevitability event tourism will be the priority under this structure but this is something that event organisers are now more willing to accept as they recognise the mutual benefits that can be gained from promoting tourism through their event. However, the National Tourism Organisation must acknowledge that event tourism is a bi-product of events and it is therefore important to work with event organisers to improve the quality of their events and raise the profile of the industry.Originality/ValueEach country has unique, geographical, economic, political and social characteristics and the institutional arrangements that work in one country may not be suitable for another. However, as this case study of Northern Ireland has shown, regardless of which system is in place it must be managed properly and hence the need for further research to highlight other examples of good and bad practice.

Irish Educational Studies, Mar 1, 2008

Tourism and Hospitality Research, Sep 1, 2007

Notwithstanding the globalisation of services and the migration of some service providers (call c... more Notwithstanding the globalisation of services and the migration of some service providers (call centres, financial processing) to regions of low cost labour coupled with high levels of education attainment, there are arguments that the skills, which employees bring to the workplace in executing common tasks, are context and culture specific. This paper is concerned with the skills set and training background of one set of service workers, those in hotel front office, located within Northern Ireland. This paper reports the findings of a survey of front office workers working in 4- and 5-star hotels in Northern Ireland. This survey identifies the skills and training profile of this group of employees and measures attitudes to key skills requirements within front office work.

Are indigenous students prepared for international placement and future employment? This is a rel... more Are indigenous students prepared for international placement and future employment? This is a relevant and important topic as every year at least 1 in 3 of our students in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management decides to go International for their placement experience of 48 weeks at level 5. Many of these students will then return and enter the workforce in the Hospitality and Tourism sectors either here in Northern Ireland, the wider UK or abroad. In recent years the Hospitality and Tourism sectors in Northern Ireland have become increasingly multi-cultural in that 1 in 4 (25%) employees are born abroad (Labour Force Survey, 2015), therefore new graduates, ready to enter employment need to be prepared and be more culturally aware when interacting with both the employee and customer alike. Cultural Diversity is an increasingly important factor in working life as tourism organisations, worldwide, become more diverse in terms of the race, ethnicity, natural origin and other personal characteristics of their members, Shaw and Barrett-Power (1998). The relevance of this project is to gain the perceptions of Hospitality and Tourism students currently taking international placement and to investigate how best to prepare these students to become global citizens and be more culturally aware before going on international assignments and/or entering the multi-cultural world of work. If the preparation is successful then harnessing cultural differences will create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, where their talents are being fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met (Devine et al, 2009).

Tourism recreation research, 2007

This paper addresses the contribution of tourism's workforce to destination image and br... more This paper addresses the contribution of tourism's workforce to destination image and branding and considers the role that employees play in visitors' interpretation of their experience of place. The focus of this paper is on the contribution of working people to the image of ...

Journal of Sport & Tourism, May 1, 2004

ABSTRACT Due to political division within Northern Ireland, spectator sports, particularly Gaelic... more ABSTRACT Due to political division within Northern Ireland, spectator sports, particularly Gaelic games, have been a contentious issue and, as result, have not been developed as a tourism product. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how politics can impinge on policies relating to sport, tourism and consequently sports tourism. The first section deals with the political situation in Northern Ireland and how it has affected local tourism and sport. The second section analyses the tourism potential of local sports now that the country has entered a new era of peace. The third and final section of the paper deals specifically with Gaelic games and recommends how Northern Ireland's tourism industry could capitalize on a sport which is unique to the island of Ireland.

Journal of Education and Training, Jul 3, 2007

PurposeThis viewpoint paper aims to assess a curriculum response within a specific vocational sec... more PurposeThis viewpoint paper aims to assess a curriculum response within a specific vocational sector, hospitality, driven by the recent surge in intra EU labour migration and the ensuing increase in workplace cultural diversity.Design/methodology/approachThe paper identifies an appropriate curriculum response by assessing the industry implications and proffering a conceptual model of curriculum response.FindingsThe experience across business sectors, such as hospitality, emphasises the need for training that is geared to meet the needs of both international and indigenous employees and that, critically, intercultural issues represent a significant training gap. It is posited that the curriculum response is multifaceted embracing the need to address course content, learning outcomes, assessment methods and the training needs of educators.Originality/valueThe paper is targeted at academics within applied business education, specifically in those areas of the services sector that have experienced significant labour migration in recent years. It is also of wider value to those involved in curricula design in a vocational context.

Event Management, 2022

Cultural events feature prominently in the economic strategies of many cities. However, culture i... more Cultural events feature prominently in the economic strategies of many cities. However, culture is open to interpretation and cultural expression can be problematic. This paper examines Saint Patrick's Day celebrations in Belfast and how this event has been the victim of a bitter 'cultural war'. Efforts to reframe the event and make it inclusive have had limited success. Like many other post-conflict countries, culture in Northern Ireland is tied to group identity and cultural expression is bound up with the battle for political legitimacy and state sovereignty. This battle for ownership and cultural supremacy has meant that Belfast has been unable to cash in on its authentic links to Saint Patrick. This is unlikely to change because, despite COVID-19 and the prominence given to event tourism in Belfast's new culture strategy, the zero-sum character of the cultural war in Northern Ireland would suggest group identity will continue to trump the economic argument.

Elsevier eBooks, 2007

The peace process has transformed Northern Ireland. Economic progress is evident and political vi... more The peace process has transformed Northern Ireland. Economic progress is evident and political violence, although not extinct, has diminished substantially in terms of the number of deaths and injuries (Tonge, 2005). This is certainly good news for the tourism industry but although peace and economic stability are important prerequisites, they alone will not guarantee tourism growth in Northern Ireland. The key to success is product development and diversification, an area that has been largely neglected during the ‘troubles’. This chapter examines the opportunities for Northern Ireland in one of the world’s fastest growing niche markets - sports tourism. The first section provides a brief but important insight into the country’s political history and how it has affected local tourism and sport. The second section analyses the tourism potential of local sports now that Northern Ireland has entered a new era of peace. The remaining two sections deal specifically with Gaelic games and its controversial governing body - the Gaelic Athletic Association. It is argued that, despite its nationalist ethos, local tourism organisations should now work alongside the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to help develop Gaelic sports into a lucrative tourism product. To establish if there was a latent demand for Gaelic Games a sample of overseas visitors were surveyed and the results are discussed in section three. Given the positive response to the questionnaire the final section of this chapter focuses on how Northern Ireland could promote Gaelic games and recommends how they could be packaged for the sport tourism market.

International Journal of Event and Festival Management, Oct 19, 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine how the structure of government-funded event age... more Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine how the structure of government-funded event agencies affected the development of the events industry in Northern Ireland. The institutional arrangements for two agencies which operated at different times in Northern Ireland were analysed.Design/methodology/approach– A total of 62 in-depth interviews were conducted with event organisers and public officials who had worked directly with these two organisations.Findings– The standalone National Events Agency which began operating in 1999 was found to be more hands-on and worked closely with event organisers to develop the quality of their event. As a quango it worked at arms length from government. Unfortunately it abused this freedom and used public monies to manage its own events, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability when managing this type of agency. In 2008 it was replaced by an Events Unit which was set up within the National Tourism Organisation. Under this structure event tourism and not event development was the priority. For the events industry this created development issues and reduced its clout at government level.Originality/value– This paper addressed a gap in the literature and found that the institutional arrangements did affect how a government-funded events agency operated and what it regarded as a strategic priority. This in turn had repercussions for the development of the events industry.

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2010

... France 33.3 52.3 India 32.6 2.9 ... Page 14. Online destination marketing 71 perspective both... more ... France 33.3 52.3 India 32.6 2.9 ... Page 14. Online destination marketing 71 perspective both Austria and Switzerland are keen to move away from the image that they are winter destinations but this is not emphasised strongly enough in Ironman Austria's race website. ...

Cultural diversity is an increasingly important factor in working life as hospitality and tourism... more Cultural diversity is an increasingly important factor in working life as hospitality and tourism organisations, worldwide, become more diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin and other personal characteristics of their members. Notably, the flow of migrants to peripheral regions of Europe has extended to Northern Ireland. Jarman (2004) estimates some 14,000 non-United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland nationals working in 2001. The retention and skills shortages of the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland are significant factors in facilitating this increase. In the context of this paper, international workers could be an invaluable new source of labour for the hospitality industry, provided that they are properly looked after and managed. Employers face many challenges in accommodating this workforce as these employees in turn have distinct work and life expectations. This exploratory paper draws on information received from hospitality employers in Northern Ireland through a serious of in-depth interviews. In particular, the research centres on the question ‘what opportunities and challenges does a culturally diverse workforce create for hoteliers in Northern Ireland? The paper highlights the over arching importance of a positive proactive management system is a workplace that celebrates its employee’s cultures, that values and explores differences and that actively seeks to learn from other cultures, demonstrates tolerance, respects differences, identifies similarities and strives for inclusiveness. This exploratory study is of value to hospitality practitioners, providing recommendations on how to remove barriers to the successful integration of international staff into the workplace and society whilst benefiting all staff, their organisations and the Irish tourism product.

The tourism potential of events is one of the main economic reasons why Governments are so keen t... more The tourism potential of events is one of the main economic reasons why Governments are so keen to support them. Getz (2008:406) defined event tourism as ‘the development and marketing of events for tourism and economic development purposes’. Event tourism is highly competitive and if a country wants to target this market then it must plan accordingly. In this paper the authors will discuss how a strategic approach to event tourism would involve analysing the unique geographical, economic, political and social characteristics of a country which would help identify the type of events it should and could target. The authors have also identified five generic issues that a country should also consider when planning for event tourism: seasonality, strategic fit, industry development, funding and collaboration.

D estination marketing has assumed heightened importance in the tourism industry as destinations ... more D estination marketing has assumed heightened importance in the tourism industry as destinations are confronted with increasing competition from new and emerging countries. Kolter et al. (1993) employ the term 'place wars' to describe the cut-throat nature of modern tourism. Consumer profiles and preferences are constantly changing and this has implications for Irish tourism. In terms of development, the tourism industries in both the North and South of Ireland have reached a crossroads and to remain competitive they must diversify their product. This paper examines the opportunities that exist for the island of Ireland in one of the world's fastest growing niche markets: sports tourism. The first section provides an update on Ireland's tourism performance and establishes the need for diversification and niche marketing. The second section analyses the sport tourism market from an Irish perspective and stresses the importance of promoting local sport as part of both the sports tourism portfolio in its own right and its contribution to the cultural tourism product. The paper then deals specifically with the tourism potential of Gaelic Games and how they could be developed into an attractive and marketable tourism product. In order to establish whether there

SAGE Publications eBooks, 2017