Tourism industry is undergoing some major changes, which may have considerable consequences as far as the future of the sector is concerned. Rapid advances in technology, increased environmental awareness, rise of the experience economy and availability of competent workforce are just examples of the various opportunities and challenges which the tourism business are to meet in order to keep up the international competition.
Within the Future Foresight theme we offer visionary knowledge on the growth potential and possibilities of tourism and experience management.
Our aim is to
- Evaluate the present state of the sector
- Chart the needs and expectations of the key stakeholders
- Define both national and regional visions as guidelines for national and regional development projects
- Network the various stakeholders needed for developing and delivering the new, innovative products and services in a customer-oriented way
- Define the method for implementation and follow-up of the chosen vision
The programme is carried out in cooperation with >> Finland Futures Research Centre
Further information:
Managing Director Sanna Tarssanen
Lapland Centre of Expertise for the Experience Industry, LEO
sanna.tarssanen(at)leofinland.fi
+358 40 861 1149
The operational environment of tourism businesses, as well as the consumer behaviour of tourist are going through rather a radical change. In order to meet the needs of tomorrow’s tourist, tourism businesses - all competing on the same global market - are compelled to update their business models and strategies.
People are increasingly willing to pay to be able to experience something out of the ordinary. We believe that providing the customers individual, memorable and meaningful experiences gives a tourism business a significant competitive edge.
Within the Experience Management theme we offer new knowledge on how to exploit the experience economy in the tourism business:
- What is the difference between service and experience?
- What is the business logic behind the experience economy?
- How do you manage immaterial property rights?
- What are the synergies between tourism and film industries?
We offer
- Innovation services for experience design
- Experience expert training
- New tools to collect and analyse customer information to support product development
Further information:
Managing Director Sanna Tarssanen
Lapland Centre of Expertise for the Experience Industry, LEO
sanna.tarssanen(at)leofinland.fi
+358 40 861 1149
The emergence of electronic commerce has probably been the most important single factor, which has radically changed the tourism industry in the past decades. Major changes have taken place in sales and marketing where tourism has been leading the way among industries in electronic commerce.
A second wave of massive change is currently happening: customers no longer seek company websites to get information and access to services. Rather, they exchange information and interact with each other in Internet communities based on Web 2.0 technologies.
What’s more, virtual reality and tourism experiences are merging resulting from synergies between tourism, digital entertainment and media. Virtual enterprises operating on the basis of innovative new business models are the future of tourism.
Tourism and Experience Management Cluster helps companies to identify these challenges and implement changes in their operations in order to turn challenges into opportunities. We are currently focusing on the following key areas:
- Social media as an opportunity for the tourism industry
- Adoption of state-of-the-art technologies in small and medium sized companies to facilitate business processes
- Development of digital media to support branding and marketing
We offer
- Advice on and access to Finnish business networks
- International benchmarking and networking opportunities in collaboration with IFITT and IFITT Finland
- Internet visibility campaign tools and manual
- Internet social media do-it-yourself guide (in Finnish): http://matkailumarkkinointi.info
- Networking opportunities for tourism and ICT companies alike
Further information:
Programme Director Pellervo Kokkonen
Savonlinna Region Centre of Expertise
pellervo.kokkonen(at)innovaatiokeskus.com
+358 44 758 5472
It is not just products but also services that can be designed. Service Design is an approach to create services based on the customer point of view.
Services are about the customer experience. It’s not just what you get but how you get it that counts.
Even though a service experience always depends on the perceiver, his/her individual background and expectations, service design helps the service provider to improve the service quality and find new business models, which in turn increases customer satisfaction and employee motivation. Service design is a tool to increase productivity and to stand out from the competitors.
Within the Service Design theme we offer tools for
- Indentifying new business possibilities and customer needs
- Concept planning
- Development of services and service strategies
- Cost-effective concept testing
- Introduction to Service Design
Our aim is to help the Finnish tourism industry to exploit service design as a means of competitiveness and growth
Further information:
Development Manager Miikka Raulo
Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences / Jyväskylä Region
miikka.raulo(at)jamk.fi
+358 40 731 0022