The present and the future of Tourism in Greece is determined, to a large extent, by the training of its executives. Dr. Evangelia Baralou, Academic Director of the MSc in Tourism Management program at Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece explains why.
-Would you explain the MSc in Tourism Management to us in two words.
It is a 24-month tourism business management postgraduate program. It is hybrid, offered remotely and modernly, and enables students to study from where they are while also being able to participate in live activities.
-Since 2014, the MSc in Tourism Management has been shaping modern industry professionals. What is his goal in relation to the future of Tourism in the country?
The way for Greece to compete with the strongest tourist destinations is very high level services. That is why we need professional executives. The program aspires to shape tomorrow’s leaders in the tourism industry – leaders with knowledge, skills, experience, who will meet the challenges of the industry. Having just celebrated 10 years of our program at an emotional event hosted in the wonderful grounds of One&Only, together with our beloved faculty, students, alumni, administrative staff and important partners, we look forward to the years to come. In doing our review and guided by the achievements and successes of the last 10 years, we are setting the bar even higher for the coming years, but maintaining the same zeal and vision for the prospects of the program in the domestic and international markets.
– Tourism is our heavy industry. Lately there has been intense development activity in many areas. What qualifications does an industry executive need to have for a sustainable career in Tourism?
The challenge of the tourism industry is to find the right executives to man these businesses. The industry is not inferior to other industries in terms of career opportunities. But it seems that young people are not attracted to the industry as much as we would like – either because they are not informed about career opportunities in Tourism, or because they lack motivation. We take action in both directions. We equip students with skills that an industry executive now needs, such as knowledge of:
– Financial Strategy
-Business Intelligence, to be able to build and manage an “intelligent” organization
-Digital marketing
We also cultivate skills such as: critical thinking, analytical skills – seeing the whole and recognizing the individual parameters – and synthesis – taking individual elements and creating a whole with added value. We also work hard on our graduates’ communication skills, teamwork and leadership skills, because these are exactly what shape the modern professional who will lead a high-level tourism business.
-The program also offers 3 workshops. What are the benefits of this combined experience?
In addition to the academic part, our courses have practical workshops that give our students many opportunities to apply scientific knowledge on a practical level. Three workshops are offered during the winter months — one in Costa Navarino, with which we have a strategic partnership — so that the children can get to know each other, the School and the market network.
-Alba’s MSc in Tourism Management has a strong professional network, through which it opens career paths and supports executives. The establishment of the Business Advisory Board is a crucial link with the market. How does it contribute to the future of the tourism industry?
The purpose of the committee is to work with the most serious employers in the tourism industry, to establish a systematic communication and cooperation and to take joint action to reform tourism in Greece. Costa Navarino, One&Only, Four Seasons, Marriott, Aegean, Sani/Ikos, Grand Hyatt, Expedia, Thinking Traveler, Santikos and also institutions, such as the Hotel Chamber and SETE, are our travel companions on this trip.
-Many professions are directly or indirectly related to tourism. With proper training, executives can be developed who, through high-level services, will highlight the country as one of the most important destinations. How does the MSc in Tourism Management inform stakeholders and what incentives does it give stakeholders?
The first Business Advisory Board had this perspective: to inform all stakeholders about our content, program philosophy and actions, which aim to create a vibrant, strong network for our students. One of the incentives we give is a series of scholarships up to 100%, in collaboration with organizations and businesses. Thus, we can attract talent to the industry and create a version of the career. We also want the market to turn to us to find the best talent. The second Business Advisory Board to which new members were added aimed to discuss current trends and challenges in tourism and how the MSc in Tourism Management can not only address them but play a key role in shaping strategic initiatives linking the market with education.
