The World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism, formerly UN WTO) has been a guest at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management since 2-6 December 2024 in order to adapt its practise to new trends. Not only is the quality of the higher education institution’s programme assessed, but also the integration of the institution into the wider destination environment, its networking with stakeholders and its recognisability and importance for tourism development today and in the future.
The Faculty, which is the only holder of the quality certificate for its educational programmes in this part of Europe (UN Tourism TedQual for all 3 modules of the Bachelor of Business Administration in Tourism and Hospitality), will be an example of best practise and possibly the first institution to undergo an innovative approach to the UN Tourism – TedQual Academy quality assessment, while also serving as a training ground for future World Tourism Organisation auditors.
The change in the current practise of UN Tourism TedQual certification aims to extend the system to the Arab countries. Therefore, the impressive delegation at the Faculty consists of representatives from UN Tourism as well as representatives from the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and consultants for the development of the system of university education in tourism from Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
Over the course of five days, the Faculty representatives will give the UN Tourism delegation a real “Kvarner experience” and familiarise them with what Opatija and Kvarner have to offer. They will also visit all the key stakeholders in the region with whom the Faculty continuously cooperates in order to get a complete impression of the approach to tourism development in the Republic of Croatia, which is based on the joint work of all groups of stakeholders in the destination. The City of Opatija, the Opatija Tourist Board, TC Kvarner, the Rectorate of the University of Rijeka, the Croatian Museum of Tourism, Hilton Costabella Beach Resort & Spa, Boutique & Design Hotel Navis and Hotel Kvarner are just some of the Faculty’s indispensable partners in the education of personnel in the fields of tourism, hospitality and sustainable development, on the basis of which the Faculty is a leader in higher education, scientific and professional research in these fields.
