The Tourism Industry Association of B.C. and Royal Roads University are about to establish a partnership that could help revolutionize the provinceB次元官网网址檚 tourism industry.

The association announced last week the establishment of a new memorandum of understanding with the local school, to work with mid-career grad students on research that will help form and develop a number of initiatives within the industry.

B次元官网网址淭his is the top (tourism) organization in the province. ItB次元官网网址檚 a big deal for us,B次元官网网址� said Brian White, director of RRUB次元官网网址檚 school of tourism and hospitality management. B次元官网网址淭his is really important for Royal Roads.B次元官网网址�

While White couldnB次元官网网址檛 release the specifics of the agreement, since it hasnB次元官网网址檛 officially been signed yet, he had no doubt the projects within it would be moving forward. He already has students interested in the work.

B次元官网网址淲e try to use the MOUs as an organizing framework,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e identify all the things the other party wants to know about and put it into a document.B次元官网网址� That document then provides guidelines for students working on those specific projects.

Among the projects listed in the memorandum are: developing communication strategies within the B次元官网网址減ower of tourism story initiative,B次元官网网址� shaping a provincewide tourism crisis plan, and conducting in-depth research on topics such as pipeline expansion and climate change and their potential implications on the provinceB次元官网网址檚 tourism industry.

B次元官网网址淭ourism is a really critical piece in making B.C. successful in the service-based industries,B次元官网网址� White said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one of the strongest economical forces in the (local) area.B次元官网网址�

He noted the importance these projects will have locally if Greater Victoria experiences a crisis situation. B次元官网网址淚f we get a really big earthquake, (the research) will be a critical factor.B次元官网网址�

He pointed to such examples as the tsunami in Thailand, the California wildfires and more recently, the sightseeing boat tragedy in Tofino.

B次元官网网址淰ery rarely have those societies been prepared to deal with the communication afterwards,B次元官网网址� White said.

MOUs such as this one give organizations access to research projects they may not normally have the budget to take on on their own, he added.

Students in the grad program also have to complete a number of applied projects and White said this will have them B次元官网网址渄oing something useful and relevant in the real world.B次元官网网址�

RRU grad students possess a wealth of knowledge, he said B次元官网网址� the majority are in their 30s, 40s and 50s B次元官网网址� and many have held high positions in a number of industries.

He added that the majority of the students arenB次元官网网址檛 from the local area, which adds another dimension to their perspective.

B次元官网网址淭hey tend to be good researchers, theyB次元官网网址檙e quite capable. IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to it. It will be quite a useful project.B次元官网网址�

katie@goldstreamgazette.com