DIVETOUR project: HOTREC to help develop innovative training tools for skills in tourism

Funded by the Erasmus + program, the DIVETOUR project aims to create and test innovative methodologies and tools for training and the labour market, with a specific focus on accessible tourism and the post-covid recovery of the sector. 

The project aims to bring a diverse range of expertise and insights from various sectors – including hospitality, Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers, researchers and IT developers – to create new learning tools, experiment with innovative technologies and stimulate dialogue to support the development of skills and better cater for tourists with disabilities. 

An open online learning community will provide a space for dialogue and confrontation of ideas among VET and tourism sector professionals. Participants will have the possibility to share experiences and organise dedicated webinars. This virtual community will examine how to promote and develop the concept of accessibility in the tourism sector, in particular as a response to the new challenges that Covid 19 has posed to all of us.

In addition, a game-based app and a chatbot are under development. The app will seek to foster awareness among young people on the opportunities and challenges as well as the ethical and economic relevance of accessible tourism by playing a game that includes specific customer care strategies. The chatbot meanwhile will aim to help users improve the quality of information and communication in relation to issues such as inclusiveness and accessibility.

The DIVETOUR project is now officially launched and a dedicated website is under construction. HOTREC is currently in the process of helping develop an appropriate ‘training path’ to implement the project, which is highly relevant to address the shortage of staff faced by hospitality sector as a consequence of the pandemic.