Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Tourism through Learn Tourism's TEA Model and Assets
In the tourism industry, creating an inclusive, welcoming environment is essential not only for attracting visitors but also for fostering a sense of community and respect within destinations. As destinations strive to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) across their tourism operations, organizations like Learn Tourism play a crucial role in providing tools and training that make DEI efforts more accessible and effective. Through its TEA (Transformative, Engaging, and Accessible) model, Learn Tourism integrates best practices in education to equip tourism professionals, front-line workers, and community leaders with the skills they need to advocate for and embody DEI principles.
The TEA Model: A Framework for Effective DEI Training
The TEA model, central to Learn Tourism’s approach, embodies three core principles:
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Transformative Education: Learn Tourism’s curriculum goes beyond traditional training methods. The focus is on facilitating meaningful change in attitudes and behaviors, helping participants not just understand but also adopt inclusive practices. This transformative learning ensures that DEI values are embedded in the mindset of tourism professionals, empowering them to engage with visitors and community members from all backgrounds in respectful, culturally sensitive ways.
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Engaging Education: Learning in the tourism industry can often be dry or disconnected from real-world application. Learn Tourism’s training programs are designed to be interactive, engaging, and dynamic. From online courses that incorporate diverse scenarios to live training sessions with experts in DEI, the programs keep participants actively involved. The engagement encourages learning through reflection, discussion, and application, helping tourism professionals internalize DEI concepts and put them into practice in their daily work.
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Accessible Education: One of the cornerstones of Learn Tourism’s approach is ensuring that education is accessible to everyone, regardless of their location, time constraints, or financial situation. By offering online courses, multi-lingual content, and flexible live training opportunities, Learn Tourism makes it easy for destination marketing organizations (DMOs), tourism boards, and community leaders to engage in DEI training. The accessibility of these resources ensures that DEI initiatives can be implemented broadly across all levels of tourism organizations, from frontline workers to senior management.
How Learn Tourism’s Assets Enhance DEI Initiatives
Learn Tourism’s diverse assets—ranging from live training programs to an extensive online learning platform—further support destination DEI goals. These assets allow organizations to create tailored training experiences that address the unique needs of their communities and visitors.
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Live Training Programs: Live sessions, often facilitated by DEI experts, provide a highly interactive learning environment where tourism professionals can ask questions, share experiences, and learn best practices for addressing inclusion and equity. These programs offer a real-time, hands-on approach to DEI issues, fostering open dialogue and allowing participants to engage in deep learning. Live programs also encourage peer-to-peer learning, as participants from various destinations share their experiences and challenges, creating a collaborative environment for growth.
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Diverse Online Learning Tools: Learn Tourism’s online platform is a treasure trove of DEI-related content, offering courses and modules that cover a wide range of topics—from cultural competency and inclusive customer service to managing unconscious bias and advocating for equity in tourism policy. These self-paced courses can be taken at any time, making it easier for tourism professionals to access quality training when it fits into their schedule. Additionally, the platform’s multi-lingual capabilities ensure that individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds can participate and learn in the language they are most comfortable with, further supporting inclusivity.
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Customizable Training for Specific DEI Needs: Learn Tourism offers the ability to customize training programs to fit a destination’s specific DEI goals. Whether a destination is focusing on increasing accessibility for travelers with disabilities or ensuring cultural sensitivity in hospitality practices, Learn Tourism can tailor its curriculum to meet these objectives. Customization allows destinations to align their tourism strategies with the evolving needs of their community, ensuring that their DEI initiatives are not only relevant but also practical and effective.
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Certification and Recognition: One of the powerful aspects of Learn Tourism’s training is the certification provided at the end of each course. This certification serves as a tangible recognition of a professional’s commitment to DEI and their proficiency in these important areas. For destinations, having a workforce with DEI certifications enhances credibility and demonstrates a commitment to creating an inclusive tourism experience. It can also help meet the growing demand from visitors who seek destinations that prioritize diversity and inclusivity in their operations.
Impact on Destinations’ DEI Initiatives
By offering access to high-quality, comprehensive DEI training through its TEA model, Learn Tourism helps destinations integrate DEI into their tourism practices in a meaningful and sustainable way. The impact of this education can be seen in several key areas:
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Enhanced Visitor Experience: Tourists increasingly seek destinations that offer inclusive and culturally sensitive experiences. Training the tourism workforce to understand and celebrate diversity enhances the visitor experience, making them feel respected, welcomed, and valued.
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Improved Community Engagement: DEI-focused training encourages stronger relationships between local communities and tourists. By fostering greater cultural understanding and empathy, tourism professionals can ensure that interactions between residents and visitors are positive, respectful, and mutually beneficial.
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Stronger, More Inclusive Policies: As tourism organizations adopt DEI practices, their policies and strategies evolve to reflect a more inclusive mindset. From how they market destinations to how they create opportunities for marginalized groups, Learn Tourism’s training helps destinations craft policies that are in line with DEI principles.
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A Commitment to Sustainable Tourism: DEI is an essential component of sustainable tourism, ensuring that tourism growth benefits all members of the community, respects local cultures, and fosters equitable opportunities. Learn Tourism’s approach empowers destinations to build tourism industries that are not only profitable but also socially responsible and inclusive.
Conclusion
Through its TEA model and diverse educational assets, Learn Tourism is helping destinations advance their DEI initiatives in tourism. By providing transformative, engaging, and accessible learning experiences, Learn Tourism equips tourism professionals with the skills they need to make a lasting impact on their communities and visitors. As the tourism industry continues to evolve, embracing DEI through education is key to creating a tourism experience that is welcoming to all and reflective of the diverse world we live in.
About Learn Tourism the nonprofit academy...
Learn Tourism is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the tourism industry through innovative educational practices and professional development initiatives. Our mission is to harness the power of science, business psychology, and adult education to build sustainable economies and enrich the tourism landscape.
About the Author: Stephen Ekstrom
Stephen Ekstrom is the embodiment of a passionate lifelong learner and a seasoned professional in the tourism industry, serving as the CEO and co-founder of Learn Tourism - the nonprofit academy. With over 25 years of experience, he has cultivated a deep understanding of tourism development and education, driven by his commitment to advancing the industry and fostering sustainable economies. Stephen's insatiable curiosity and love for knowledge have led him to be a proud nerd, constantly seeking to expand his expertise and share his insights with others. Alongside his faithful furry companions, Rudy and Marjorie, he embraces the digital nomad lifestyle, traversing the globe and immersing himself in diverse cultures. A dedicated advocate for continuous improvement, Stephen is a professional member of the Association for Talent Development, and a member of Skal International. Stephen holds prestigious certifications in Inclusive and Ethical Leadership from USF, AI Governance and Ethics from Brown University, and Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard Business School.