A Training Needs Analysis for a Sustainable Tourism Destination Management Programme: A Practitioner’s Perspective

This paper presents the findings of an online questionnaire administered to tourism destination managers, employees, and students across the project's five partner countries. The results informed a comprehensive Training Needs Analysis (TNA), which subsequently guided the development of the project’s training and networking initiatives. The TNA revealed there is a compelling need for a combination of traditional soft skills such as communication and relationship building, alongside industry-specific skills, including sustainable destination management tools and project management. The findings underscore the significance of ongoing development of tailored sustainable destination management programmes that align to the diverse needs of tourism destination stakeholders.