Globalization and integration processes in tourism in the Czech Republic

Tourism plays an important role in the consumption of people. It contributes substantially to the development of national economy and to the improvement of employment in individual regions of the ...

Tourism plays an important role in the consumption of people. It contributes substantially to the development of national economy and to the improvement of employment in individual regions of the Czech Republic. Tourism development has proved a positive growth since 1989, but in the same time it has shown that its further development will depend on the ability of Czech economy to respond to the process connected with globalization in world's economy. The main objective of the research at the Tourism Department in 2006-2007 was to stipulate individual globalization features in tourism, to indicate its benefits and impacts and prepare recommendations for the future. Special attention was paid to education of tourism managers and to necessary changes in the educational process. The research was carried out within projects of internal grant agency of the University of Economics Prague, Fund for University Development of the MSMT (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport) of the Czech Republic and now it goes on within a research project of the Faculty of International Relations called Governance in a globalized economy and society. Examining features of globalization in tourism, the following hypotheses were set: Globalization has both positive and negative effects on activities of tourism businesses and can be clearly seen in the Czech Republic already now. Globalization brings changes into management of tourism businesses and work teams. These changes must be reflected in education of managers for this field.