SITTPPD501
Develop host community awareness of tourism

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to educate and consult local communities about tourism issues, including its costs and benefits.

Application

This unit applies to local, regional or state and territory tourism organisations, and to individuals in those organisations who have a strategic focus on the overall and longterm operation of tourism as an industry in a local community. They work independently, often in management roles.

An awareness program would normally be for a local government area or wider region, but may sometimes apply to the development of a particular tourism venue or individual touring product.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1. Educate and inform the community on tourism.

1.1 Develop objectives for community education according to organisational goals and nature of the community.

1.2 Evaluate and select appropriate communication methods, and devise and implement strategies and programs to maximise the opportunity to inform community about tourism.

1.3 Proactively seek opportunities to adopt new or innovative approaches to community education.

1.4 Communicate costs and benefits of tourism to the community on an ongoing basis.

2. Develop stakeholder networks.

2.1 Review and assess current and potential stakeholders to determine needs, interests, priorities and relevant trends.

2.2 Identify key stakeholders, their representatives and ways to establish and maintain links.

2.3 Share expertise, information and resources with networks when appropriate to strengthen links.

2.4 Make provision for current relevant information on stakeholders to be gathered and maintained.

3. Liaise with stakeholders.

3.1 Seek stakeholder views and opinions about tourism activities on an ongoing basis.

3.2 Evaluate and integrate stakeholder input in planning and organisation of tourism activities.

3.3 Identify potential community conflict and seek solutions in consultation with relevant parties.

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to conduct consultations with community stakeholders

critical thinking skills to analyse and respond to complex tourism-related issues at a strategic level

initiative and enterprise skills to seek out new and innovative approaches

literacy skills to:

analyse wide ranging information on varied and potentially unfamiliar topics, including statistical data

develop information materials (printed or digital) that communicate complex messages in a user-friendly way

numeracy skills to work with data about economic costs and benefits of tourism

planning and organising skills to develop and organise multi-faceted information and consultation programs

problem-solving skills to work with stakeholders on potentially complex issues or problems.

Required knowledge

potential impacts of tourism on the community, both costs and benefits, including economic, social and environmental impacts

tourism-related concerns that arise in communities, and the ways that these may be managed, including those related to:

sustainability

competition for space, overcrowding

competition for resources

perception of reduced resident amenity

key stakeholders in the area, their roles in the community and their perspectives on tourism

community consultation and networking approaches, including features, costs and benefits of:

media strategies, including digital strategies

consultation formats

stakeholder engagement.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

develop and implement strategies for effective communication about tourism issues to a local community

consult and communicate with community groups

demonstrate knowledge of the role of tourism in host communities, the impact of tourism and the role of major stakeholders.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure use of:

a host community for which a program can be developed

current information and communications technology to support communication activities

community stakeholders with whom the individual can consult.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

evaluation of a community awareness program developed by the individual for a specific local community

use of case studies to assess ability to address community awareness issues in different contexts

written or oral questioning to assess knowledge of community impacts of tourism, strategic and tactical community communication processes, and the structures of tourism management organisations

review of portfolios of evidence and thirdparty workplace reports of onthejob performance by the individual.

Guidance information for assessment

The assessor should design integrated assessment activities to holistically assess this unit with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:

SITTPPD604 Develop and implement local or regional tourism plan.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Strategies and programs to maximise the opportunity to informthe community may include:

community representation on relevant tourism committees and boards

educational activities:

speaking at local schools

information on the Internet

media strategies:

public relations

regular tourism column in local newspaper

social media

networking activities:

functions between tourism operators and communities

special interest networks

regular planning activities with the local community

sponsorship:

tourism sponsorship of local community activities

business sponsorship of tourism events.

Costs and benefits of tourism to communities may include:

benefits:

cultural benefits, including cultural preservation

economic benefits to local community

employment opportunities

greater understanding between host and visitor cultures

improved local facilities

visitor education

costs:

damage to environmentally or culturally sensitive areas

effect on social structures

trivialisation of culture.

Stakeholders may include:

community groups

elders of Indigenous communities

elected officials

general public

government officers

land management and protection authorities

media

tourism industry associations

tourism operators

trade unions.

Ways to establish and maintain linksmay include:

external committees

formal consultative bodies

informal communication and feedback

newsletters or other regular or specific information provision

regular liaison activities

surveys

working parties or taskforces.

Potential community conflict may relate to:

competition for local government resources

conflict between environmental and business groups

conflicting opinions about tourism development options

conflicting opinions regarding local government levies for tourism

perceived threat to local amenities by high visitor numbers.


Sectors

Tourism


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.