The Human Factor in Tourism and Shipping

Haris Kokkosis, special secretary for strategic planning in the ministry of tourism; Ioannis Tzoannos, general secretary in ministry of merchant marine; Giorgos Chiotis, dean of IST; Giorgos Drakopoulos, general manager of SETE; Aleka Madaraka-Sheppard, founding director of LSLC, ORA and UCL; and Dimitris Vasilakis, president of EPEST.

The human factor and the growth of tourism and shipping, two key aspects of the Greek economy, was the focus of IST/University of Hertfordshire’s meeting last month. Professors Haris Kokkosis and Ioannis Tzoannos, each representing the ministry’s they work for, pointed out the significance of human resources for these two industries to develop, and the need for training programs such as those offered at IST.

Giorgos Drakopoulos, general manager of SETE, summarized “training of human resources must support business operations and the planning of tourism development by people that are highly trained and from a variety of areas of specialization.”

Dr. Mandaraka-Sheppard put is succinctly, “without a good team, no good product, hence no profit.” Finally, Dimitris Vasilakis, president of EPEST, said that training programs for marine tourism, cruising and yachting should be combined under tourism and shipping studies. All those present concluded that University level training was essential for both sectors.

Since 1992, IST Studies, in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire (U.K.), provides education programs in Greece at the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree levels.