The professorship of Scenario Planning is part of the Research Group ‘European Tourism Futures Institute’ (ETFI). The professorship focuses on academic research concerning scenario planning, strategic foresight and conditions under which this can be applied most successfully.  This knowledge is applied in regional, national and international projects for clients in the leisure, tourism and hospitality domain. The aim is to make tourism destinations, tourism organisations and tourism businesses more future proof. The Research Group is headed by dr. Albert Postma, and the implementation programme by dr. Stefan Hartman.

Foresight is the ability to take a forward view, in order to enable action to be taken with reference to and within the context of the future. It is a competence that can be learned by means of scenario planning. The European Tourism Futures Institute tends to apply scenario planning in collective workshops together with relevant stakeholders. Together the participants explore how various trends and developments could have an impact on the future of the destination, business or organisation. Insight in these futures help with designing appropriate strategies or taking appropriate actions to be better prepared and so to become more future proof. 

Education

The Scenario Planning Department is affiliated with NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences’ Tourism Management, Leisure Management or Master in International, Leisure, Tourism and Events Management programme, and many of the results of their research are incorporated into the curriculum. If you are enrolled at NHL Stenden’s School of Leisure and Tourism, scenario planning is one of the areas you will study in your classes. If you take a special interest in the subject, you may even have the opportunity to become involved in one of our research studies. The Research Unit also provides an annual course in strategic foresight and scenario planning in master programmes at the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons (Fachhochschule Grabünden) and Skema Business School, both at undergraduate and master level.

Ties to the industry

The Research Group maintains an extensive network of businesses, governments and research and educational institutions in the Netherlands and abroad. Key partners of the Research Unit are the Centre of Expertise in Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality (CELTH) and the associated universities of applied sciences and tourism organisations such as the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC), ANVR, and HiswaRecron. Important international clients and partners are for example the Un World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Travel Foundation (TF), World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), European Association of Tour Operators (ETOA), European Travel Commission (ETC), City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) and the ITB. 

Dissemination

The Research Group disseminates its knowledge and experience by means of its successful academic Journal of Tourism Futures, books and book chapters, keynotes and presentations at academic and business conferences, master classes, workshops and guest lectures, and technical reports of the projects conducted. 

Contact Research Group

If you have any questions about the Research Group or would like to receive more information, please contact send an email to etfi@nhlstenden.com 

Additional information

If you would like to find out more about the Department of Scenario Planning and the ETFI, please check out one of the following websites:

Contact

NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
Academy of Leisure & Tourism
Postbus 1298
NL-8900 CG Leeuwarden, the Netherlands

Rengerslaan 8-10
NL-8917 DD Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
E-mail: info@etfi.eu

Administrative Assistant, Department of Scenario Planning
E: info@etfi.eu
T: +31 (0)58 244 19 92

Office Manager ESR/Academisation Office: Ms Sonja Schuil
E: sonja.schuil@nhlstenden.com
T: +31 (0)6 19281329

Team members

Sustainable Development Goals

This professorship contributes to...