Partnerschappen voor ontwikkeling

Economische groei is essentieel om lokale gemeenschappen maatschappelijk en duurzaam te laten ontwikkelen. Living Stone Centrum werkt nauw samen met Living Stone Dialoog vzw rond capaciteitsopbouw in de toerismesector.

MALAWI: HUMAN CAPITAL FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

The Living Stone Dialogue asbl is a non-profit development organization that deals with tourism as leverage for sustainable development. With the support of the Flemish government and the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture of Malawi a vocational training program is being implemented for the tourism sector in Malawi (2009-2011). Contributions are made by Living Stone Centre, K.H.Leuven Dept. Economy, K.U.Leuven Dept. Geography and Master in Tourism. Following 'train-the-trainer’ modules are effective:

Hospitality training for frontline workers in tourism
Tour guide certification program. (Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Anna Kachiko handed out the first certificates to 32 participants from the public and private tourism sector on 14 August 2009).
Destination management for planning authorities and operational stakeholders.

References: LS Dialoog Presentation at Flanders'Investment & Trade, 26 June 2011. KHLeuven Press release 9 Februar 2009 on the involvment of academics and students in the SME-training programs in Malawi and Ayacucho. Press cliping 14 August 2009, Closing ceremony 1st traineeship in Malawi.

PERU: VIAVIA AYACUCHO

ViaVia are traveller cafes around the world: nr 12 ViaVia Ayacucho opened officially in September 2009. In Ayacucho (Peru) ViaVia is supported by Solid International to raise the quality of tourism services by offering experiential training packages in partnership with the local authorities. Belgian and Peruvian volunteers joined this initiative coordinated by Living Stone Dialoog vzw.
ViaVia Ayacucho Manager: Pauline Evers, http://www.facebook.com/pauline.evers
http://picasaweb.google.com/viaviacafe.ayacucho
www.viaviacafe.com, Solid Int. www.solidinternational.ch and http://www.solidperu.com/

BEIJING: CENTRE FOR NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (CNACH)

In 2007 an exchange program in the field of intercultural communication and tourism planning development was initiatied with CNACH (Center for Natural and Cultural Heritage, the Chinese Academy of Sciences). This program was highlighted by an international workshop on Heritage Day 14 June 2008 in Beijing. Key note speakers were prof.dr. Myriam Verbeke ('Cultural Landscapes and Tourism dynamics: Explorative Case Studies'), prof. dr.Dominique Vanneste ('The importance of local identity and support for the conservation of heritage: an experience in Ghent-Belgium') and Bob Elsen (Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Tourism). On 22 april 2009 prof. Min Qing Wen, deputy director CNACH, and Bob Elsen signed a 'Letter of Intent' to develop a train-the-trainer program in sustainable tourism development.