Within the framework of the SESRIC project titled “Strengthening the Capacities of African Tourism Boards through Sustainable Human Resource Management Practices”, which is funded by the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC) under the 11th Call for Project Proposals of the COMCEC Project Funding, the Centre organised a Training Course on “Enhancing Tourism Competitiveness through Sustainable HRM Practices in OIC African Member States” on 23-25 July 2024, through an online video conferencing platform.

The training course was attended by 52 participants from 17 African countries, including 13 OIC African Member Countries.

The main objective of the training course was to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement sustainable Human Resources Management (HRM) practices in their esteemed countries.

The three-day training covered the following topics:

• Sustainable Human Resources (HR) in Tourism.
• Best Practices on Sustainable Tourism: New Era-New Normal.
• Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Investing in the African Hospitality Sector.
• Revolutionize Malaysia as Top of the Mind Destination.
• Technology, Tourism and Sustainability.
• International Tourism Trends and Development of Smart Tourism in OIC Member Countries.
• Navigating the Future: Key Trends Shaping the Tourism Sector.
• Destination Marketing: Case of Türkiye.
• ARDSI – Implementation of IPARD Program and Rural Tourism Projects.

The project consists of an online training course and a workshop for the benefit of African Tourism Board representatives in selected OIC African Member Countries to contribute to the development of a resilient, competitive, and sustainable tourism sector in Africa. The activities aim to facilitate knowledge sharing and enhance human capacities towards strengthening the participants’ abilities to drive tourism development in their respective countries.

The COMCEC Coordination Office (CCO) introduced the COMCEC Project Funding (CPF) in 2013, a financing mechanism that funds projects submitted by the OIC member countries and relevant OIC Institutions. The funding is provided in the form of a grant through the Development and Investment Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, a main body in the CPF scheme. Since the initiation of CPF, SESRIC has implemented 13 projects so far under various cooperation areas and sectoral themes determined by the CCO.

For more details about SESRIC projects funded by the COMCEC, please visit: https://www.sesric.org/tcd-activities-projects-funded.php.

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