At the VŠPJ they dealt with history in tourism products

On 15th and 16th March 2023, experts from the academic and application spheres met for the seventh time at the Polytechnic College Jihlava to address the problems of tourism. The main theme of this year's annual Conference on Currentáá problems of tourism was history as a part of tourism products.

The conference was traditionally organized by the Department of Tourism of VŠPJ in cooperation with the Vysočina Tourism. The conference was held under the auspices of the Minister for Mí& stní Development and Mí& stop chairman of the Czech Government for Digitalization PhDr. Ivan Bartoše, Ph.D.,  the Governor of the Vysočina Region Mgr. Vítezslav Schrek, MBA, and the Mayor of the Statutoryárního of the City of Jihlava Mgr. Petr Ryšky. The media partners of the conference were the COT group and the Institute for Memory and Culture. The conference was supported as professional partners by CzechTourism, the Association of Czech Travel Agencies and Agencies, the Association of Czech Guides; Republic, the Association of Historical Sích Sídel Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia and The Association of Rural Tourism and Agrotourism.

The conference was opened by the Rector of the Polytechnicé školy polytechnické Jihlava doc. Ing. Zdeněk Horák, Ph.D. Násubsequently úfrequentíky introducedítali PhDr. Jan Fluxa, nácity member of the Ministry of mástní development, the Governor of the Vysočina Region Mgr. Vítězslav Schrek, MBA, the Mayor of the Statárního city of Jihlava Mgr. Petr Ryška and director of the Vysočina Tourism Oľga Königová organization. The long tradition of the conference was highlighted by the conference guarantor Prof. PhDr. Petr Chalupa, CSc. and inýsign of the conference in the sense of interaction between theoryí and practiceí reminded the head of the Department of Tourism VŠPJ Ing. Ivica Linderová, PhD.

The full conference featured interesting speakers with links to history, cultural heritage and its use in tourism. Mr. Bc. Libor Honzárek from the Association of Historical S´s of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia focused on the symbióunion of history and tourism and in his presentation he mentioned the advantages of respect for history, roots and the past in the revitalization of public spaces in Havláck Brod. The Úfrequentí participants of the conference were interested in theé presentation of Mr. Ing. Tomáše Sokologorského, MBA from the Grand Vígľaš hotel in Slovakia, who explained how it is possible to improve the quality of the hotel; with respect for history to build a prosperous hotel from the ruins of a medieval castle. He cited several examples of marketingý activities and linkingý history with moderný hotelý management. Mr. Bc. David Štepánek from the destinationá organization Koruna Vysočiny guided úfrequentávisitors through the picturesque landscape of the same region and introduced a very interestingáproduct for theáinátourism – Santini's šifra. In this case, it was an example of how to integrate history and cultural heritage into destination management products. In the plenary session of theárníní spoke Mrs. Ing. Jana Piteková, PhD. from the Catholicé University in Ružomberok, whoá discussed the relationship between economics and tourism in the historicalé context. She also strongly incorporated the advantages and experience of her own business in relation to its historical heritage and its attractiveness in the eyes of the travelling public.

During the two days of the conference, around 40 presentations were given by domestic and foreign experts from both academic and application fields. In addition to university šcolleges, the conference was also attended by representatives of destination štourism &support organizations and self-support organizations.

An accompanying programme was prepared for the úý conference participants. In cooperation with the  public organization  Vysočina Tourism, the úparticipantsáwent to the village of Polná, where they visited the Jewishá memorials. In the evening, the participants and organizers of the conference met at the Zverimex restaurant in Jihlava for a reception and an informal discussion.

The conference "Currentální problemsé of tourism" is one of the already established and traditional events in the field. Vysoká škola polytechnicá Jihlava plans to continue thisá event in the nextá years and create a space for stimulatingá and noná discussion on itsá ground.

Ing. Ivica Linderová, PhD. & Ing. Petr Scholz, Ph.D., DiS.

(Department of Travel & Tourism, VŠPJ)