• To familiarize oneself with the UNWTO Headquarters and its UNWTO.THEMIS Foundation, its staff responsible for programme areas and regional representations and to gain a clearer idea of how UNWTO and UNWTO.THEMIS Foundation functions.
• To have the opportunity to gain up-to-date knowledge in either the area of tourism policy and strategy or destination management.
• To visit leading tourism destinations and study the application of knowledge in situ through visits to local tourism attractions and installations as well as meetings with local tourism authorities, destination organization managers and the private sector.
• To share best practices and to discuss challenges with officials from other UNWTO Member States as well as exchanging views, learning from each others experiences and establishing useful contacts for the future.
• To form part of the UNWTO.Practicum Fellows Association, comprised of over 400 officials who have participated in the Practicums.
• To obtain the additional benefit of scholarship opportunities offered through the UNWTO.Scholars programme held at UNWTO.TedQual Certified Institutions (universities, business schools, institutes, etc.).
• To attend UNWTO.EKM seminars, conferences, workshops, etc. with partial scholarships as a UNWTO Practicum Fellow.

Conditions

1. Be an official or a public manager occupying a post related to tourism governance in one of UNWTO Member States (or, in the case of a decentralized Administration, to be a regional tourism officer, duly recommended by both the Regional Government and Central Government);

2. Be between twenty-five and forty-five years of age;

3. Have sound professional experience in the public sector equipping him/her for increased responsibilities within the National (or Regional/Local) Tourism Administration and to have had several years of active employment there.

4. Have completed his/her university education validated by a diploma (at first degree or master’s degree level);

5. Have an international outlook, without necessarily having worked in international relations;

6. Have been active in UNWTO programme development and implementation. While this is not a sine qua non requisite, priority will be given to candidates with this merit.

7. Have an excellent knowledge of one of the official languages of UNWTO (English, French, Spanish or Russian). Each Practicum is carried out in one or two of these languages;

8. Have sufficient adaptability – both professional and personal – to be able to leave his/her usual surroundings, and work in an international group.

9. Have a clear idea of the professional objectives he/she wishes to attain during the Practicum period and how these are applicable to his/her work at his/her country’s National Tourism Administration or other public body.


Practical arrangements:

• Candidates selected to participate this programme will be provided with accommodation throughout the Practicum as well as a small allowance to cover meals. All officials will be responsible for their transport to the UNWTO.THEMIS Foundation Headquarters and from UNWTO Headquarters.
• They shall obtain a multiple entry Schengen visa.
• They must have an all-inclusive comprehensive insurance and produce a complete medical certificate stating that he/she enjoys excellent health and can carry out the Practicum as required.

How to apply?

• Submit a completed application form along with a letter of nomination from the appropriate authority (Minister, Deputy Minister, Director of Tourism).
• Candidates will be selected on the basis of their professional merits (curriculum vitae) and letter of intention, with preference being given to those candidates whose work in directly related to tourism and the UNWTO. Regional distribution and language skills will also be taken into account.