UN Tourism has launched its first-ever set of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) dedicated entirely to rural tourism.
Developed under the
Tourism for Rural Development Programme, the two online courses — focusing on
"Product Development and Marketing for Rural Areas" and "Design
Thinking for Rural Tourism Development" — are now live and available free
of charge in both English and Spanish.
Designed to be
practical, accessible, user friendly, the MOOCs will equip those working on
rural destinations with knowledge and tools to create more sustainable,
inclusive, and community-led tourism experiences.
Zoritsa Urosevic,
Executive Director at UN Tourism, says: "These MOOCs offer rural
communities the tools to discover and make the most of their tourism potential
— identifying what makes them unique and designing experiences that are both
authentic and sustainable. From strategic planning to product prototyping, the
courses empower them to lead their own development journeys. This goes beyond
online-learning, it is about helping rural destinations shape their future and
thrive on their own terms."
Practical Tools for
Community-Led Tourism
Together, the two
MOOCs offer a comprehensive and hands-on learning journey. Participants can
learn the foundations of rural tourism development, discover how to assess and
leverage their rural tourism assets, and design authentic, experience-driven
offerings that reflect local culture and values. Additionally, they gain
insights into marketing and branding tools ensuring that tourism products reach
and resonate with relevant audiences.
Through the Design
Thinking for Rural Tourism Development course, learners are introduced to
human-centered design that emphasises empathy, creativity, and co-creation.
Participants can learn how to co-create tourism solutions alongside local
communities, using tools for ideation, prototyping, and evaluation to foster
sustainable and inclusive development.
At the same time, the
Product Development and Marketing for Rural Areas course dives into practical
strategies for building rural tourism experiences, from stakeholder engagement
to crafting compelling narratives and marketing campaigns. Both courses integrate
global case studies and best practices, enabling learners to apply their
knowledge to real-world challenges.
Global Access,
Local Impact
The MOOCs are open to everyone — from tourism entrepreneurs and destination managers to local officials, NGO workers, students, and creatives interested in sustainable rural development. Accessible on the UN Tourism Online Academy, the courses offer the flexibility to learn at one’s own pace. -TradeArabia News Service