UN Tourism QUEST
UN Tourism Quality Certification for Destination Management Organizations
UN Tourism QUEST is a quality certification for Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) that endorses and enhances excellence in the Organizations’ Leadership, Execution and Governance.
BENEFITS
- Provides a global framework of standards and criteria to evaluate DMO's effectiveness and efficiency.
- Strengthens DMO's commitment with quality and excellence in tourism management.
- Enhances competitiveness and sustainability of tourism destinations through the improvement of DMOs.
- Acknowledges the DMO's quality and excellence, by awarding the UN Tourism QUEST Certification.
- Welcomes the certified DMO into the UN Tourism QUEST Network.
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS
Through UN Tourism QUEST’s progressive process, UN Tourism supports DMOs in strengthening their three key areas of work:
- Strategic Leadership,
- Effective Execution, and
- Efficient Governance.
PHASES
To ensure the successful implementation of the criteria and quality standards in the three areas, the UN Tourism QUEST Certification has a progressive implementation methodology that provides support, assistance and monitoring to the DMO with:
- Analysis of the DMO's management plans and operations.
- Support of the DMO by reinforcing their human resources' knowledge and professional skills.
- Assessment of the DMO's strategic and operational activities quality and efficiency.
CERTIFICATION
As a result of the process, UN Tourism awards the UN Tourism QUEST Certification, valid for four years, to those DMOs that have successfully complied with the Certification's criteria and standards.
TARGET AUDIENCE
The UN Tourism QUEST Certification is aimed at Destination Management Organizations, especially at local and regional level:
- with different structures or scopes
- of a diverse nature and legal status, including government departments or agencies, as well as statutory agencies, NGOs, private associations or any other type of entity
- from any country, whether or not a UN Tourism Member State
BENEFICIARIES
- The DMO - by implementing tools and best practices which strengthen their strategic leadership, effective implementation and efficient governance
- The Tourism Destinations - by contributing to their competitiveness and sustainability as a result of strategic decisions by the DMO as regards its planning, management and governance
- The Private sector stakeholders - who benefit from the enhancement of management capacities associated with greater synergies and public-private partnership building
- The Tourist - who will visit a destination where quality is a strategic management and distinctive feature promoted by the DMO
The Certification process comprises 3 phases, each with its corresponding processes:
- Assessment
- Online self-assessment
- Pre-Audit
- Validation by UN Tourism QUEST Advisory Board
- Improvement Process
- Improvement plan
- Training
- Audit
- Audit
- Validation by UN Tourism QUEST Advisory Board
UN Tourism QUEST has the following objectives:
- Promote the quality and excellence of the DMO in the planning, management and governance of tourism development
- Provide a framework of criteria and standards to guide and assist the DMO in destination management strategies
- Strengthen the DMO's commitment to quality and excellence in tourism management
- Improve the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism destinations by improving the DMO's strategic planning, management and governance
- Recognize the quality and excellence of the DMO, granting the UN Tourism QUEST certification
- Consolidate a network of DMO's UN Tourism QUEST certified around the world.
Once awarded with the UN Tourism QUEST Certification, the DMO acquires visibility & international recognition as an entity committed to quality and excellence in destination management, with:
- Efficient and professional governance & destination management
- Optimized human resources management and development of professional skills
- A strategic plan which fosters the integration of all the stakeholders (public & private) in the destination management
- Tools for innovation, sustainability and competitiveness of a destination
- Leadership in the destination in terms of strategic planning which may encompass the various authorities, stakeholders and professionals and facilitates tourism sector partnerships towards a collective destination vision
As a Local or Regional Destination Management Organization, if you wish to apply for the UN Tourism QUEST Certification, you need to:
- Fill out this Registration form
- Provide proof of your DMO's official constitution and recognition within your country's legal framework, with your highest national tourism authority support letter
- Obtain UN Tourism approval to participate in the Certification process
For further information, please contact us via quest@unwto.org & quest@unwtoacademy.org.