Destination manager to tourism policy director

• already held assess an area as a tourism destination skill
• already held coordinate public-private partnerships in tourism skill
• already held deliver presentations on tourism skill
• already held measure sustainability of tourism activities skill
• already held plan measures to safeguard cultural heritage skill
• already held plan measures to safeguard natural protected areas skill
• already held tourist resources of a destination for further development knowledge
• already held build a strategic marketing plan for destination management skill
• already held geographical areas relevant to tourism knowledge
• already held manage distribution of destination promotional materials skill
• already held manage production of destination promotional materials skill

• optional, not held develop international cooperation strategies optional
• optional, not held advise on foreign affairs policies optional
• optional, not held analyse foreign affairs policies optional
• optional, not held build international relations optional
• optional, not held foreign affairs optional
• optional, not held foreign affairs policy development optional
• optional, not held government policy implementation optional
• optional, not held manage government policy implementation optional
• optional, not held marketing principles optional
• optional, not held perform public relations optional
• optional, not held plan event marketing for promotional campaigns optional
• optional, not held present reports optional
• optional, not held report analysis results optional
• optional, not held scientific research methodology optional
• optional, not held show intercultural awareness optional
• optional, not held speak different languages optional

• not needed by the target role apply strategic thinking skill
• not needed by the target role augmented reality knowledge
• not needed by the target role build a network of suppliers in tourism skill
• not needed by the target role build business relationships skill
• not needed by the target role comply with food safety and hygiene skill
• not needed by the target role coordinate efforts of stakeholders for destination promotion skill
• not needed by the target role coordinate operational activities skill
• not needed by the target role create annual marketing budget skill
• not needed by the target role design press kit for media skill
• not needed by the target role develop inclusive communication material skill
• not needed by the target role develop strategies for accessibility skill
• not needed by the target role develop tourist information materials skill
• not needed by the target role develop working procedures skill
• not needed by the target role ecotourism knowledge
• not needed by the target role educate on sustainable tourism skill
• not needed by the target role engage local communities in the management of natural protected areas skill
• not needed by the target role execute marketing plan skill
• not needed by the target role improve customer traveling experiences with augmented reality skill
• not needed by the target role lead the brand strategic planning process skill
• not needed by the target role local area tourism industry knowledge
• not needed by the target role maintain relationship with suppliers skill
• not needed by the target role manage budgets skill
• not needed by the target role manage conservation of natural and cultural heritage skill
• not needed by the target role manage contracts skill
• not needed by the target role manage staff skill
• not needed by the target role manage visitor flows in natural protected areas skill
• not needed by the target role manage yield skill
• not needed by the target role market analysis knowledge
• not needed by the target role measure customer feedback skill
• not needed by the target role oversee the design of touristic publications skill
• not needed by the target role oversee the printing of touristic publications skill
• not needed by the target role perform market research skill
• not needed by the target role plan digital marketing skill
• not needed by the target role promote virtual reality travelling experiences skill
• not needed by the target role recruit employees skill
• not needed by the target role report touristic facts skill
• not needed by the target role sales strategies knowledge
• not needed by the target role select optimal distribution channel skill
• not needed by the target role self-service technologies in tourism knowledge
• not needed by the target role set up pricing strategies skill

6 further entries not listed here

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

• still to learn environmental impact of tourism required
• still to learn tourism market required
• optional, not held foreign affairs optional
• optional, not held foreign affairs policy development optional
• optional, not held government policy implementation optional
• optional, not held marketing principles optional
• optional, not held scientific research methodology optional

Yes, and it is a moderate move. A destination manager already covers 49% of what a tourism policy director is expected to do: 11 skills carry over, 7 of which the tourism policy director role treats as required.

3 required skills are missing, plus 16 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by services. The single most important is develop tourism policies.

Its learning distance is 48.8 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.