Hodnocení procesu certifikace turistických informačních center jako nástroje pro zkvalitnění jejich služeb a rozvoje cestovního ruchu: příklad turistické oblasti Český ráj

The diploma thesis deals with tourist information centers (TIC) as important institutions for the development of tourism with emphasis on their certification and evaluation. The aim of the work is to evaluate whether the certification of the Association of Tourist Information Centers of the Czech Republic (ATIC), as currently set, contributes not only to improving accessibility, but especially to improving the services of tourist information centers and therefore to tourism development. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with the general level of the researched issues. It presents the basic concepts and starting points of regional development of tourism and also presents foreign approaches to the operation of tourist information centers in the neighboring countries of the Czech Republic. In the practical part, with regard to the aim of the work, a questionnaire survey was conducted among individual tourist information centers in the tourist area of Bohemian Paradise focused on their availability and quality of services provided by them. The results of the survey were subsequently verified by pen and paper interviews with employees of tourist information centers and the President of ATIC. Based on the acquired knowledge, recommendations are formulated for improving the quality of TIC services, such as unification of TIC names, inclusion of selected points in the mandatory certification requirements or a proposal for non-aggregation of indicators regarding the availability and breadth of services provided.