Exploring the views of tourism education and training professionals on their level of satisfaction with participation in distance learning programmes

The present study aims to explore the views of tourism, education and training professionals regarding their level of satisfaction with participation in distance learning programmes. The theoretical section examines the concept of e-learning, outlines its key characteristics, and discusses the advantages and challenges associated with its implementation. The study was conducted between October 2024 and February 2025. The research sample consisted of ten (10) tourism education and training professionals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted online via the MS Teams platform. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis further identified factors contributing to participants’ satisfaction with distance learning programmes. These factors primarily relate to the role of the instructor, the methodological approach adopted, the educational material, as well as the structure and duration of the programme. The findings indicate that opportunities for active learner engagement, the connection of learning content with real-life examples, short programme duration, flexible structure, and interactive educational material are perceived as key determinants of the effectiveness of distance learning programmes.