The Italian Centre for Advanced Studies in Tourism and Tourism Promotion (CST), founded in 1982, is one of the best established tourism management schools in Italy and offers services including training, up-dating technical assistance, research to all the public and private entities operating in the industry.

Together with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Perugia, CST has promoted the institution of the degree programme in Economics of Tourism, one of the first such experiences realised in Italy, contributing over the years to its development .

It operates in the field of professional and managerial training, on the undergraduate and post-graduate level, aimed at students and tourism operators, as well as in research, consulting and technical assistance on the main topics regarding the tourism industry. It produces marketing plans, development and promotion plans for communities that intend to invest in tourism as a driving force of the development of territories.
CST edits the most comprehensive series of "Studies and Research in Tourism" available today in Italy, published by FrancoAngeli of Milan, and produces multimedia educational materials on the principal topics of marketing and management of interest to tourism businesses and the public functions of the industry. CST has had its own quality system, certified ISO 9001 by the RINA certification agency, since 2001.

Ordinary members: City of Assisi, Italian University for Foreigners of Perugia
Contributing members: Region of Umbria, Province of Perugia, Federazione delle Associazioni Italiane Alberghi e Turismo (Federalberghi), Unioncamere Umbria

Activities

Training
CST offers special-order and catalogue training services aimed both at pre-experience and post-experience training.
The Centre intervenes in:
planning. Creation and preparation of course structures, targeted training paths and educational modules related to the specific needs of the client/users; catalogue courses for pizza chefs, barmen, cooks and italien  kitchen .
realisation. CST trainers and external professionals operate with educational methods and on highly operational contents, based on a rigorous educational and scientific approach. Training consultancy includes an analysis of training needs, the implementation of the project concept, continuous training actions, tutoring and technical-scientific assistance to students participating in work placements.

Consulting and technical assistance
Technical assistance is directed at the public and private organisations operating in the tourism industry. In particular, CST makes available its know-how in the areas of marketing, IT management, revenue management, distribution, management controls, quality management, legislation. CST flanks local agencies, businesses and consortia in drawing up local tourism development plans based on new tourism and territorial marketing strategies.

Research
Research activity is innate to the educational and consulting activity carried out by CST and represents a permanent accumulation of know-how made available to the clients of CST’s services. The research activity is directed in many areas including the identification of training and professional needs; the realisation of community projects on the topics of the transparency of qualifications and competencies and on accessible tourism; the fine-tuning of thematic observatories for the analysis of the tourism system on a territorial level and in areas of particular importance. Privileged topics of analysis include new forms of tourism use of the territory, the most advanced business management techniques, such as revenue management, and models for destination management.

Production of educational material
As integration and support of its activity and with the aim of spreading a managerial culture in tourism businesses, CST edits the broadest series of "Studies and Research in Tourism", available today in Italy, published by FrancoAngeli. The Centre is also active in the planning, realisation and testing of educational material for self-learning and at-a-distance training