Esmond Devas sadly lost his battle against cancer in October 2001.
On this page you can read about his life and work in his own words...
Comment by Esmond Devas
|
In exercising a Webmaster's privilege and giving myself space on this site, I have kept the focus on my professional career as an engineer and economist, which spanned the period 1964 to 2000 when I retired through ill health. To the standard London dinner party question what do I do for a living ?, or did I do, I have always been short of a snappy answer, and my CV set out below will demonstrate to anybody who cares to plough through it why this is the case. Unlike many people, I never had a career plan, and bumbled happily along taking more or less the next job I was offered, particularly tempted by anything that involved different technical challenges to those I had already faced, with a weather eye always on the money, bearing in mind that until I went to the Caribbean in 1980, the family was often very short of cash.
Although some of my friends were so baffled by the improbable mix of my work as to be convinced that I worked for the security services, there were of course some consistent factors responsible for the variety that I was offered, namely a) a flexible facility with numbers and their analysis and manipulation which got me into mathematical modelling of industrial situations in the early years on leaving LSE and later often resulted in work as a numbers man on larger team projects doing everything from demographic forecasts to household surveys, b) a knowledge of medical systems and computing that started when I was hired in the early 1970s on a freelance basis by the DHSS as part of a 30 strong team working on a mathematical model of the National Health Service ( no less !)- I was put on to the mental illness component- c) an intimate knowledge of the international travel industry into which I strayed by chance, but where I later acquired a great deal of practical experience and in the end became a considerable expert in handling its impacts on developing countries and finally d) a fluent, but not perfect, command of the French language as a result of my time at the Lycée in London, which got me jobs in many French speaking countries, initially for a year in Algeria around 1969, later in the Lebanon and French West Africa.
 |
Below is reproduced my professional CV, pretty much as presented during my year of retirement 2000, but with some pics thrown in to lighten an otherwise tedious document of record. I had at the time of my retirement been working exclusively for some 10 years in the tourism industry, so my CV as circulated suppressed quite a lot of material which was incompatible with that positioning. The missing information, mainly relating to my parallel interest in medical computing and mathematical modelling, has been reintroduced so that it now represents a fairly complete time record of my professional life.
My commercial web site (Tourism Planning and Research Associates), includes a range of archive material relating to my professional work such as reports and evaluations I wrote, and these can be downloaded
| Year of Birth | 1941, London |
| Nationality | British |
| Marital status | Married to Sasha [Rowntree] in 1972. 1 son Bonamy born 1974 |
| Education | Lycée Charles de Gaulle, London Trinity College, Dublin - Electronic Engineering ( Honours BAI) - French Language ( BA) London School of Economics: - Postgraduate MSc in Economics (Operations Research) |
Excellent French, Good Italian, Comprehension: Spanish and German
| 1984- 2000 | Director, Tourism Planning and Research Associates |
| 1980- 1983 | WTO/UNDP Regional Tourism Adviser at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Barbados |
| 1971- 1980 | Director, Tourism Planning and Research Limited |
| 1969-1971 | Senior Economist, Transport and Tourism Technicians Ltd |
| 1967-1969 | Consultant, Business Operations Resarch Ltd. and Booz Allen and Hamilton Inc. |
| 1964-1965 | Systems Analyst/Programmer, Rank Xerox, UK |
Summary information
 |
Esmond Devas has a postgraduate Master's degree from the London School of Economics, and more than 20 years' experience as a tourism economist. His principle professional skills are in economic and market analysis, and he also has acquired much practical experience in survey design and execution. He brings to his work with the tourism industry an unusually high level of computing experience, having worked extensively in mathematical modelling, and being one of the founders of a UK computer systems house.
He has been a team leader and member of multidisciplinary teams carrying out major assignments in most parts of the world and organisations for whom he has undertaken assignments include Governments, Tourist Boards, development organisations, and private companies.
He is also the author of a number of regularly published market research studies on key tourist generating markets, including The European Tourist, now into its 9th Edition.
Summary of UK experience
Early experience in the UK included a wide range of industrial studies involving mathematical modelling, with particular experience in the health sector. More recently, he has been engaged in demand studies associated with the possible development of a 5th terminal at Heathrow airport, an investment study related to a Millennium project in Glasgow, post project evaluations for the English Tourist Board, and feasibility studies for the London Borough of Greenwich related to the Millennium Dome.
Summary of Caribbean experience
 |
Over the period 1980 to 1983 Esmond Devas was based in the Caribbean at CTRC (now CTO) in Barbados as the World Tourism Organisation's regional Adviser, and during that period worked extensively throughout the region undertaking visitor surveys, economic impact studies, and policy studies. This interest in the region has been maintained, with close involvement in the design and evaluation of many of the EC's regional programmes. He has worked in most countries in the Caribbean, as well as in Venezuela, Costa Rica and Brazil. Recent work has included cost benefit studies associated with coastal conservation in Barbados (IADB 1992), eco tourism development in Dominica (CDB, 1993), evaluation of the Netherlands Antilles tourism development plan ( EC, 1994), and tourism policy and marketing plan studies in St Kitts & Nevis in 1995. Tourism Master Plans for Saba and for Bonaire were undertaken in 1996. In 1997, he participated in a Comsec funded study of investment opportunities in tourism in the Caribbean. During 1998 and 1999 he participated in a master planning study for tourism in Jamaica, as well as writing a report of the impact of EU and other European regulations and legislation on Caribbean suppliers in the tourist industry. In 2000, he completed a study of the French tourism mrket for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, complementing one for the UK tourist market undertaken 1998.
Summary of African experience
 |
His experience in Africa began with a year spent in Algeria developing production control systems for the nationalised spaghetti and couscous industries back in 1969. Subsequently, work in North Africa has included market studies in Tunisia, Morocco, and again in Algeria. In East Africa he undertook hotel feasibility studies in Tanzania for the Capital Development Authority in Dodoma, and market research on the Kenyan safari market. In West Africa he was leader of a multidisciplinary team drawing up development plans for the Casamance area in the South of Senegal, and has also worked in Gambia and Nigeria on market development studies. He has undertaken market research in South Africa of tourism demand for travel to the island of St Helena (1965). Most recently (1999), he has completed a series of European marketing studies for the Government of Zambia, and put together a European marketing plan for Zambia largely based on the Internet.
Summary of Middle East experience
Esmond Devas was a member of the World Bank funded team that drew up a plan for the development of the region's tourism subsequent to the 1967 war, at which time he made an extensive field trip covering Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and Egypt. Subsequently, he was chief economist for the Abu Dhabi tourism master plan, and also worked in Iraq, Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrein. Later he spent 6 months in Saudi Arabia drawing up plans for tourism developments in the Abha region targeted at the domestic market.
 |
He drew up in 1993, on behalf of Bechtel Inc working with the Ministry for Reconstruction and Development, an action plan for the regeneration of the Lebanese tourist industry. He also worked with a World Bank mission to Jordan, in connection with the appraisal of a major tourism infrastructure project there (1996) and most recently, he has been working in Egypt on another World Bank funded study, this time on coastal zone management and sustainabale tourism in the Red Sea area (1997).
Summary of South Asia, Indian Ocean and Pacific experience
In 1972, Esmond Devas spent three months in Afghanistan, engaged in tourism and aviation development studies funded by the World Bank, and including a number of field trips into Pakistan. Since then, he has worked extensively in Maldives where he has been involved in a series of development planning and infrastructure projects. He has also undertaken market studies in relation to tourism development in Sri Lanka. In the South Pacific, he has worked in many of the islands on behalf of the EC, in connection with tourism development studies, trade promotion, and project evaluation, covering Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
 |
Elsewhere in the Pacific, his experience includes a number of studies on the Japanese outbound market, and market forecasting for travel to Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia. His most recent assignment has been at Subic Bay in the Philippines, assisting the SBMA with the realisation of ambitious plans for expanding its tourism sector there, including a study of Pacific outbound markets ( 1997). In 1999 he was back in Maldives, this time undertaking studies whose objective was to analyse and detail the potential for development of yacht based tourism in the north of Maldives, within the context of the country's longstanding environmental and security policies.
Summary of Eastern Europe experience
 |
Experience in Eastern Europe includes feasibility studies for hotel investment in Czechoslovakia (Prague). Undertaken for a UK private investor. Most recently, tourism planning in Slovakia ( 1997) undertaken as part of a UK Know How fund project.
Talks/ Seminars/ Conferences
Esmond Devas has given talks and hosted forums at many tourism meetings, including the Fiji Hotel Association annual convention, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, BIT Milan ACP convention, and others
Computers
Fully familiar with Wordperfect, Word, spreadsheets, also online data search and retrieval
Return to Homepage
Updating for Caribbean Tourism Organisation of study on French Tourist Market
Cruise ship planning study on Mediterranean tourism prospects and the scope for attracting home porting based on Malta. Review of the impact of home porting on air uplift, and cross effects on stayover tourism air capacity. Undertaken for port of Valetta
Study of the scope for attracting mini cruise ships and sailing yachts to Maldives, and review and costing of the planning and infrastructural measures needed to implement this. For the Government of Maldives, with MacAlister Elliott and Partners
Study for Caribbean Tourism Organisation on safety and hygiene standards being demanded by European tour operators and cruise operators, including corporate policies on standards and due diligence procedures. Review of EU and other legislation, and assessment of implications of Corporate Manslaughter situation in the UK specifically.
United Kingdom Tourist Market study written for Caribbean Tourism Organisation
 |
Study undertaken across Europe on the market for safari type holidays in Southern Africa, and the marketing measures needed by Zambia to access this market. EU funded
Jamaica tourism master plan, with particular responsibility for cruise sector: evaluation of the national policy to be followed in respect of competing cruise ship ports in Jamaica ( especially Ochos Rios and Montego Bay) and review of the implications of developing a third major cruise port at Port Royal. For the Goververnment of Jamaica, funded by Commonwealth Secretariat.
 |
Feasibility study for museum and educational facility in the Borinage in Belgium, EU funded
Environmental Economist ( tourism), Red Sea Coastal and Marine Resources Management Project, World Bank/ GEF, with MacAlister Elliot and Partners, UK
Tourism Planning in Slovakia (REDIS project): institutional strengthening, planning and marketing, financed by UK Know How Fund ( in progress), undertaken in association with GHK International, UK
Subic Bay Development Authority Philippines: research on Pacific outbound markets for World Bank funded Institutional Strengthening project, with Maxwell Stamp Associates
Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and Caribbean Hotel Association: preparation of Guide for Investment in Tourism in the Caribbean, as part of First Conference on Tourism Investment in the Caribbean held in Bahamas in April 1997
Team Leader, Multidisciplinary team preparing tourism strategic plan for Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles: the report focuses on establishing a sustainable tourism industry, including imposing limits to new capacity development and on implementing essential measures to protect its key reef system. TPR Associates, EC funded
Team Leader Saba, Netherlands Antilles. Preparation of Tourism Strategic Plan: Saba has a population of only 1400 persons, and the focus is on containing tourism and maximising value added within a sustainable framework, TPR Associates, EC funded
 |
Team Leader, Côte d'Ivoire: preparation of tourism strategic plan. The field work was undertaken during a 6 week visit to Cote d'Ivoire in August 1996. The report makes recommendations for necessary key steps for a viable tourist industry to be established in the country, EC funded, in French, TPR Associates
Subic Bay Development Authority Philippines: tourism sector review, strengthening the existing small tourism industry in Subic Bay including preparation of a marketing plan. Undertaken for World Bank funded Institutional Strengthening project, with Maxwell Stamp Associates
Regional Planning in Maldives: preparation of plans for opening up the Southern Region (Addu, Huvadhu atolls) for tourism. Asian Development Bank funded.
Mission to Jordan for World Bank: project preparation for proposed "2nd Tourism Development Project", in association with GHK International of the UK
Evaluation of Community Action Plan for Tourism ( Tourism Unit, Brussels, , DG 23); with Price Waterhouse
Projections of Demand for tourism travel to St Helena from Europe and South Africa, with Tecnecon for ODA, 1995
Team Leader, Tourism policy studies and marketing plan for St Kitts & Nevis, EC funded, TPR Associates, 1995
Maldives regional Development Planning Project, comparative evaluation of regions for tourism development purposes, with Maxwell Stamp Associates for Asian Development Bank, 1995
Economic impact study: commercial and leisure development in the Peak District, England. With PKF for private developer, 1995
Economic analysis of Millennium project in Scotland (direct, indirect and induced impacts on incomes and employment), with PKF for Glasgow City Council, 1995
 |
Project design, Netherlands Antilles and Aruba participation in regional Caribbean tourism programmes, for Dept for Development Cooperation, Curacao, 1994/5
Participation in EU-ACP programme at BIT Milan trade fair. With Arti Assistance, France, 1995.
Evaluation of EC Regional Integrated Programmes for Commerce and Services 1990-1994 ( country participation in trade and tourism fairs, and related TA activities). Evaluation undertaken in Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and Fiji on behalf of DFA of France, for EU Evaluation Unit, 1994
Macro-Economic Analyst, responsible for all macroeconomic inputs to Tourism Master Plan for Maldives (economic, financial, and employment impacts) , with Transtec S.A. of Belgium, EU funded, 1994
Team leader, Evaluation and Review of Tourism Development Programme of the Netherlands Antilles covering Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten, for European Commission, TPR Associates, 1994/5
Project Design: Caribbean Regional Tourism Development Programme, Lome IV 1994-1996, for Cariforum and European Commission, TPR Associates,1993-4
Team leader, Tourism Development Strategy for Lebanon, with Bechtel Inc. for Council for Development and Reconstruction, Lebanon (1993)
 |
Tourism economist, Strategic Review for Government of Montserrat, responsible for tourism sector inputs and air traffic forecasting studies associated with potential airport expansion: with PKF, ODA funded, 1993
Study of development options for 12 natural attractions of eco-tourist interest in Domini- ca's National Parks, including demand studies, pricing policies and financing, for Gov- ernment of Dominica, with PKF, Caribbean Development Bank funded (1993)
Tourism economist, Tourism Sectoral Study, Maldives, as input to Asian Development Bank financed Perspective Plan 2000, with Maxwell Stamp Associates, 1993
Survey of Japanese outbound travel market, for TPR Associates, 1993 Tourism analyst, Terminal 5 London Airport: accommodation sector studies with BHC Consulting for Airport Policy Consortium, 1993
Local Area Initiatives ( LAI) Evaluation study, with NERA for English Tourist Board, 1993
 |
Team leader, South Pacific Regional Tourism Development programme- Project Evaluations in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Western Samoa and Vanuatu, including European travel trade survey (1992)
Tourism economist, Barbados Beach Conservation study: design and implementation of surveys of hoteliers (structured interviews), domestic and foreign tourists ( sample surveys undertaken on the beaches), and general population (Omnibus survey); tourism demand modelling and economic cost benefit analyses, with Delcan and PKF for IADB 1992
Financial analyst, Hotel/ Leisure sector: study of investment potential in Czechoslovakia and Poland. For UK private client.
Team leader, Preparation of tourism sector plan for the island of Dominica, undertaken for the Ministry of Trade Industry and Tourism (1990/91), including economic analyses of sector, demand forecasting, and structured interview survey of travel trade in Dominica. ( EU funded)
Preparation of EU project dossier for Caribbean Regional Tourism Development Pro- gramme- undertaken for Caribbean Tourism Organisation with European Community funding (1990)
 |
Project leader, European Tourism Marketing Study, Island of Dominica, undertaken for the Commonwealth of Dominica, and funded by Commonwealth Secretariat (1990): product and market analysis, survey of European travel trade based on 4 country structured interview programme, leading to marketing plan for Europe. Undertaken with London Group.
Tourism economist, Appraisal and Design study for sea defences, jetties and Associated Works at Roseau in Dominica: tourism economist with responsibilities for demand forecasting, market studies, particularly in relation to cruise passengers. Trade survey of cruise line companies in Europe. Undertaken with PKF for British Development Division in the Caribbean (1989)
Project leader, Metasa team in Barnet Health Authority . Clinical database systems design, clinical audit, procedure and diagnostic coding system design, in general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, day surgery, ophthalmic and gynaecological surgery.
St Mark's Hospital, London: Project manager, clinical database systems covering: endoscopy, pathology, physiology, polyposis, adenoma follow up systems
Team leader, collaborative project between Clinical Operations Research Unit at University College London, Metasa Limited and cooperating clinicians in developing a UK clinical records system for Oncology. DHSS funded.( 1984-1986)
Clinical database systems: Royal Free, London (Surgery); University College, London (Anaesthetics); Bart's Hospital ( Pediatric Gastroenterology, Radiotherapy); Leeds General Infirmary ( Surgery, Gastric Follow-up); Guy's Hospital (Surgery); RSH and General, Southampton (Various); Princess Margaret Hospital Swindon ( Colonoscopy); Christchurch Hospital (Colonoscopy, UGI); London Clinic ( anaesthesia): and others
Development of computerised market intelligence gathering, recording and analysis system for UK travel marketing company (MSTT Ltd, 1986-88)
Management of the WTO Caribbean Tourism Regional Development Programme for tourism in the Caribbean region;
Setting up of a computerised statistical data base on tourism for the Caribbean and the development of statistical publications consisting of annual statistical report, and quarterly statistical releases
Design and computer analysis of sample surveys of visitor expenditure and motivation for market research and related purposes in Curacao, Grenada, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, St Lucia, and Antigua
Design and analysis of a survey of cruise passengers undertaken in 22 Caribbean countries
Undertaking tourism policy and economic impact studies for individual Caribbean islands, including Dominica, Curacao, Turks and Caicos, the US Virgin Islands, and Antigua
Market analyst, Market Research and evaluation study on the market for diesel generating sets: undertaken in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Nigeria. For Electrical Research Association, UK
Member of research team working on mathematical modelling approaches to the design and analysis of clinical trials in Breast Cancer, undertaken at the Breast Unit, Guy's hospital, funded by Department of Health and Social Security.
 |
Planning studies undertaken in Asir Saudi Arabia, as part of a multidisciplinary team: Design and execution of 5% household survey of the Asir region; Industrial surveys and demographic work; With VBB consortium of Scandinavia
Ambulance Resource planning study for the Department of Health undertaken at Cranfield ( with Orcon consulting)
Resource planning study involving design of a mathematical model of the NHS using linear programming techniques. On team responsible for implementation Mental Illness component, for the DHSS, London
Tourism analyst, Hotel feasibility studies in Dodoma for Capital Development Corporation, Tanzania
Data analyst, Design and programming of computer systems for analysis of nutrition data on children in Haiti: undertaken for FAO
Project leader and chief economist for multi disciplinary tourism planning study conducted in the Casamance region of Senegal, with particular responsibility for economic analyses, European market surveys, and demand modelling. Financed by African Development Bank for Government of Senegal. Undertaken by TPR Associates, with Scet International and SEDES of France.
 |
Study of European Market Potential for travel to the Pacific Area, for Pacific Area Travel Association.
Chief Economist, tourism master plan for Abu Dhabi
Project leader: Study of the European market potential for travel to Brazil, based on trade and consumer surveys undertaken in Europe; for the Government of Brazil.
Air transport economist, tourism master plan for Afghanistan, funded by IBRD
Feasibility studies for hotel and related projects in Rhodes, Corfu, St Vincent ( West Indies), Abu Dhabi, and the UK
Tourism economist, Study of the prospects for tourism development in the Middle East. For IUOTO with IBRD funding.
 |
Mathematical modelling using linear programming and other OR techniques: for Alcan Extrusion Division, UK; Olivetti Machine Tool Division ( Italy); SN SEMPAC ( Flour, Pasta and Couscous mfr.) in Algeria; Staveley Industries ( Machine tool mfrs) in UK.
Commissioning of first computerised rental invoicing system for Rank Xerox Ltd. (IBM 1400 series)
These include:
