Secretary-General of World Tourism Organisation(UNWTO) delivered his keynote speech on tourism development in Asia Pacific, human resources demand and tourism education at IFT
On 17 October, the Institute for Tourism Studies(IFT) held a public seminar with the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) on tourism development in Asia Pacific, human resources demand and tourism education. Secretary-General of World Tourism Organisation(UNWTO), Dr. Taleb Rifai, and Executive Director of UNWTO. Themis Foundation, Mr. Omar Valdez were the keynote speakers.
The public seminar features plenary discussions on topics relevant to tourism education quality. During the seminar, Dr. Taleb Rifai said, “Asia and the Pacific has been one of the fastest growing regions in tourist visitation in recent years. China is the top destination in Asia and the Pacific and fourth worldwide ranked by tourist arrivals volume”. He also shared his insights on tourism development in the Asia Pacific region, a growing demand for qualified professionals, implications on tourism education, as well as career development in the tourism sector with Macao’s future generation of tourism professionals at a time when the city is aspiring to transform into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure and a base for tourism education and training for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Mr. Omar Valdez, Executive Director of UNWTO. Themis Foundation introduced the critical role The UNWTO.Themis Foundation and UNWTO.Tedqual Certification System play in assuring the quality of tourism programmes and education institutions’ contribution to an improvement in the quality, competitiveness and sustainability of the tourism industry. He also discussed the critical factors in measuring quality in tourism education.
Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT, said, "As a long-term partner of UNWTO, IFT is excited to host the public seminar with UNWTO again. It aims to serve as a platform for tourism educators, education institutions’ management and students to learn more about UNWTO.Tedqual Tourism Education Quality certification system, the key factors in measuring quality in tourism education and how Tequal guides students and the industry in the quest for education excellence.”.
IFT became the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education in 2000. Currently, the Institute has 8 bachelor degree programmes with the Certification. Currently, the Institute has the most number of bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide.
Dr. Vong also mentioned the Institute’s extensive and constant cooperation with UNWTO on enhancing human resource capacity building for tourism industry in Asia and Pacific. IFT has been cooperating with UNWTO to provide professional training programmes for representatives from Asia-Pacific countries and regions since 2015. Until now, 3 training programmes have been organised including an upcoming one in November, and 66 participants from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Iran, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Mainland China and Macao SAR have joined the training programmes. Last year, UNWTO also offered a one-year internship opportunity to one of IFT graduates to gain precious work experience at UNWTO’s headquarters in Madrid, Spain.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. As the leading international organisation in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.
Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 101 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. In 2017, the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) becomes the first higher education institution to receive a successful International Quality Review(IQR) from the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). IFT has been ranked by the “QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017” as the 2nd best higher education institution in Asia in the field of hospitality and leisure management and the 18th best higher education institution in this field in the world. In addition, IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
Public Relations Team
Institute for Tourism Studies
17 October 2017
2366/039REL/RP/17
