IFT plans to create training hotels on its Taipa campus

Fanny Vong, IFT president

The first training program at the Global Center for Tourism Education on “Tourism Capacity Building for Government and Public Officials,” concluded yesterday. The event was attended by delegates from tourism-related bodies across the Asia-Pacific region.

The course, organized by the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) in partnership with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), was attended by 16 tourism-related representatives including the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the Forum for Economic Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Speaking on the sidelines of the program’s closing ceremony yesterday, IFT president Fanny Vong stressed the importance of establishing and maintaining links with international organizations and society.

Concerning the region’s vision of becoming a “world center for tourism and leisure,” Vong noted: “To be aligned with this policy, I think it is very important for Macau to have a strong tourism and related education and training portfolio.”

According to Vong, the institute tries to include participants from Macau, noting the importance of enhancing residents’ “knowledge and skill level.” She also remarked that the MSAR government has sponsored some of the program’s costs.

Vong also said that there are currently a great number of students enrolling in the institute’s hotel management degree programs.

She revealed that the IFT plans to establish two training hotels on its Taipa campus although the institute is still in discussions with government departments and would need another two years for the design and preliminary construction works to be finalized.

“With the Taipa campus, we hope that we would introduce some other management styles. […] We hope that with this new addition of training facilities, we will expose students to different types of management styles and challenges,” she explained.

Meanwhile, a representative from the MGTO, Isabela Manhão, expressed doubt that visitors in the region are receiving high-quality tourism services; particularly due to the large number of tourists the territory currently accommodates.

“If you want to provide good service, you really need the room to let people serve properly. With such big numbers of tourists that we have, I don’t think that [they are] getting what [they] should be getting,” she explained.

She also cited the need for the region to continually enhance infrastructure such as transportation as well as other services.

Manhão also believes that the perception of Macau as a destination should change, noting that tourists should be exposed to the cultural aspect of the territory.

“You can find experiences here in which you can feel there’s no casino. So this is what we’ve [MGTO] been trying to do. This is our aim also. And for Macau residents, I think this image is also very important,” Manhão explained.

The MGTO representative also stressed that the Macanese culture and cuisine should be further promoted in the region.

“It’s something we can focus on and have Macau [showcased] to the world with Macanese gastronomy, which I believe is worth mentioning,” she added.

The training program at the institute covered tourism-related management strategies and practices.

IFT expressed the hope that the knowledge acquired during the course could be useful for overseas participants in the development of tourism and hospitality industries in their respective countries.

The second training program for the newly established center will be held next year.