On 30 May 2016, Dr. Alexis Tam, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Government and Mr. Tith Chantha, Secretary of State of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the visit to Cambodia with Macao’s delegation, to cooperate in promoting sustainable tourism development through enhancing human capital and establishing collaborations in tourism education and training between Macao and Cambodia. The ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Edmund Ho, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Dr. Alexis Tam, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Government and Mr. Tith Chantha, Secretary of State of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding

Earlier on October 12, 2015, Macao SAR Government and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Macao. The objective was to enhance cooperation between the two parties in improving the quality of human capital and increasing the competitiveness of tourism destinations (particularly in the Asia Pacific Region) in order to achieve sustainable tourism development. The Global Centre for Tourism Education and Training, soon to be set up by the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), Macao is tasked with the responsibility to organise training and education programmes, and other projects in collaboration with UNWTO, to achieve the objectives set out in the Memorandum.

Mr. Edmund Ho, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia witnessed the signing of the MOU and took a group photo with representatives of the signing parties

After the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Cambodia, a group of 20 Cambodian heritage tour guides and 4 officials from APSARA National Authority of Cambodia will come to IFT to attend a 7-day training programme from 14 to 20 June, offered in collaboration with UNWTO, on the topic of capacity building of tour guides for international visitors at Angkor World Heritage site, Cambodia. The training programme includes lectures, visit to the world heritage sites of the Historic Centre of Macao, and workshops, with the aim to strengthen the professional capacity of the Cambodian heritage tour guides.

IFT President Dr. Fanny Vong with 4 officials from APSARA National Authority of Cambodia

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 97 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. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has now 7 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. 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). 

Contacts:

Institute for Tourism Studies

Tel: (853) 28561252

Fax: (853) 28519058

www.ift.edu.mo