The International Tourism Professionals Development Association Macao (TODA Macau) and the private University of Saint Joseph (USJ) held a graduation ceremony on Friday for the first batch of 39 graduates completing the Diploma in Sustainable Tourism Practices Programme.
The graduates comprised 23 from Macau and 16 from Mozambique, Cabo Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
A joint statement on Friday said that the programme was conducted online and on-site in Macau. From March to June, participants completed six modules about sustainable tourism practices in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), tourism law, marketing strategies, air transportation, culinary tourism, and heritage management, the statement said.
USJ Professor Jenny Philips was quoted by the statement as highlighting “the need to bridge academic insight with practical training in sustainable tourism.”
TODA Macau Chairman José Luís de Sales Marques emphasised the programme’s impact by allowing the exchange of experiences, namely Macau’s successful achievement in linking sustainable development with tourism development.
TODA Macau President Florence Ian (慮쳄얘) was quoted as saying that “TODA remains dedicated to international tourism talent development, promoting knowledge exchange and sustainable development across regions.”
Friday’s graduation event was attended by diplomats, industry leaders, and educators, the statement noted.
The second edition of the joint diploma is slated to be launched early next year, while the “Exploring Macao’s Sustainable Cultural Tourism – Through the Eyes of University Student Buddies” short video contest is also in the works, according to the statement.
This photo taken and provided on Friday by the International Tourism Professionals Development Association Macao (TODA Macau) and the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) shows guests and representatives posing with graduates.
