The Macao University of Tourism (UTM) kicked off its four-day 17th UTM-UN Tourism Training Programme yesterday at MGM COTAI.
Marking the 10th year of the programme, nearly 400 participants, according to a UTM statement, from 36 UN Tourism* member countries have been trained over the past editions.
Programme participants include scholars, experts and industry professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region. This time, the programme is themed “Leveraging Meetings and Events for Local Development”.
Addressing yesterday’s attendees, UTM Rector Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan highlighted that the programme will explore how meetings and events can become “drivers of local prosperity, strengthening destination branding and fostering public-private partnerships that empower youth development and advance sustainability”.
The discussion in Macau is “especially pertinent”, said Vong, noting the increase in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events hosted in the city, along with the growing number of participants in meetings and conferences. She also noted Macau’s impressive standing in “the business events arena”.
“It is no surprise that ‘conferences and exhibitions’ is one of the four priority sectors to advance under the Macau SAR Government’s ‘Development Plan for Appropriate Economic Diversification’. UTM takes pride in spearheading the efforts to reach new heights in the industry, not only through research and engagement, but also through new academic programmes that support innovation and developmental breakthroughs”, Vong said.
Christine Brew, programme officer of the Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific at UN Tourism, gave an overview of global tourism performance and underlined the growth in international tourism in the first half of the year, along with the important contributions of the MICE industry.
“MICE tourism continues to thrive, with a market size estimated at over US$800 billion in 2024…This proves that the importance of the contribution of meetings and events to the development of our communities cannot be overemphasised”, Brew said, calling MICE an “economic powerhouse”.
Meanwhile, this marks the third time that integrated resort operator MGM is sponsoring the event. During his speech, MGM Hospitality Senior Vice President Iwan Dietschi said: “We will continue to invest in world-class venues and experiences through innovation and stellar hospitality, as well as to nurture future generations of professionals”.
*The United Nations World Tourism Organisation or UN Tourism (formerly UNWTO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations which promotes responsible, sustainable and universally-accessible tourism. Its headquarters are in Madrid, Spain. – Wikipedia
Macao University of Tourism (UTM) Rector Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan (1st row, centre); Programme Officer of the Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific at UN Tourism, Christine Brew (1st row, 7th from left), and MGM Hospitality Senior Vice President Iwan Dietschi (1st row, 5th from left) pose with other guests, representatives and speakers during the opening of the 17th UTM-UN Tourism Training Programme at MGM COTAI yesterday. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
