TOURISM educators and industry partners from Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental, have gained boost through a benchmarking trip in Taiwan.
Cristine Mansinares, the provincial supervising tourism operations officer of Negros Occidental, said Friday, June 2, that officers of the Tourism Educators and Movers (Team) Philippines - Western Visayas visited the Shih Chien University offering hospitality and tourism management and design-related courses during their trip from May 28 to 30.
Mansinares, adviser of the group, said the school’s Master in Industrial Design program was considered as one of the best design programs in the world by Business Week in 2009.
Shih Chien University has two campuses, in Taipei and in Kaohsiung.
Mansinares said a partnership was forged for further cross-learning exchange program between the school and the association.
“The Provincial Tourism Office together with the Bacolod City Government strongly supports the academe through various partnership programs,” Mansinares said.
During the three-day trip, the group went to see the Sun Moon Lake, Shilin Night Market, Taipei 101, Longshan Temple, and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, among others.
The benchmarking activity also included initial discussion on the group's preparation for their seventh anniversary in February next year.
Dr. Gina Montes of STI West Negros University, president of Team Philippines - Western Visayas, said the activity was an enriching experience for the group having learned the best practices of Taiwan in making it a tourist-friendly and universally accessible destination.
“It was also one way of capacitating our tourism and hospitality management educators and industry partners,” Montes added.
Joining Mansinares and Montes were tourism and hospitality specialist Sheryl Pacheco, Lissa Ruba of Filamer Christian University, Dr. Willy Cabelite of Aklan State University, Dr. John Navarro of Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College-Ajuy, Dr. Harold Cartagena of Iloilo City Community College, Leane Adele Linaugo of La Consolacion College-Bacolod, and Frederick Pe of Jaunts and Journeys.
Other partner-members of the delegation were Bacolod City Tourism Officer Ma. Elma Gerasmo, Sherlene Vijandre, and Rebecca Sitchon.(EPN with PNA)