Greater Bay Area Main Headline

Secretary Ao Ieong U visits IFTM-backed training facilities on Hengqin

中文摘要 / Summary in Chinese

A delegation headed by Macao SAR Government Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ms. Ao Ieong U recently visited 2 IFTM-coordinated training facilities on Hengqin Island, next door to Macao.

The facilities toured by the group were the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies Tourism Education Collaboration Centre for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the IFTM Hengqin Training Base. The visit to Hengqin took place on 5 November.

The trip aimed to assess the progress made by both facilities since their launch in 2019. These are part of a wider effort by IFTM toward development of the Greater Bay Area, by helping the tourism and hospitality industry in the city cluster to thrive.

During the visit, Secretary Ao Ieong affirmed the results achieved so far by both IFTM-linked facilities. She also highlighted the importance of the Macao Occupational Skills Recognition System (MORS), a scheme promoted by IFTM, as a benchmark for the Greater Bay Area regarding vocational training standards in tourism and hospitality.

In addition, Ms. Ao Ieong provided guidelines for the development of the Tourism Education Collaboration Centre, and discussed ways to boost the regional role of the Training Base. She also talked about the cultivation of fresh talent, and the advancement of in-depth cooperation in the fields of culture and tourism.

Members of the Macao delegation included: the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ms. Ho Ioc San; Advisors to the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ms. Leong Veng Hang and Ms. Lo Hou Chi; IFTM President Dr. Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan; and IFTM Vice President Dr. Connie Loi Kim Ieng.

During the morning portion of the visit to Hengqin, Ms. Ao Ieong and the other members of the Macao group were presented with an overview of the operations of the Tourism Education Collaboration Centre. They were also briefed about the development path established for the facility.

While at the Centre, the delegation was accompanied by Director General of the Zhuhai Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau, Ms. Wang Lingping, and by Director of Zhuhai Municipal Zhu Kuan Group Holdings Co., Ltd., Mr. Huang Zhirao.

The IFTM Tourism Education Collaboration Centre for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is jointly run by IFTM, the Zhuhai Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau, and Zhuhai Municipal Zhu Kuan Group Holdings Co., Ltd. The centre was officially established in October 2019, with IFTM made responsible for coordinating its work.

In the afternoon, the Macao delegation toured the IFTM Hengqin Training Base. It was set up in December 2019, following a framework agreement on cooperation between IFTM and the Management Committee of the Hengqin New Area. The IFTM Hengqin Training Base is in the Sumlodol Camping Town, a Hengqin leisure and travel destination designed to appeal to all age groups.

During the visit, the Macao delegation learned how the Training Base is promoting the development and implementation of vocational training standards in the Greater Bay Area, using MORS as reference.

Representatives from 2 local companies involved in the Training Base project – Zhuhai Da Hengqin Group Co., Ltd., and Zhuhai Da Hengqin Pan-Tourism. Development Co., Ltd. – accompanied the Macao group during the afternoon session. The afternoon arrangements also included an exchange session with participants from MORS courses that have been held by the Training Base.

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