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Tourism Conference to Be Held in May
An international conference on tourism, soon to be held in Malaysia for the first time, is expected to provide a quantum leap for tourism development in the region.
The third Asia-Pacific Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (APacCHRIE) Conference 2005 will be held at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur from May 26 to 28.
Themed Hospitality and Tourism in Asia: Charting Our Future through Education and Research, the conference will bring together 500 educators and industry practitioners from over 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States.
"The conference aims to provide an avenue for practitioners and academics to share their experiences and research findings,†Tourism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Victor Wee said at the formal announcement of the event held recently.
'The issues and solutions raised will provide a valuable perspective for developing frameworks to boost tourism development in the region,†he added.
Co-organised by Tourism Educators Association of Malaysia (TEAM) and Taylor`s College School of Hospitality and Tourism (TCSHT), the conference will witness the largest gathering of educators and industry professionals in the tourism and hospitality sector, and chart strategic paths to boost its development in the Asia Pacific region.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been invited to open the conference and deliver the keynote address.
Other speakers include Malaysia Airlines chairman Datuk Dr Munir Majid and University de Toulouse Le Mirail`s Centre of Studies for the Tourism and Hospitality Industry dean Prof Jean Pierre Poulain.
About 125 abstracts have already been received for the conference.
TCSHT chief operating officer and conference chairman Pradeep Kumar Nair said: 'The conference is an ideal platform for educators and industrialists to meet and discuss the changes and challenges that recent events have had on the tourism and travel industry in the region.â€
Besides paper presentations, the conference delegates, 70% of whom are expected to be foreigners, will be treated to a Colours of Malaysia spectacular featuring drum symphonies as well as cultural performances by students. The delegates will also enjoy cultural tours to various places.
Registration fees are RM1,311 per person, inclusive of meals, refresh-ments and a copy of the conference proceedings. Tourism educators who are members of TEAM will enjoy a special rate of RM760.
Kuala Lumpur 27/03/2005
