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UM Tourism Students Sail with Royal Caribbean Cruise for ASEAN International Immersion Training Across Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand
The Tourism Management Program of the College of Hospitality Education at the University of Mindanao (UM) successfully conducted an ASEAN International Cruise Education Tour from February 27 to March 4, 2026, providing students with a rare opportunity to experience the global cruise tourism industry through an immersive educational voyage in partnership with Royal Caribbean International.
A total of 27
Tourism Management students, under the leadership and academic supervision of
Dr. Clarence Joy D. Alcaraz, Tourism Management Program Head, participated in the five-day immersion training aboard the world-class cruise ship Ovation of the Seas. The educational voyage sailed across three major ASEAN tourism destinations—Singapore, Penang, and Phuket—allowing students to observe diverse tourism systems and destination development models across the region. Throughout the journey, participants gained valuable insights into cruise ship operations, international hospitality standards, tourism infrastructure, and destination management practices.
The cruise immersion highlights the growing importance of cruise tourism as one of the fastest-expanding sectors in global travel, where hospitality, transportation, entertainment, and destination experiences converge into a single integrated tourism system. Through access to world-class cruise facilities and real-world industry exposure, students were able to
understand the operational complexity and global standards that define the cruise management sector.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)—the program reinforces the university’s commitment to experiential learning, global collaboration, and industry-responsive tourism education. This tri-country educational immersion reflects the University of Mindanao’s vision of developing globally competitive tourism professionals, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and international perspective needed to contribute to the sustainable growth of the tourism and hospitality industry.
Contributed by: Dr. Clarence Joy D. Alcaraz, PH-TM, UM-CHE
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