More than 30 deans and academic leaders in tourism education from across the Philippines attended the 1st State Universities and Colleges Tourism Deans Summit organized by the UP Diliman (UPD) Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT).
The three-day summit, themed Navigating Horizon’s: Innovation, Sustainability, and Inclusion, gathered together participants from state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines—six from North and Central Luzon, nine from South Luzon and the NCR, and six from the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
The participants discussed key topics in tourism education, exchanged ideas, and collaborated on collective actions and strategies to enhance tourism education among SUCs in the Philippines.
The summit featured thematic plenary sessions led by government and academic specialists on cultural leadership, tourism protocols, sustainable monitoring, and strategic policy directions.
Four major themes—curriculum innovation, partnership building, global competencies, and digital transformation—were explored in the parallel sessions. There were also presentations of the best practices, institutional experiences, and collaborative strategies.
According to the AIT, key outcomes of the summit included the documentation of best practices in tourism education, region-based mapping of academic needs and opportunities, and the initial framework for a proposed national roadmap for tourism education.
Participants also enjoyed cultural immersion and networking opportunities through a welcome dinner, UPD campus tours, and the Kyusi: More to Explore city tour.
UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II, in his closing remarks, challenged and encouraged the participants to implement the innovative ideas they have learned from the summit in their respective institutions.
“This summit is not merely an event, it is the launch of a platform, a permanent forum where SUCs can continue to work together and elevate tourism education. I encourage all of you to maintain and strengthen the connections you’ve made here. I hope the networks established during these three days will evolve into joint research, academic initiatives, student exchange programs, and shared curriculum development,” Vistan said.
The summit, held from May 7 to 9 at the AIT, was part of the Institute’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2026 and the 50 years of tourism education in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.