IFT signs protocol with tourism institute from Nice

A protocol for cooperation was signed between the Macau Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and L’École Hôtelière et de Tourisme Paul Augier from Nice witnessed by the French Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau, Mr. Arnaud Barthélémy, yesterday. “Macau and Nice have a lot in common: they are both cities for which tourism is absolutely key; they both have heritage [sites] and a lot of very good hotels. For them to collaborate is a very good thing, and my role is to try to encourage, to trigger, and to support this kind of initiative,” emphasized Mr. Barthélémy at the signing ceremony held at IFT. “We have expertise in terms of attracting tourists. (…) Seventy-five million people go to France for tourism each year. So we have a lot of infrastructure, schools, hotels and expertise that we are happy to share with our Macau friends,” the Consul General added, “Macau has a lot of jobs to offer to local people in terms of hospitality, so training the students and the work force is absolutely (…) necessary. Training, training, training. I think that’s the key for Macau and for us as well.” The collaboration between both institutes includes engaging in student academic and exchange programs and also a teacher exchange program with professional training; undertaking joint projects in the hospitality and tourism industry; as well as encouraging enterprises in Macau and Nice to offer vocational placements to the exchange students. As the start of this new protocol, L’École Hôtelière et de Tourisme Paul Augier has brought an alumna Ms. Noemie Honiat, an award-winning French chef, to conduct a series of workshops at the IFT. During these four day workshops, the master chef will demonstrate French dessert-making skills to local chefs and students from IFT’s Culinary Arts Management Degree Program, and the program of Diploma in Pastry and Bakery, and the Diploma in Western Culinary Skills. Ms Florence Ian, the Acting President of IFT said that the agreement will start on the exchange internship agreement. “Thanks to this cooperation, we will be able to have our students in internships in Macau, and vice versa. We’ll be very pleased to welcome students from Macau to Nice,” said Francis Kolb, the Principal of L’École Hôtelière et de Tourisme Paul Augier. “Because today the clients are international, it’s very important for students to bring a cross- cultural, international angle to the profession,” he added. “Macau is the first tourist destination for gaming and Nice is a world-known tourist region. It is very important to have cooperation between these two tourist destinations.” Staff reporter   copyright@MACAU DAILY TIMES