Institute For Tourism Studies signed the memorandum of understanding for academic and research collaboration with the Tourism Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on June 21. President of IFT, Dr. Fanny Wong and Director of CASSTRC, Prof. Zhang Guangrui presided over the ceremony at the Auditorium of Team Building in IFT. In order to facilitate cooperation and exchanges among different academic institutions, further promote tourism studies and advance the tourism development at a steady pace, IFT and CASSTRC will jointly conduct research projects and implement staff and student exchange programmes. According to the memorandum of understanding, both parties will organise cooperative seminars, workshops and other academic meetings on matters of mutual interest; perform collaborative research and share and disseminate academics works. Director of CASSTRC, Prof. Zhang Guangrui led a delegation of six scholars visiting IFT, besides signing the memorandum of understanding, the delegation also met the scholars of IFT for academic exchange. CASSTRC, a professional tourism research institution, was set up in 1999 by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The mission of the Centre is to meet the needs of the growing tourism development in China by further promoting tourism studies, facilitating contacts and exchanges among tourism academics, administrations and the industry both at home and abroad, and supporting the progress of the industry. The main task of the Centre is to conduct tourism theory and practice research independently, being open and service-oriented, adheres to the principle of serving the government, the industry and the whole society. Staffed by experts in the fields of economics, management, and tourism planning and development, it conducts tourism research projects, provides consulting services to Central Government, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, state departments, local government agencies and the industry, promotes academic exchanges among tourism researchers, organises national and international tourism symposiums and seminars, and prepares reports on China’s tourism development. In addition, world-noted scholars have been invited as Senior Academic Advisors to the Centre, and 40 scholars have been appointed as guest research fellows. In recent years, mobilised by the tourism industry, the economic expansion in Macao continues at a fast pace. Benefit from the FIT visa policy, the number of mainland visitors keeps on growing rapidly. Moreover, the Central Government also launched many policies to help to boost the economy of Macao, thus, the relationship between Mainland China and Macao is closer. IFT, as a high education institution focused on fostering tourism professionals, consolidating academic exchanges and cooperation with prestigious mainland academic institutions would not only facilitate the scholastic progress, but also enable more famous scholars to engage in studies about Macao tourism. That would definitely help the development of Macao’s tourism industry.
