Background

The Macao SAR Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2015, aiming to further cooperate in the cultivation of tourism talents and the promotion of sustainable development of the tourism industry. In 2016, Macao Institute for Tourism Studies established the Global Centre for Tourism Education and Training to carry out cooperative projects with the World Tourism Organization to enhance the quality of human capital and increase the competitiveness of tourism destinations, particularly in the Asia Pacific Region.

According to the training and technical assistance needs of its member states, the World Tourism Organization provides the Centre with a list of nominated participants, for the Centre to arrange training and suitable activities. As of Sept 2023 the Centre has organised 15 training programmes in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization, with a total of 375 tourism officials and industry representatives participating, among which 296 participants were from countries and regions along the “Belt and Road”.

In addition, the Centre has also provided training to 278 government representatives and industry professionals from Mainland China, Macao SAR, as well as the Portuguese-speaking countries.

Overall, a total of 653 participants from 40 countries and regions have attended the Centre’s training activities. The countries and regions include:

Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China (including Macao SAR), D.P.R. Korea, Fiji, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guiné-Equatorial, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao P.D.R., Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Sao Tomé and Principe, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. 

The two main types of programmes offered by the Centre are:

  • Training Programmes:
    • Technical – for technical and mid-level management personnel;
    • Executive Management – for senior executive and director level personnel;
    • Specialist – as per identified need and special requests. 
  • Technical Placement:
    • Observing the management and operations of programme development, class delivery, industry partnership, and other areas of interest at IFTM;
    • Attending relevant courses and activities;
    • Performing internship at IFTM or partner organizations, subject to availability.

Other programme activities such as one-day seminars or workshops may be organized on a case-by-case basis.

The Centre is also tasked with conducting joint research projects, as identified by the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies, the World Tourism Organization and its member states.

Programme Enquiries

Tel:  (853) 85981281 / (853) 85981344 Email: globalcentre@iftm.edu.mo 



15th Collaborative Training with UNWTO (18 – 23 September 2023)

  • Leveraging the Meetings Industry and Gastronomy to Champion the Agenda of Sustainable Tourism Development
  • 14 participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
  • more
Training for Portuguese Speaking Countries


14th Collaboration Training with UNWTO (5 - 7 December 2022)

  • Capacity Building for Sustainable Tourism through the Meetings Industry
  • 37 participants from Bangladesh, Brunei, D.P.R. Korea, Fiji, Iran, Laos P.D.R., Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Macao SAR.
  • more
  • UNWTO website

13th Collaboration Training with UNWTO (24, 25 and 26 May 2022)


  • Capacity Building for Sustainable Tourism through Festivals and Events
  • 54 participants from Bangladesh, Brunei, D.P.R. Korea, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
  • more
  • UNWTO website
Training for Portuguese Speaking Countries

11th Collaboration Training with UNWTO (1, 3 and 4 June 2021)

  • Capacity Building for Sustainable Tourism in Island Countries
  • 28 participants from Fiji, Maldives, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Sri Lanka, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
  • more
  • IFTM News Portal
  • UNWTO website
12th Collaboration Training with UNWTO (6, 7 and 9 December 2021)

  • Solutions for Sustainable Tourism Development and Destination Branding in Times of Crisis and Beyond
  • 22 participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
  • more
  • IFTM News Portal
  • UNWTO website
9th Collaborative Training with UNWTO (21, 23, 28 and 30 July 2020)

  • Handling, Coping and Dealing with COVID-19
  • 22 participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, D.P.R. Korea, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Lao P.D.R., Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Mainland China (including participants from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area)
  • more
  • IFTM News Portal
10th Collaboration Training with UNWTO (1, 3, 9 and 11 December 2020)

  • Capacity Building for Sustainable Tourism and Reviving Tourism
  • 29 participants from Cambodia, Lao P.D.R., Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Mainland China (including participants from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area)
  • more
  • UNWTO website
7th Collaborative Training with UNWTO (15 – 22 May 2019)

  • Capacity Building for Sustainable Tourism Planning and Destination Management
  • 19 Participants from India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
  • more
  • IFTM News Portal
  • UNWTO website
8th Collaborative Training with UNWTO (27 November – 4 December 2019)

  • Capacity Building for Sustainable Tourism Planning and Regional Development
  • 17 Participants from Albania, Greece, Hungary, North Macadonia, Romania, DPR Korea, UNWTO, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
  • more
Training for Portuguese Speaking Countries

5th Collaborative Training with UNWTO (24 – 31 May 2018)

  • Capacity Building for Destination Marketing & Tourism Development
  • 19 Participants from Myanmar, Pakistan, UNWTO and Greater Bay Area
  • more
  • IFTM News Portal
  • UNWTO website
6th Collaborative Training with UNWTO (21 – 28 November 2018)

  • Capacity Building for Sustainable Tourism Development and Destination Marketing
  • 22 Participants from Cambodia, Angola, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, UNWTO and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
  • more
  • IFTM News Portal
Training for Portuguese Speaking Countries

3rd Collaborative Training with UNWTO (21 - 29 May 2017)

  • Strategic Tourism Planning and Management for a Sustainable Future
  • 21 Participants from Myanmar, D.P.R. Korea and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
  • more
  • IFTM News Portal
4th Collaborative Training with UNWTO (29 Nov - 6 Dec 2017)

  • Capacity Building for Destination Marketing & Tourism Development
  • 26 Participants from Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Maldives and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
  • more
  • UNWTO website
Training for Portuguese Speaking Countries

1st Collaborative Training with UNWTO (14-20 June 2016)

  • Capacity Building of Tour Guides for International Visitors at Angkor World Heritage site, Cambodia
  • 24 Participants from Cambodia
  • more
  • IFTM News Portal
  • UNWTO website
2nd Collaborative Training with UNWTO (14-21 November 2016)

  • Tourism Capacity Building for Government & Public Officials
  • 21 Participants from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and delegate of Timor-Leste in Macau New Portal
  • more
  • IFTM News Portal
  • UNWTO website
Training for Portuguese Speaking Countries