The Asian Productivity Organization visited BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center on Thursday, October 7 as part of a week long tourism development seminar held in Hawaii this past week.
The APO is a regional inter-governmental organization that exists to increase productivity, thereby achieving greater socio-economic development and quality of life of its member countries in Asia and the Pacific region.
Participants of the seminar included 14 public and private executives in tourism management from Nepal, Mongolia, Cambodia, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos and Fiji.
Delegates attended a series of academic lectures, country presentations and professional training sessions, in an effort to develop strategies for the promotion of responsible tourism in their respective countries.
BYU-Hawaii's Bill Hsu, professor of hospitality and tourism management, invited the APO delegates to visit the university for a luncheon and a tour of the PCC as part of their seminar.
Students from each country represented were also invited to attend the luncheon and host the dignitaries from their respective countries. This gave students the valuable opportunity to network with executives in their home country, as many names and contact information were exchanged.
"The delegates did not expect that there would be students from their own native countries there greeting them," said Hsu. "What a pleasant surprise [they had], and the feedback from them was just wonderful. I hope and know that there will be great connections and affiliations being provided through [their] talking and enthusiasm."
Keith Roberts, BYU-Hawaii vice president of academics, summarized the mission of the university and highlighted recent academic achievements indicative of our standard of excellence.
He also mentioned how it was very appropriate for a group such as the APO, representing countries from BYU-Hawaii's target regions of Asia and the Pacific, to visit the university.
"In our hospitality and tourism management program, we certainly have the resources, the history and the success stories that can prepare students to serve in your countries in the tourism industry," he said.
Along those lines, Brent Wilson, dean of the school of business, spoke about the Center for International Entrepreneurship and other related programs that facilitate the return of our international students through internships and specialized professional training.
"We are engaged in a number of activities in the entrepreneurship area that we're very excited about," he said, "and hopefully we'll be able to get you engaged in some way in the future."
On the PCC side, Alfred Grace, vice president of marketing, gave a brief history and background of the center, outlined the relationship it has with BYU-Hawaii, and shared some of PCC's marketing strategies.
"You all come from beautiful countries," he said, "and we wish you the very best in developing the tourism industry in your respective countries."
John Muaina, PCC vice president of human resources, also spoke on the Asian Executive Management Program where professionals in tourism come to BYU-Hawaii and the PCC to receive training both in the classroom and in the field.
"We have the real honor of being able to share some of what goes on here at BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center," he said.