APEC University Offers Tourism Training Courses in Venezuela

APEC University (UNAPEC) will be training and educating professionals involved in the tourism sector from the State of Monagas in Venezuela, thanks to an agreement signed with the State Tourism Promotion and Training Fund of this region.

“promote the development and diffusion of culture and in particular tourism as well as the implementation of training programs specialized and oriented to the tourism sector.”

To achieve this goal, UNAPEC will carry out a “study to identify the needs and levels for training and education in the tourism sector so that the Dean’s Office for Tourism of UNAPEC, through its Department of Continuing Education, can satisfy potential needs,” according to a press release from the academy.

This agreement will serve to “promote the development and diffusion of culture and in particular tourism as well as the implementation of training programs specialized and oriented to the tourism sector.” Courses, workshops, seminars and many types of related events will be coordinated in the area of tourism promotion and training according to the know-how of the signatories of the agreement. 

The agreement was signed by Justo Pedro Castellanos, Rector of UNAPEC and by Ruth Jones, President of the Monagas Tourism Fund. The signing took place in the Juntas Hall of the Academy. Both organizations signed an agreement with ASERCA Airlines which will collaborate by providing plane fare discounts for trips to Venezuela. Argimiro Hernández, General Manager of the company, signed the agreement.

“This cooperation project proposes the regulation of courses and workshops to be held within the Continuing Education Department of the APEC University to be given in conjunction with both participating institutions in Santo Domingo and Monagas, Venezuela.”

“UNAPEC values the importance of the tourism industry and for that reason has strengthened its leadership in the formation and training of human resources who will respond to the needs of the times,” said Justo Pedro Castellanos, Rector of the Academy.

Luís Felipe Aquino, Dean of the Tourism Department indicated that the university is conscious of the importance of training people in order to promote competitiveness in the tourism sector. He added that “UNAPEC is committed to sustainable development in the sector.”

Meanwhile, the President of the Venezuelan Fund, Ruth Jones, expressed gratitude for the success of this relationship that began in 2006 which now is tackling the challenge of training via Internet, including a community tourism training program. “At this time of crisis, these types of agreements can help us find new projects that can unite our countries,” added Ms. Jones.     

Accompanying Jones were Mary Padrón, Director of Tourism and Narkys Rodriguez, Manager of the Training Fund.  Representing the Dominican university was Carlos Sangiovanni, Academic Vice-Rector and Luís Felipe Aquino, Dean of Tourism.

UNAPEC and the Monagas Fund propose to undertake training workshops for tour guides and tourism taxi services as well as training and management of tourism projects. As academic courses they will implement the management of tourism in areas such as sustainable tourism strategies, management of human resources as a strategic factor of companies and the management of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (PYMES) in the development of sustainable tourism by offering such courses as negotiation techniques with tour operators.

Santo Domingo
April 2009

Justo Pedro Castellanos, Rector de UNAPEC