PM hold talks with Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism officials, St. Kitts and Nevis students to get professional training

Students of the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism wave St. Kitts and nevis flags to welcome Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MARCH 15TH 2011 (CUOPM) – With the increasing importance of tourism and hospitality to the economic development of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is leaving no stones unturned to ensure that Kittitians and Nevisians are qualified to hold the top positions in the industry.

While on a visit to Taiwan last week, Prime Minister Douglas continued discussions which began in Basseterre several weeks ago, with a visit to the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism.

He told the institution’s President Dr. Chi-Yeh Yung that if the hospitality and tourism industry is to be sustained in St. Kitts and Nevis, nationals must be professionally trained.

Dr. Douglas said that St.Kitts and Nevis during the period of transition, adjustment and setting new sights in terms of its economic and social development, “want to make sure that we can use and rely on the experiences of others, the best practices that have been established, that have borne tremendous fruits for your own development and see what can be applied in our situations to help us in this regard.”

Pointing out that tourism has become the mainstay of the national economy in recent years, the country has relied on the creation of a services economy led in particular by tourism and hospitality services.

“It became absolutely necessary for us to come to your country and to the South of your country to visit this institution to explore the possibilities as to how we can ensure that institutionally, St. Kitts and Nevis can boast of being a tourist country, having the requisite human resource appropriately trained to ensure that this continues for a very long time to be the leading sector in our country,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

“We are here to learn, we are here to experiment, to experience, to touch, to feel, to observe, we are here to be guided by you because we believe that in this institution to a large extent, lies the future sustainable development of my country St.Kitts and Nevis,” he said.

A student of National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism presents bouquet of flowers to St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas on arrival at the institution

Prime Minister Douglas reiterated that the visit to Taiwan is to assist in the sustainable development of St.Kitts and Nevis.

He said that the 27-year profound friendship and deep relations between Taiwan and St.Kitts and Nevis has provided an opening for an exchanging of ideas and exploring of opportunities as to how Taiwan, its people, its institutions, its Government, could assist in ensuring sustainable development for the people of St.Kitts and Nevis.

National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism President, Dr. Chi-Yeh Yung, who led top university officials and scores of students in welcoming Prime Minister Douglas and his delegation, encouraged by the words of Prime Minister Douglas, pledged to collaborate with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis in professionalising the tourism human resources in the twin-island Federation.

The National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism has three different schools. The School of Culinary Arts, the School of Travel Tourism and the School of Hospitality with a total of 4,700 students.