The University of the Philippines – Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT) is the premier institution of tourism education in the Philippines, the first school in Southeast Asia to offer a four-year degree program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Tourism. In January 2018, AIT opened its graduate studies program through the Graduate Diploma on Tourism Development and Management which leads to a Master of Science Degree in Tourism Development and Management. AIT is the only institution in the Philippines that focuses on equipping its students with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complex processes of development and management of a globally competitive tourism industry.
AIT’s mission is to upgrade the travel and tourism profession by providing high quality education and training to students who will be the industry’s future leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, and technical experts.
The B.S. in Tourism Curriculum debuted in 1976 as a course at the University of the Philippines. It was the first undergraduate degree in tourism offered in the Philippines and became the model for B.S. in Tourism programs that would be offered by other higher educational institutions in the country.
In line with the vision and mission of AIT, the B.S. in Tourism program aims to produce graduates who shall take charge of responsible stewardship of the tourism industry in the country and the Southeast Asian region. Taking into consideration standards set by Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Philippine Qualification Framework (PQF), and other external factors discussed above, as well as the vision-mission of AIT and the university itself, a graduate of B.S. in Tourism should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of sustainable tourism principles and practices.
- Apply management principles and skills in the development and operations of tourism organizations
- Formulate tourism plans
- Work in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary, and inter-disciplinary environment in a professional and ethical manner
- Promote inclusivity, ethnicity, and gender sensitivity as skilled, knowledgeable, innovative, and ethical tourism professionals
