Education Minister Louis Galea yesterday inaugurated the Institute of Tourism Studies Final Year Students’ 2006 Integrated Projects Exhibition at the Pembroke Suite Restaurant of the ITS. The projects were the final work of fourth year students which they had to complete following a 12-month international internship before graduating for their ITS diploma.

Dr Galea announced that the amendments to the Education Act, which will start being debated in parliament next week, will for the first time provide for the legal basis of an institution for tourism studies.

The new law provides that the ITS will provide courses and programmes, at the levels of further and higher education, that lead to recognised qualifications in trades, skills and professions that are necessary in the field of hospitality in general and particularly in the tourism, restaurants and catering sectors. The law calls for a curriculum that provides ITS students with lifelong learning and holistic development of the individual.

Minister Galea urged those who are involved in the tourism sector and the public in general to visit this exhibition and witness the quality and standards that ITS students are capable of. The public visiting this exhibition will be able to see the work of groups of final year students in hospitality management, hotel operations and accommodation operations.

Each group of students has worked on a project which is related to the hospitality and tourism industry. During the exhibition, students will be able to show and discuss their ideas behind their project, its financing, business, marketing and sales plans in addition to advertising material and other visuals.

There are varied topics, ranging from hotels to spa resorts to an elderly residence, theme parks, and agritourism complex and an enotourism establishment. The exhibition will be open to the public today from 10am till 1pm and from 4pm to 7pm.