THE COLLEGE of Tourism and Hospitality Management of the University of Santo Tomas has partnered with the Municipal Government of Echague, Isabela for sustainable tourism development.

Through its Department of Tourism Management and UST Sentro Turismo, officials of the university and the municipal government signed a memorandum of agreement to formalize the collaboration.

The partnership focuses on the implementation of Pagtanaw Echague, Isabela through courses such as THM52016: Tourism Policy, Planning and Development, TOSM5263: Travel Agency Management and Operations, and THM52019: Introduction to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Event Management.

“Through their requirements under THM52016, six sections from third-year BS Tourism Management are tasked to develop sustainable tourist site development plans for six sites in Echague, Isabela, namely, Calsa-Multipurpose Cooperative, Echague Public Market, Tercero Street, Echague East Central Elementary School – Gabaldon Building, Eatchague Banchetto, and Echague Rattan Industry in Barangay Affunan,” the school said.

“The MOA provided both parties with assigned duties and responsibilities for planning, research fieldwork implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and turnover activities,” it said.

“The logistical requirements were assigned to students from class 3TOM3 under TOSM5263. At the same time, class 3TOM5 under THM52019 was assigned to conduct the Heritage Youth Forum for the Rattan Weaving Industry,” it added.

Meanwhile, the event also saw the signing of a MOU between the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office, College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, and the municipality for a dance workshop for the Echagueño youth, facilitated by CTHM Intenzyc.