Sharp rise in tourism undergraduates expected

Over the next three years about 260 undergraduates were expected to read for a BA (Honours) degree in tourism studies, Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said.

Dr Refalo was yesterday addressing the second intake of students to the course which was successfully launched by the University of Malta last October.

"Our initial projections, tentatively hopeful at the time, were to attract around 25 students. The first course attracted 51, with 10 graduates of the Institute of Tourism Studies joining at third year level," he said.

"Based on that result, the faculty has had to revise that figure and now expects to have a total of around 260 undergraduates within the next three years," he said.

The current student population, including foreign students, stands at 140.

Dr Refalo reminisced about the inauguration of ITS, the first-ever academic institution solely dedicated to the tourism industry.

"It was therefore a natural consequence that the time was ripe for my long held ambition to see the university offer a full four- year course in tourism studies, leading to a BA (Honours) degree," he said.

This course is totally funded by the ministry and the Malta Tourism Authority.