UCSI Sarawak’s students gain sustainable tourism experience in Bali

KUCHING: Fourteen UCSI University Sarawak Campus students gained first-hand exposure to sustainable tourism practices and international industry approaches during a nine-day mobility programme in Bali, Indonesia.

The Hospitality and Tourism Management students participated in Travel Vaganza XII 2026 from September 18 to 26, combining academic, industry, cultural and community-based learning.

UCSI University Sarawak Campus Hospitality Programme Head and lecturer, Zynoreen Husain said international mobility allowed students to see how classroom knowledge was applied in real-world industry settings.

“Through international mobility programmes, students can see for themselves how theories learned in the classroom are translated into actual industry contexts.

“At the same time, they can improve their confidence, communication and teamwork skills while gaining an understanding of different cultures and tourism practices,” she said in a recent statement.

Centred at Politeknik Pariwisata Bali, the programme brought together participants from Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Japan, Germany and Indonesia.

Students also presented academic posters based on their observations and experiences during the 6th International Joint Conference Hospitality and Tourism 2026, held in conjunction with the International Conference of Hospitality, Tourism and Entrepreneur (INSPIRE) 2026.

Industry sessions involving the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation and Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association Bali Chapter exposed participants to destination management, hospitality careers and challenges facing the tourism industry.

Discussions covered the transition from mass tourism towards more sustainable models, service excellence, human resource development and technology’s growing influence on tourism.

Students also took part in a beach clean-up at Mengiat Beach and cultural activities in Tabanan, where they learned Balinese script, made Canang Sari and experienced traditional agricultural activities including ploughing and planting rice.

Zynoreen said such exposure could provide students with ideas and practices that could be adapted to Sarawak’s hospitality and tourism industry.

“As hospitality and tourism students, they cannot view destinations merely as places to visit.

“They also need to understand how destinations are managed, how culture and communities are preserved, how tourist experiences are shaped and how the industry needs to develop sustainably,” she added.