Tourism students strengthen cruise tourism learning through Shanghai immersion

Forty second-year Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management students of Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation completed an International Cruise Immersion and Familiarization Tour in Shanghai, China, from April 12 to 18, 2026, to deepen their understanding of cruise tourism, hospitality services and destination management.

Denmark Catan spearheaded the weeklong educational activity as part of the students’ Cruise Tourism course. The immersion allowed participants to connect classroom concepts with actual tourism industry practices in one of Asia’s leading global cities.

The group arrived in Shanghai on April 12, where a local guide welcomed them before they proceeded to their hotel for orientation and rest. In the following days, the students joined educational visits and cultural immersion activities that exposed them to international tourism operations and heritage-based destination experiences.

The students visited Yu Garden, Nanjing Road, The Bund, Waibaidu Bridge, Shanghai Postal Museum, Tianzifang Area and heritage structures within Shanghai’s Former French Concession. These sites helped them observe cultural preservation, heritage tourism management, urban tourism planning and international hospitality standards.

A night cruise along the Huangpu River served as one of the highlights of the tour. Through the activity, students gained insights into cruise tourism operations, guest experience management and waterfront tourism development.

The participants also joined a full-day educational immersion at Shanghai Disneyland, where they observed large-scale theme park operations, crowd management systems, entertainment programming, customer service practices and tourism marketing strategies.

Beyond academic learning, the tour strengthened the students’ cultural awareness, adaptability, teamwork, discipline and professionalism. It also encouraged them to appreciate sustainable tourism, cultural conservation and innovation in the tourism and hospitality industry.

The International Cruise Immersion and Familiarization Tour concluded on April 18, 2026, as the group safely returned to Manila. The activity enriched the students’ global perspective and helped prepare them for future careers in tourism and hospitality.

The university thanked Catan, the participating students, partner coordinators and all individuals who supported the successful international educational undertaking.

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The activity reflected MSEUF’s commitment to transformative and outcomes-oriented education by giving students meaningful opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. It also supported the university’s pursuit of excellence and global competitiveness by exposing future tourism professionals to international industry standards, cultural diversity and real-world tourism practices.

Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 4: Quality Education – The immersion provided experiential learning that strengthened students’ academic and professional competencies.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The activity prepared students for future careers in tourism, hospitality and related global industries.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The visits highlighted heritage conservation, cultural tourism and urban destination management.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The international tour showed the value of coordination among educators, partner organizers and tourism stakeholders.