New fund for tourism studies

BES Woniu (Beijing) Tourist Attraction Management Co Ltd has established a fund for tourism studies called the Woniu Education Development Foundation at Beijing International Studies University. (Photo/www.ce.cn)

BES Woniu (Beijing) Tourist Attraction Management Co Ltd has established a fund for tourism studies called the Woniu Education Development Foundation at Beijing International Studies University, with a total support of 1 million yuan ($161,200). Dozens of teachers and students attended the launch ceremony on March 18.

The fund will be divided into five equal parts, with 200,000 yuan each year starting from 2015, open to qualified applicants nationwide. There is a scholarship of 146,000 yuan for outstanding undergraduates and postgraduates, 30,000 yuan to organize academic lectures, and a reward of 24,000 yuan for excellent teachers, the company said.

The company offers tourism consultancy.

Li Xinjian, dean of the school of management at the university, said the university will work with the company to develop courses and train people for the industry.

According to company president Xu Ting, with the boom in tourism in China, it has become important to prepare skilled youngsters for the sector. He said students can keep up with the trends in the industry and put what they've learned at class into practice during internships.

Dai Bin, head of China Tourism Academy, said that a large number of people are also setting up their own businesses, he said.