CEBU CITY - At least 450 tourism students from around the country gathered in Cebu City Monday, despite the onset of a typhoon, for the 2nd League of Tourism Students of the Philippines (LTSP) NationalConvention aimed at updating students with the latest trends in the global tourism industry.

The students, who were all enrolled in tourism and hospitality management courses in various universities, colleges, and schools around the country, received updates about new developments in the tourism industry not usually taught in the four corners of a classroom.

Topics discussed during the convention included Basic Exhibition Planning, ASEAN 2015 and Mutual Recognition of Tourism Professionals, Bidding for an International Event, and Organizing an Exhibition. Department of Tourism (DoT) 7 Director Dawnie Roa, in her welcome remarks, challenged the tourism students to strive for excellence despite the current global financial crisis once they get employment in the industry.

“The tourism industry will continue to soar despite the crisis and negative stories churned out by the media. Don’t be distracted, just do your best and prepare yourself as you embark on the tourism industry in the future,” said Roa. Speakers during the convention were LTSP President Xander Xim Sigua, Consul Robert Lim Joseph, Joel Pascual of the Premiere Events Plus, and several others who shared their experiences with the students.

“Last year’s convention talked about leadership values and attitudes,” said Joseph. “This year, we will relay to tourism students proper management of convention, events, and exhibitions.”

The LTSP, the largest tourism and hospitality management students' organization in the country, has chosen Cebu again for its 2nd national convention following the successful holding of the 1st LTSP Cebu Convention last year.

The LTSP convention is supported by the Tourism Educators and Movers Philippines, the Department of Tourism, the Province of Cebu, Philippine Tourism Authority, and Philippine Airlines, among other establishments.

Joseph said the national LTSP convention is aimed at honing up the skills of the students in preparing them for the real world of tourism.

"There are things that can be learned in schools and there are things that can be learned based on experiences of industry movers,” he stressed. “The convention, hopefully, will give the students a glimpse of the industry in reality.”