New tourism niche rises in med education sector

Updated August 08, 2008 12:00 AM

Aside from the increasing influx of foreign travelers, foreign students who are enrolling in Cebu’s prestigious universities are also coming in numbers, which is bringing in a different segment in the tourism sector dubbed as “educational tourism.”

Cebu Doctor’s University vice-president for Administration Engr. Oscar A. Tuason said in an interview that they have been noticing a growth of foreign students in their school in these past school years.

He said that the need for these foreign students to study in universities here in the country is the result of economic boom in their respective countries.

Right now, Koreans, Indians as well as Iranians and Nepali students have been growing in number taking up medical courses such as nursing, dentistry, physical therapy and medicine in Cebu’s medical schools.

Tuason explained that in Korea, medical graduates only have three years of tertiary education, which makes them unqualified to be accepted in the United States so there is a need to pursue further studies.

And since the Philippines have a cheaper cost for getting additional units, most of these Koreans are coming over.

After a Korean medical student fulfills the units required by his or her course curriculum, they are awarded with diplomas that can be honored for practice in the US, said Tuason.

Indians on the other hand are having a so-called wellness boom in their country so the demand for medical practitioners are just as high.

Tuason said that as for Cebu Doctor’s University, they have been closely working with four international travel agencies to bring in Indian students to Cebu.

He said that these travel agencies based in Hong Kong and Singapore has already brought in big groups of around 150 to 200 Indians in Cebu.

Before starting with their education and training, these foreign students are recommended to learn English for a maximum of six months as the methods of teaching here in Cebu is in the English language.

Tuason shared that educational tourism is a big segment in our tourism industry as students stay in the country for a long time and spends their money to buy local products and services which goes back to the economy.

The influx of foreign students has also increased the profit margins for the hospitality industry and even for small time apartment owners as these students who usually come to the country in bulk needs a place to stay for a long period of time all throughout their schooling. – Rhia de Pablo

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