UCSI University Vice President of Industry and Strategic Projects Associate Professor Dr Wong Kong-Yew has recently been named Deputy Secretary General for the International Tourism Studies Association.

Kuala Lumpur, 28 February, 2011 - UCSI University Vice President of Industry and Strategic Projects Associate Professor Dr Wong Kong-Yew has been elected as Deputy Secretary General for the International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA). ITSA is a non-profit organisation made up of representatives from universities all over the world that aims to bridge the gaps in tourism studies, research and training between developed and developing countries. 

“This is a voluntary professional service to my discipline of knowledge,” Dr Wong said. “I hope through this engagement, I will be able to lead and represent the university and my fellow academic team into the world scene of tourism and hospitality education.”

As Vice President of Industry and Strategic Projects, Dr Wong is leading the University’s Centre of Excellence in Hospitality and Tourism at its Sarawak campus, including Entry Point Project 10 within the “Education” National Key Economic Area in the national government’s larger Economic Transformation Programme. The programme plans to transform Malaysia into a high-income nation by 2020. The project is launching the University’s revamped Diploma in Hotel Management which aims to improve and increase the human capital for Malaysia’s hospitality and tourism industry. Dr Wong is also overseeing part of UCSI Group’s RM1.13 billion expansion plans which include building three five star hotels and one convention centre throughout Malaysia.

Dr Wong holds a PhD in tourism economics from the Scottish Hotel School at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, United Kingdom. He is the director of the Tourism Research Institute for Policy Studies (TRIPS) and a founding member of ITSA. During his career, he has published more than 40 articles in internationally-refereed journals and is a frequent consultant and advisor to the Ministry of Tourism in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries.