While some Boston University students spend spring break catching up on their sleep or heading to the beach, some School of Hospitality Administration students can fly overseas to China as part of a new course’s curriculum.
In a Nov. 1 email sent to students, SHA introduced a new course for the spring semester called “Tourism and Hospitality Industries in China.” The course, open to all BU students, includes a 10-day field trip to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau, China during spring break, according to the email.
SHA professor Zoe Ho said that by teaching her students about China’s expanding presence in the international community, she is offering a glimpse into the potential future.
“In my own experience, from being there in the summer, everywhere it’s all packed. There is international and domestic tourism,” Ho said. “We always tell our students that the hospitality business is an international business . . . students can physically experience why people travel to China.”
The course is expected to focus on China’s growing tourism base, as well as its travel and lodging operations in hotels, the email said. The trip to China is expected to cost each student $3,519.
Ashley Maetani, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said that the cost of the course would be an issue if she were interested in taking it.
“It’ll be an educational experience, but I can see [the financial aspect] being a definite problem,” she said. “I mean, if the students are willing to pay to go to China then they should.”
However, Ho said the fee is reasonable because of the high price of air tickets.
“Our fee includes round trip airfare, ground transportation, breakfast and dinner, and a tour director,” Ho said. “So I would say that it is quite reasonable.”
SHA chose China because of its “booming” tourism industry, Ho said. About 1,000 new hotel projects are in development in China. Central America has 100 and the U.S. has fewer.
“More hotels means more opportunity,” Ho said. The growing number of hotels in China also reflects the high number of tourists visiting the country.
From March 9 to 18, students in the course will spend three nights in Beijing, three nights in Shanghai, two nights in Hong Kong and a day in Macau. Aside from visiting five-star hotels and casinos, students will be taken to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, the Great Wall of China and other famous sites.
Alex Waterman, a sophomore in Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, said that she sees the trip as a cultural experience, but not one that is necessary for learning about hospitality management.
“It’s a good cultural experience, but you don’t have to go so far to experience hotel management. It seems silly that you have to go how ever many miles to [see how a hotel is run],” she said.
While the class will accept 20 applicants, Ho said that SHA hopes to expand the course in the future. So far, she said, 12 students have signed up for the course.
Applications are reviewed by a committee, which considers personal statements, grade-point averages and other required information, according to the email. SHA will accept applications until Nov. 11.
