Organised by APU’s School of Global Hospitality & Tourism (SoGHT), the forum, ‘Future of Tourism and Hospitality: Cross-Industry Insights’, bridged academic learning with real-world expertise from industry leaders, equipping future professionals with practical event management skills and modern industry readiness.

Bridging the gap between lecture halls and the dynamic professional world, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation’s (APU) School of Global Hospitality & Tourism (SoGHT) hosted a student-led forum, ‘Future of Tourism and Hospitality: Cross-Industry Insights’. 

Held on 4th August 2026 at Auditorium 7 on APU’s state-of-the-art campus, the event brought together ambitious students and prominent industry pioneers to unpack the cutting-edge trends, innovations, and shifts reshaping the global landscape. 

Crucially, the entire experience was conceptualised and executed by final-year Tourism Management students as part of their Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) module assignment, under the expert guidance of APU SoGHT Lecturer Dr Munieleswar Raju.

Professor Dr Kashif Hussain, Head of APU’s SoGHT, framed the broader impact of the initiative in his opening and closing remarks, noting that the tourism and hospitality landscape was evolving at a breakneck pace, and events like this ensured students did not just keep up with the future, but actively led it with innovation, resilience, and global competence. 

Reflecting on the students’ stellar achievement, APU Senior Lecturer Mr Kumaresu Murugasu @ Murugesi shared that witnessing year-three students take complete ownership of the forum, from initial concept to live execution, was the ultimate proof that experiential learning worked, transforming them from passive listeners into industry-ready professionals.

The stage featured three trailblazing guest speakers from diverse professional spheres: Dr V. Selvakkumar, Senior Lecturer at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Jasin, Melaka; Ts Yusno Yunos, Founder and CEO of Evenesis; and Mr Kathir Denez, Founder and Director of Drone Sifu Productions. 

Together, they delivered a masterclass in modern adaptability, diving deep into agritourism, event technology, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation while bringing classroom theories to life through candid, real-world field experiences that moved far beyond traditional lectures.

An interactive Q&A session transformed passive listening into a lively exchange of ideas, allowing attendees to query the experts on emerging career trajectories, industry hurdles, disruptive technologies, and startup strategies.

Beyond the rich knowledge gained from the keynote addresses, the project served as an acid test of operational readiness.

By orchestrating every detail, students sharpened vital competencies in meticulous event planning, stakeholder management, crisis mitigation, and cross-functional teamwork. 

Sheraz Shamir gained a fresh perspective on connecting agriculture with tourism, realising there were vast opportunities to create innovative experiences beyond traditional hotels. 

Zareen Qureshi found the event tech insights particularly eye-opening, noting how technology was reshaping event management and highlighting how essential digital skills would be for the sector’s future. 

Meanwhile, Martha Mihayo was fascinated by the discussion on drone entertainment, which encouraged her to think beyond conventional tourism careers and explore emerging, tech-driven business models.

Through these contributions and active student participation, the forum successfully broadened perspectives, bridged academic learning with hands-on practice, and sharpened student readiness to lead the modern tourism landscape.