ABSTRACT
This reflective analysis, an evidence-based exploration, is a case assessment of tourism education for relevance and responsiveness to emerging needs of the industry in fast-changing times. The results and outcomes become the basis for redesigning the curriculum from conventional to a creative tourism. Considering the tremendous challenges from external environment due to the pandemic impact of Covid-19, it is expedient to review, shift, and redesign the curriculum in terms of context, content, and processes reflective of new perspectives and purpose of the program for future intakes. The methodology uses triangulation, a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis of content, context, process, perspective around core purpose (2C2PCP). This comprehensive framework of defining, detailing, differentiating, and connecting the essence of each curriculum dimension around the core purpose becomes the map to integrate the findings to make changes in the current curriculum. Survey data from secondary students of selected feeder schools in the area are used to complement and support the analysis. Observation and feedback from the ground support the need to redesign both curriculum and the program thrust as urgent factors to update the university tourism education, a program of choice for prospective entrants. Based on findings, a new design of tourism education is envisioned as the new program for the new normal. The implications of the study will provide new initiatives in program promotion, and implementation for effective instructional strategies and learning processes.
