University of The Bahamas partners with industry leaders to advance tourism education

The University of The Bahamas (UB) is strengthening ties between academia and the cruise tourism sector through its College of Tourism, Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Leisure Management (TheCALM) Week. The initiative aims to prepare students for a transforming landscape shaped by emerging technologies, sustainability requirements, and changing traveler expectations.

During the event, Director General of Tourism Jackson Weech emphasized the necessity of developing a highly skilled and versatile workforce to meet the demands for digital convenience and environmental responsibility. The Bahamas reported record tourism numbers in 2025 with 12.5 million visitors, a momentum that has continued into early 2026 with cruise arrivals exceeding 4.2 million in the first four months.

As part of these industry connections, Disney Cruise Line has participated in supporting TheCALM Week. The company provided culinary and maritime students from UB and LJM Maritime Academy with shipboard tours and professional insights. These sessions allowed students to engage directly with executive chefs to explore career opportunities within the maritime culinary industry.