🌏 The Bachelor of Arts Program in Integrated Tourism Management (International Program), or KITMAN, Faculty of Humanities, Kasetsart University, organized a two-day experiential learning journey to Ratchaburi and Amphawa on 12–13 October 2026. The trip provided first-year students with valuable opportunities to connect classroom knowledge with real-world experiences in tourism, hospitality management, Thai cultural heritage, creative tourism, and wellness.

🥊 Discovering Thai Cultural Heritage and Soft Power

The journey began with an educational visit to the College of Muay Thai Studies and Thai Traditional Medicine, Muban Chombueng Rajabhat University (MCRU) in Ratchaburi Province, a pioneering institution offering specialized bachelor’s degree education in Muay Thai studies. Students participated in traditional Muay Thai training, gaining firsthand experience of Thailand’s iconic martial art while exploring its cultural significance and potential as a globally recognized tourism attraction and expression of Thai soft power.

🌿 Exploring Thai Traditional Medicine and Wellness Tourism

Students also participated in interactive workshops on producing Thai traditional herbal inhalers (ยาดมสมุนไพร) and herbal compress balls (ลูกประคบสมุนไพร). These hands-on activities introduced students to traditional Thai wisdom and wellness practices, demonstrating how local knowledge and cultural heritage can be transformed into innovative wellness tourism products, creative experiences, and sustainable business opportunities.

🏡 Experiencing Boutique Hospitality and Local Community Life

The journey continued to Amphawa, Samut Songkhram Province, where students stayed overnight at Amphawa Na Non, an independently operated boutique hotel. This experience offered valuable insights into boutique hotel management, personalized guest services, and the integration of local identity into distinctive hospitality experiences.

🛶✨ Students also immersed themselves in Amphawa’s traditional riverside lifestyle and enjoyed a memorable evening observing fireflies along the waterways. This experience highlighted the relationship between tourism, local communities, natural heritage, and environmental conservation, encouraging students to appreciate the importance of responsible and sustainable destination management.

📚 Integrating Five Fundamental KITMAN Courses into One Learning Journey

A distinctive feature of this educational trip was the integration of five fundamental KITMAN courses: Hotel Business Management, Tourism Business Management, MICE Business Management, Creative Tourism, and Tourism for Well-being. Through experiential and interdisciplinary learning, students developed a broader understanding of how hospitality operations, tourism businesses, event management, cultural creativity, and wellness experiences are interconnected within the tourism industry.

💡 Learning Beyond the Classroom, Preparing for the Future

Beyond academic knowledge, the journey encouraged students to develop essential professional competencies, including creativity, teamwork, cultural appreciation, critical thinking, and awareness of sustainable tourism practices. It also demonstrated the importance of collaboration among educational institutions, hospitality businesses, and local communities in creating meaningful learning experiences.

💚 This initiative reflects KITMAN’s educational philosophy, “Everywhere is KITMAN Classroom!”, emphasizing student-centered, experiential learning that connects academic theories with authentic industry and community experiences.

🏅 As a programme certified under the UN Tourism TedQual quality assurance system, KITMAN remains committed to developing future tourism and hospitality professionals equipped with international perspectives, practical competencies, cultural understanding, and a strong commitment to sustainability.

🌏 KITMAN – Think International. Act Sustainable.

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