According to lesson learned from the Model of West Java distance learning programme implementation, SEAMOLEC considered distance learning can be conducted in several Southeast Asia countries by utilizing the potential area in Common ASEAN Curriculum for Tourism (CATC).

As ASEAN countries are in the era of free flow of skilled labor, under the umbrella of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA), the Tourism sector is considered one of the readiest sectors to face the ASEAN-MRA. It is proven by the availability of the ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals (ACCSTP), the CATC and the Regional Qualifications Framework and Skills Recognition System (RQFSRS) as the key resources to support MRA framework. Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professional (MRA-TP) that was signed on 2012 and adopted by the ASEAN Tourism Ministers (ATM) is a key of ASEAN tourism initiative to support the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community.

To answer the need of the region in term of capacity building to prepare tourism professionals, distance learning could be seen as one approach that is possibly used during education and trainings for students in tourism sector to improve their knowledge and skills to be ready in the era of free movement of skilled labor. Tourism as the first priority sector stated on Chiang May joint statement by SEAMEO high officials may get benefit of distance learning by its unique attributes to provide access to education while keeping the quality without being in regular face-to-face classroom setting. The distance learning system using ICT has become a significant education innovation in the 21st century to overcome geographical barriers, gives flexibility in term of learning time and places, and also provides competitive cost/value to meet a wide range of learning needs and different types of learners.

As MRA-TP in ASEAN is known to facilitate professional mobility, to exchange information on professional competency development and to provide opportunities for cooperation and capacity building in tourism for all ASEAN member countries, SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Centre (SEAMOLEC) is developing distance learning model in tourism to enhance capacity building for workforce among Southeast Asia countries.

There are four years development of CATC-based online courses:

2018

Feasibility Study on Southeast Asia Distance Learning Program in Tourism. Click https://seamolec.org/researchreport to download the report.

2019

Online courses development in housekeeping for three competency units:

1. Provide housekeeping service to guests (D1.HHK.CL03.01) 
2. Clean and prepare rooms for incoming guests (D1.HHK.CL03.03) 
3. Provide a lost and found facility (D1.HSS.CL01.09)

2020

1^st Pilot on CATC-based Housekeeping online courses

2021

2^nd Pilot on CATC-based online courses