6 agencies join up to build new, skilled tourism workforce
Six tourism-related agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to train personnel to tackle shortages in the tourism industry and meet rising demand.
The MoU on the potential development of workers and personnel for tourism and service industries was signed on Monday by the Labour Ministry’s Skill Development Department, the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s Tourism Department, the Tourism Council, the Thai Federation of Provincial Tourist Association, the Beverage Association and the Bartender Club Eastern Region.
The MoU signing ceremony was held at the Tourism Department’s head office at the Government Complex in Bangkok.
Pichet Thongphan from the Skill Development Department said the MoU complemented his department’s policy to boost the skills of workers in the tourism industry. He said the department aims to train 4,900 people this year, of whom 3,344 have already undergone training.
He added that his department had provided a 30-hour course on mixing cocktails to 161 workers in seven provinces, namely Chai Nat, Rayong, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Saraburi.
Now that the MoU has been signed, the six agencies will cooperate to design training courses on subjects like Thai cooking, coffee barista, bartender, waiting staff and massage techniques. The training will also include lessons in spoken English.
Buppha Ruangsut, director-general of the Skill Development Department, said the tourism industry had to lay off a lot of staff members during the Covid pandemic, and now it cannot meet demands.
The MoU is aimed at training workers to meet the demand of tourism operators and cope with future growth.
The six agencies have also agreed to share resources like trainers, venues as well as to exchange knowledge and technology.
In the MoU, the six agencies agreed to jointly promote skill development of personnel in the tourism and service industries in line with market demand.
They have also agreed to encourage tourism operators to have their personnel test their skills for standard certification, so they can be paid based on their skills.
Students will also be encouraged to have their skills tested and certified before applying for jobs.
The MoU says the Skill Development Department will advise tourism operators and companies to partner up with schools and colleges to receive benefits under the Labour Skill Development Act.
The MoU will be enforced for three years.
