Leading Thai tourism group opens a hospitality college ahead of AEC

BANGKOK – The Regent Group, a leading Thai hotel and hospitality management company with more than 30 years of experience in the sector, recently announced the opening of the Regent Cha-Am Hospitality School (RHS) to meet the increasing demand for skilled personnel in South East Asia’s hotel and tourism industry.

The opening of RHS is timed to precede the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, which aims at encouraging the free flow of goods and services within the region, as well as enhance trade cooperation within ASEAN.

Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said, “Thailand’s tourism sector records an average annual growth rate of 10 per cent, so we require more skilled personnel in the hotel and tourism industry to keep up with this ever-increasing demand.

“As Thailand moves towards closer integration with ASEAN through the implementation of the AEC in 2015, developments such as the opening of RHS are excellent preparation as they enhance the kingdom’s competitiveness and competency of its personnel in the tourism industry.”

The RHS is scheduled to launch its first course in March 2014 with a nine-month curriculum, designed especially for young people aged between 17-24 years, who are interested in working in the region’s thriving hotel and hospitality businesses.

The course will focus on four key areas of the hotel business including front office, food and beverage, housekeeping and food preparation. Classes will be taught by instructors who have long-term experience in the hotel and hospitality industry.

During their time on the course, students will also get six-months of on-the-job training at the Regent Cha-am Beach Resort, the largest resort hotel in Cha-am, Phetchaburi. There are also partner hotels joining the scheme in which students can enjoy further three-month training periods.

Mr. Auggaphol Brickshawana, managing director of RHS and former Deputy Governor of the TAT, said, “The curriculum has been designed to enable students to work efficiently at an operational level and to quickly reach the standards of professionalism required by the industry.

“We are confident that once they’ve graduated, all RHS students will be sought after by the big players in the hotel and tourism industry. They should command salaries of a similar level to university graduates with the added bonus that they’ll get opportunities to work abroad if they are interested.”

Figures from the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), show that there are around eight million people working in the tourism industry and a further 100,000 employees are needed each year to meet the increasing market demand for skilled workers in hotel and tourism-related businesses.

The TCT is working closely with Thailand’s Department of Labour Protection and Welfare to ensure that the levels of basic training and education are at the same level of those found throughout ASEAN.

Mrs. Piyaman Techapaiboon, Chairman of the TCT and Regent Group said, “By ensuring our standards are the same, or even superior to other nations in the region, we will make sure that graduates from Thai education centres will be able to seek work aboard. At the same time we are ensuring that our own tourist industry remains competitive. The RHS is proud to be a part of this. In addition, the RHS plans to offer an international programme over the next three years, so that Thailand’s expertise in tourism can be shared with students from all over the world.”

Sourced: TravelDailyNews