Vietnam: Training needs a boost

HANOI  Vietnam’s tourism sector will concentrate on improving human resources development to strengthen tourism and help service staff to be more hospitable.
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said high-quality human resources are one of the most important factors to raise the standard of the industry.
The tourism sector needs an additional 40,000 workers every year, but currently produces just 15,000 tourism graduates annually, the report said.
The sector employs around 500,000 direct workers and 1 million indirect workers and expects that to increase to 650,000 direct jobs and 2 million indirect jobs this year.
inside no 3Most tourism colleges are located in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Hue but more schools should open in other areas that are now emerging tourist destinations.
Critics said the tourism and hospitality sector in Vietnam is facing a shortage of trained labour, which hinders the sector’s sustainable development.
Tourism and hospitality sector should improve its image through training, to increase quality and revenue from tourism, the report said.
In addition, qualified tourism workers should be sent to work for travel companies in the ASEAN region to gain experience.
Also, the report said foreign tour operators should be allowed to participate in the local travel market while streamlining the procedure for grant of the travel business licence.

sourced:ttrweekly.com