THA: Training is a priority

BANGKOK, 29 May 2013: Hoteliers in ASEAN will need to build a higher level of cooperation to cope with a shortage of human resources that will hit the hotel industry soon.

As ASEAN’s hotel industry expands at a rapid pace, staffing problems will become more critical, Thai Hotels Association president, Surapong Techaruvichit, said at the association’s monthly meeting Tuesday.

“During the latest meeting with ASEAN members, both  representatives from Myanmar and Cambodia urged other member countries to supply professionals in the hotel segment to play a training role as well as fill vacancies in mid to top management,” he told members.

The president explained that some countries have skills, but lack workers, while some countries have an abundance of labour,  but need more skills.

Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam were identified as countries that had plenty of labour, but lacked trainers. Hotel associations in ASEAN nations with a more developed hotel industry would have to supply expertise and help to run “train the trainers” courses.

He also urged  travel agency associations in ASEAN  countries to book business only in legally registered hotels to help crackdown on illegal hotels.

However, travel agencies will argue that it is very difficult to identify illegal hotels as the owners will claim to be processing documents or renewing permits to avoid providing supporting evidence.

In Bangkok alone, there are hundreds of illegal hotels operating openly in the marketplace, but when challenged owners will argue they are in the process or paying daily fines until a permit has been granted by various agencies and ministries.

Sourced: ttrweekly