Tourism needs leadership

BANGKOK, 20 August 2012: Tourism Council of Thailand says the country tourism industry needs a lead organisation to develop the industry and strengthen human resources.

TCT president, Piyaman Tejapaibul, said the tourism and services sector lacked a catalyst to develop the industry clearly.

“Unlike general  industry that can look to the  Ministry of Industry’s Bureau of Entrepreneurship Development for leadership and  support, the tourism service sector lacks a leader to develop human resources.”

Piyaman Tejapaibul

She said: “ The Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Department of Tourism should take on this role to drive the country tourism and develop training and seminars as well as improving industry standards.”

In the meantime, government and associations linked to tourism need to increase their human resources development programmes.

TCT has asked the Ministry of Labour to create a skilled labour standard for up to 100 positions in tourism up from the current 32 positions and train at least 300,000 people a year over the next three years.

It has also called for 26 airports, nationwide, to be improved, while better overland transport to neighbouring countries needed to be established.

“A tour bus link in ASEAN region may need to be discussed formally with neighbouring countries to facilitate bus travel to Thailand that is part of a regional network,” the council president said.

Sourced: ttrweekly