Asean countries to set skill standards in tourism sector
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JAKARTA - Southeast Asian countries are keen to take a lead in the world’s tourism market by setting standards on skills required in the industry.
Together with tourism stakeholders, representatives from training and educational institutions, certification boards and organisations, government ministers and senior officials from Asean countries are slated to launch the Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) at an international conference in Jakarta on August 8-9.
The conference, which is being organised by Indonesian Tourism Ministry, will set standardisation and benchmarking of skills for 32 hospitality and tourism job profiles, requiring 52 qualifications for positions like front office, housekeeping, food and beverage services, tour operations, food production and travel agencies. To help workers achieve the qualifications, 242 training “toolboxes” will also be created, accompanied by trainers and skill assessors alongside its registration system.
“The fulfillment of the MRA-TP initiative will boost the quality of services, as it will create a mobile, trained and confident workforce suited to travel industry needs,” said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya in a press release.
Aside from aiming to increase the standard levels of the industry, the conference will also encourage mobility among tourism and hospitality professionals to work in other countries across Asean.
