Skills Development - Essential to a Successful and Robust Tourism Sector in Sri Lanka.

Over the decades, tourism has experienced continued growth and deepening ‎diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in Sri Lanka. ‎Modern tourism is closely linked to development and encompasses a growing number ‎of new destinations. These dynamics have turned tourism into a key driver for socio-‎economic progress.‎ This global spread of tourism in industrialized and developed provinces has produced ‎economic and employment benefits in many related sectors - from construction to ‎agriculture or telecommunications.‎

Hospitality and tourism plays a significant role in the global economy and the growth of social and cultural heritage of people. In addition to its contribution in solving many problems, all nations seek to support and develop tourism activities, especially taking into account its’ escalating presence in all biological, physical and environmental spheres. Awareness among students at grass root level can effect mainly through the inclusion of Tourism as a subject at secondary school in the national curriculum.

In many developed countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Hong-Kong and even others like Mauritius, Thailand, South Africa have already included Travel and Tourism as a subject in the secondary school curriculum with a view to boost awareness of rewarding careers in tourism, gain a head start in post-secondary education and the working world and acquire academic, technological and workplace skills. If awareness building is begun at an early stage the attitudes, skills and competencies can easily be honed in a way they are in accordance with the requirements of the world of work.

Employees play a pivotal role in managing efficient services. As per UNWTO Report Hospitality, Catering & Tourism (HCT) industry is among the world‘s top labour intensive job creators that can accommodate varying degrees of skills and allows for quick entry into the workforce for youth, women and migrant workers. The industry currently accounts for 30 percent of the world‘s export services. With regard to the supply chain in the industry, creation of one job in the core HCT industry indirectly generates roughly 1.5 additional jobs in the related economy.

The UNWTO expects that this industry would provide 296 million jobs in 2019, which will be more than 11 percent of global employment. In addition the industry stimulates the creation of new enterprises and development within the supply chain further expanding the opportunities for youth. Tourism in Sri Lanka is expected to reach 4 million arrivals by 2020 with projected revenue of $2.75 billion (SLTDA). To achieve this nearly 300,000 people need to be employed in tourism and related activities. Under the ‘One Million Jobs’ programme of present government, it has been emphasized the requirements of new recruiting, training and developing the manpower needed for tourism industry in the future.

An industry fed and nourished at grass root level with the required human capital is bound to have stability and sustainability. Hence preparing the workforce at secondary school level with the right mind set, attitudes and skills will prepare them mentally as well as vocationally in order to pursue a career in Travel Tourism or Hospitality.

As projected, if tourist arrivals to the country reach the 2.25 million by 2017, such a spiraling industry is estimated to be in demand of a labour force of another, at least, 300 000 persons at service, middle and senior levels working directly and indirectly in tourism and related activities.

Objective of this programme

The major objective of this programme is to engage the dropout school students from selected districts to create awareness and generate interest among youth in exploring HCT employment in both in direct and indirect forms with the partnership of public and private sectors. And also this programme targeted to reach out to students from all provinces of the country in creating awareness about Travel Tourism and Hospitality as a multi-faceted industry, promote education and vocational opportunities available to youth and prepare the drop out students as the foundation of the required labour force and prepare them academically, vocationally and mentally to venture into unconventional and non-traditional employment.

NHRDC’s Contribution.

 Public and Private partnership

The National Human Resources Development Council of Sri Lanka(NHRDC), Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs conducted the 3^rd  Tourism Awareness Programme on “Attracting and increasing the students intake and providing  the skills employees in tourism sector” with collaboration of public and private sector participation for school dropout  Students accompanied with HAMAS, MSU & MSI, SLTHM, CAHM, VTA, NAITA and District Secretariat of Kalutara. The Director Mr.K.A.Lalithadheera and Assistant Director Mr.S.Thanigaseelan and other officers from NHRDC coordinated this programme with the support of private and public partnership. In Kalutara Region on the 29^th  July 2016 at New Conference hall, Kalutara District Secretariat. Over 372 dropout students from 14 divisional secretariats. So altogether NHRDC conducted three awareness programmes targeted 916 youth school leavers from Batticaloa, Galle and Kalutara Districts.  

The district secretariat, Kalutara Mr.U.D.C.Jayalal said “The youth should aware the trend of job market and they have to focus the future skill demand” The District Planning Director Mr.K.A.D.K. Sriwardana, Asst Director of Planning Mr.D.L.W.D. Samarawickrama and Mrs.S.K.Dayananda participated from District Secretariat of Kalutara.

There is a participant’s feedback from the students has been outstanding and some students have participated from the hotel schools to talk to new students to encourage enrollment. Hotels, which hosted students have been ensure with the agreed to take more in 2016 and 2017. The resources person’ presents covered mostly on career opportunities, career motivation and available training courses in tourism sector. Furthermore the hand bills distributed among the students as well as the attractive videos played among the students to make them aware in an easy ways.