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
expands to a growing number of new destinations. These dynamics have turned
tourism into a key driver for socio-economic
progress. The global spread of
tourism in industrialized and developed provinces has produced economic and employment benefits
in many related sectors - from construction to agriculture and telecommunications.
It is of paramount interest that
the authorities in the tourism sector focuses on the required skills development
to move the industry to better heights. 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 school leavers at grass root level can be effective 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 improved 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 the present government,
it has been emphasized the requirements of new recruiting, training and
developing the manpower needed for the 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 school leaver’s 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 tourism employment both
in direct and indirect forms with the partnership of public and private sectors.
And also this programme is intended to be 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.
Public and Private partnership
It is a fact that the youth of the rural are quiet
unaware about the opportunities available to them in terms of constructive
employment in an aggressively growing industry such as tourism. In view of this
The National Human Resources Development Council of Sri Lanka (NHRDC) focus on creating
awareness and extended these opportunities to youth in every corner of the
country.
The District Secretariat Mr.U.D.C.Jayalal Kalutara
participated in the inauguration function. 29.07.2016
The National Human Resources Development Council of
Sri Lanka (NHRDC), Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs conducted the 3rd 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 HEMAS, 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 29th 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.
Dr.T.Jeyasingam,
Vice Chancellor, EUSL innagurated this programme at Batticaloa. 30.03.2016
The district secretariat, Kalutara Mr.U.D.C.Jayalal
said “The youth should be aware of the trend in the job market and they have to
focus on the future skills 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.
Due to the presentation delivered by HEMAS representatives
at Galle District. 09.06.2016
The 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 agreed to take more in 2016 and 2017. The resource person presents covered
mostly on career opportunities, career motivation and available training
courses in the tourism sector. Furthermore they distributed hand bills as well as
the attractive videos played to make them aware and understand in an easy way among
the students.
In summary the main objective of the
NHRDC is to conduct awareness programme in all part of the country with support
of public and private sectors extending the opportunities to all youth of the
country to pursue a career in this fast developing industry globally and here
in Sri Lanka as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment