Increase the tourism workforce competitiveness

The tourism and hospitality industry is one of the largest and most dynamic industries in today’s global economy. In Sri Lanka, it is expected to generate about 11 per cent of total GDP and provide more than 0.5 million direct and indirect job opportunities in 2020, now representing over 10 per cent of total employment.

Youth especially in the North & Eastern Region are to be supported to link up tourism training programmes on offer so that they equip themselves with the skills required to compete in the tourism job market. Therefore, the government tends to start Tourism Career Awareness Program to develop their employment opportunities in tourism businesses and make use of business development service on offer.

National Human Resources Development Council of Sri Lanka (NHRDC), functioning under the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs conducted regional tourism and hospitality employment promotion programme at Eastern Region on 30th March 2016 in the auditorium of Eastern University of Sri Lanka (EUSL), Batticaloa. There were 414 young school leavers interestingly participated at this awareness programme. 

This free workshop conducted to help school leavers and undergraduates to learn about and explore career opportunities in exciting tourism industry in this region. The Tourism Career Awareness Program  presentations were interactive — designed specifically for school leavers and undergraduates and delivered by tourism professionals working in this region.

 In addition this programme is supported to improve and upgrade their understanding of future opportunities and linking with new tourist markets and training institutes in this industry. Unemployed youths will be supported to find suitable employment through this tourism career awareness program provided through recognized industrial experts and academic circles.

Vice Chancellor of EUSL, Dr.T.Jayasingam participated as a guest and he said “Sri Lanka is on its way to a rapid development in tourism. The end of 3 decades long war conflict has resulted in a resurgent economy. So if we could utilize this opportunity, there are about 10,000 direct and same amount of indirect employment opportunities can create into the tourism sector in Eastern Province”.  

The following presentations delivered by the experts at this tourism career awareness program. 

Career path & Potential for tourism sector in Hotel Industry (Maalu Maalu)

Education and training opportunities & Career opportunities in tourism & Hospitality industry-SLITHM

Career Motivation in tourism sector-SLIATE

Provides insight into the career paths and occupations of tourism professionals- Chamber of Tourism and Industry of Sri Lanka.

Details the reasons why people choose careers in tourism- Coordinator Career Guidance EUSL 

The result of this tourism career awareness program (TCAP)

Over 100 participants willing to register to follow the Tourism courses in SLITHM and SLIATE after the delivered the presentation.

Chamber of Tourism and Industry of Sri Lanka and representatives of these industries agreed to provide internship opportunity to final year students of Eastern University of Sri Lanka (EUSL).  And the President, Chamber of Tourism and Industry promised to help to promote researches on improving this industry with collaboration of EUSL.

As social responsibility, Eastern University of Sri Lanka (EUSL) Career guidance Unite comes forwarded to start awareness programme to promote rural level tourism and hospitality industries in a villages.