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(TITC)_On August 2, 2012, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) in collaboration with ASEAN Secretariat held the national workshop “Gap analysis on implementation of Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on tourim professionals” in Bao Son Hotel, Ha Noi. This activity is in the framework of ASEAN – Australia development cooperation program (AADCP) phase II.
The workshop had participations of Deputy Director General of VNAT Hoang Thi Diep, senior officer of ASEAN Secretariat Eddy Krismeidi; director of the project on gap analysis on implementation of MRA Wayne Crosbie; delegates from Japan International Cooperaton Agency (JICA), programme of environmentally and socially responsible tourism capacity development (ESRT), State management agencies on tourism, education and training centers on tourism, hotels and tour operators in Viet Nam.
At the workshop, Mr Wayne Crosbie introduced overview of MRA and the project on gap analysis on implementation of MRA. The delegates and project managers discussed on challenges and legislative barriers on implementation of MRA in Viet Nam; education and training centers on tourism which can support the implementation of MRA; courses or qualifications on housekeeping, front office, food and beverage, food production, travel agents and tour operators which can meet levels to support MRA; “in house” training initiatives which enjoy a good reputation and have earned the respect of the tourism industry…
The ASEAN Tourism Ministers (ATM) in 2009 adopted the MRA on tourism professionals. The MRA aims to facilitate and increase the mobility of tourism professionals within the region. It supports the exchange of information on best practices in competency-based education and training for tourism professionals, provides opportunities for cooperation and capacity building across ASEAN Member States, stipulate the principal requirements to support the realization of free flow of tourism professionals within the region. Through the MRA, ASEAN Member States are also working to solve current problems in the ASEAN tourism industry: 1) the lack of common curriculum amongst the ASEAN Member States, 2) varied human resources capabilities in the tourism sector across the region, 3) the absence of mutual recognition of skills and qualifications in the region.
At the 13th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers in January 2010 in Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), the MRA Follow-up Implementation Requirements, a work plan that incorporates activities at the regional and national level to achieve the full implementation of the MRA was endorsed.
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