Sep
11
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Tourism sector needs skills standards
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The implementation of a universal and consistent set of occupational skills standards is crucial for the development of Viet Nam's tourism sector, according to international experts and industry insiders during a workshop held on Thursday (September 6).
As strong growth in the tourism sector has created higher demand for front-line staff and well-trained managers, such standards will act as a benchmark for measuring the performance of workers in the tourism industry and lay the foundation for effective training activities.
Viet Nam began compiling its first set of national occupational skills standards for the tourism sector in 2008 and is in the process of finalising it.
However, along with the country deeper international integration, the national standards being developed in Viet Nam have to meet industry requirements and come in line with international standards, said Vu Quoc Tri (ESRT director).
According to Tri, Viet Nam has joined other ASEAN members to adopt the Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals in 2009, which means Viet Nam's national occupational skills standards must be compatible with the common competency standards of ASEAN tourism professionals.
He said such compatibility was a prerequisite to facilitate the free flow of tourism professionals among the ASEAN region, which is set to begin in 2015.
Though rather than starting from the scratch, the content of the national occupational skills standards will be developed by mapping and cultivating several standard systems currently in practice.
"There is no need to re-invent the wheel. We should use the best of what is available to meet the needs of all our stakeholders," said Paul Pentfold, an international tourism expert.
One of the main references cited was the Viet Nam Tourism Occupation Skills Standards (VTOS), which was developed under the European Union-funded project "Human Resources Development in Tourism" from 2004 to 2010.
The VTOS, which sets the minimum skill requirements for 13 occupations at entry level in both travel and hospitality, are still being taught at vocational colleges, according to representatives present at the workshop.
However, the national occupational skills standards would have to cover all industry levels, said Pham Thi Thanh Ngoc, vice rector of Hai Phong Vocational College in Tourism and Services.
Viet Nam Tourism Association deputy chairman Vu The Binh said that the biggest challenge was to engage tourism professionals, especially those working in travel, in training activities to meet standards.
"The fact is that managers in travel companies pay scant attention to training activities. Out of 1,000 companies nation-wide, only 30 to 40 managers are interested in providing training for their employees," he said.
Binh added that, as the Tourism Law has been under review, there was a need to amend certain provisions to re-organise the sector to ensure that it's mandatory for all tourism professionals to meet the occupational standards in order to operate at the designated level.
According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalid Social Affairs' Vocational Training Department, Viet Nam has issued national occupational skills standards for 122 occupations in different sectors, including industry, commerce, transport and construction.
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Sep
11
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HCM City hosts int’l tourism expo
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More than 500 domestic and foreign businesses will take part in the eighth International Tourism Expo in Ho Chi Minh City from September 13-19.
ITE HCMC 2012 is Vietnam’s biggest tourism event to introduce the latest tourist products and services. It also promotes major domestic and overseas destinations, especially the programme Four Countries – A Destination, involving Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
The HCM City Municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the event’s organiser, has developed a Meeting Online service to help participating businesses meet and sign contracts. More than 3,000 such meetings have been arranged online.
Senior officials and Ministers of tourism of the four aforementioned countries will meet within the framework of the exposition, aiming to increase cooperation in the field.
For the first time HCM City will organise a meeting of the mayors of cities in the Mekong River basin, including HCM City of Vietnam, Phnom Penh of Cambodia, Vientiane of Laos, Yagon of Myanmar, and Bangkok of Thailand. The meeting is to realise the joint statement on tourism connectivity between big tourism centres in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
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Sep
11
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Russian businesses explore Ninh Thuan’s tourism potential
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A Russian Farmtrip delegation consisting of representatives from 10 travel agencies of Pegas Touristik Company paid a fact-finding visit to Ninh Thuan province from September 7-9.
During their stay in Bau Truc resort and Saigon-Ninh Chu hotel, they called at Vinh Hy bay, the Bau Truc pottery village, My Nghiep weaving village and Poklong Garai tower to enjoy art performances by Cham people.
The visit was in preparation for the first 300 Russian tourists to go sightseeing there for 3-4 days, starting on September 16.
In the next few days, the delegation will study tourism products in Binh Thuan and participate in the International Travel Expo (ITE 2012) in Ho Chi Minh City.
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Russian businesses explore Ninh Thuan’s tourism potential
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11/09/2012 09:33:45
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Photographic exhibition on Vietnam opens in France
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11/09/2012 09:32:13
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Vietnam Airlines cooperates with SNCF from France
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11/09/2012 09:30:37
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Action thriller fans get ready for a Premium Rush
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11/09/2012 09:28:21
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Legacies of War
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11/09/2012 09:23:29
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Pricey Kissho has the wow factor
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11/09/2012 09:21:47
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Spectacular views of Danang from Son Tra peninsula
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11/09/2012 09:20:09
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Autumn-Winter Elle Fashion Show 2012 scheduled on Sept. 20
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11/09/2012 09:16:35
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Touching “Children in Wartime” exhibition
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11/09/2012 09:14:42
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