Manpower training in tourist industry

Nizam Lantra

The Department of Social Studies of the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) in its endeavour to provide training and development in line with industrial and market needs will be introducing the one-year Advanced Certificate Course in Tourism Operations in May 2009.

Given the national level demand for manpower within the tourism industry, the proposed programme will be a great blessing to the tourism sector. The total

 number of persons entering the tourist industry with formal training is around 1900 per year. This figure does not compare well with the numbers actually needed by the industry - over 5000 per year.

The fact that the tourist industry in Sri Lanka is not at its best at present due to the ongoing ethno-political conflict is only temporary and as there are indications of an end to the conflict the industry has to gear itself for a revival. This means a further demand for trained personnel.

The problem of manpower shortage is further compounded by the regular exodus of trained staff to other countries. Hoteliers are complaining about the staff turnover ratio in Sri Lankan hotels being unbelievably high mainly on account of the unprecedented expansion of tourism, in all parts of the world in general and the Middle East in particular. According to certain hoteliers, Sri Lanka continues to be a very buoyant training ground for overseas employers.

The entire industry is training more and more personnel but the ambition of most staff is to migrate to other countries to find employment and this situation has made Sri Lanka lose its best staff very rapidly.

It is hoped that the proposed Advanced Certificate Course in Tourism Operations offered by the Open University and partly funded by the ADB will not only help to fill the gap at certain levels but also enhance knowledge of existing workforce in the industry.

The multi-disciplinary orientation of the Department of Social Studies should be considered most helpful by the industry in launching a course of this nature with special focus on the principles and practices of tourism that will form the core knowledge of those involved in varied sectors within the industry.

The operational aspects in the sub sectors of the hotel industry and the travel agency business are also adequately covered in this course. Since this course is administered through the distance learning mode and the availability of a network of study centres of the Open University in various parts of the country, it makes the proposed programme increasingly attractive to those within the industry as they need not disturb work place commitments while pursuing with studies.

Furthermore, the Department of Social Studies is able to attract expertise within the Tourism Industry at regional level to sustain the programme. A similar programme conducted by the Open University in 1994 and 1995 was very successful and a large number of personnel were trained.

The Advanced Certificate Programme in Tourism Operations contains a curriculum that serves the academic and professional needs of the tourism industry and covers subject areas such as, introduction to tourism, organization and marketing, hospitality management and travel management. This one year programme will be at level 3 (equal to undergraduate first year) with 2 credits and leads to an Advanced Certificate.

One credit equals about 450 hours of study. Success at the examinations will pave the way for students to pursue a degree in the Social Sciences at the Open University. Another advantage is that there is no upper age limit for eligibility to follow this course.

In distance education one of the most important tools of teaching is the print medium. Despite the very significant advances made by other technologies of communication, print material still remains the central resource of most distance learning instructions. Hence it helps the learner to learn actively and bridge the distance between the teacher and the learner.

The printed word makes up not only for the lecturer but also for the tutor. Unlike in the classroom of the conventional system, here there is no immediate feedback to guide the teacher. Therefore, in order to ensure that successful learning takes place the writers have made the course material as user-friendly as possible.

They are all written by eminent professionals in the tourism industry with long years of experience in their field.

The students have the opportunity of meeting the lecturers at day schools. These are one day sessions usually held on a weekend once a month whereby the students can clarify any aspect of the topics covered in the course. Practical sessions and field visits are also part of the programme.

The programme will commence in May 2009. A limited number of places are available on a first come first served basis. It is the intention of the Open University to plan for a Tourism Course at Diploma level in the coming years.

The author is a former Director of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and counts over 40 years service in the industry in Sri Lanka and abroad. He is also the Course Director, Tourism of the OUSL and an International Tourism Consultant. He is a Member of the Institute of Statisticians, UK.