THE MALTA TOURISM AUTHORITY PARTICIPATES IN LEONARDO
MOBILITY AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
MTA obtains Leonardo funding for tourism employee training overseas
programme.
ITS introduces new tourism studies courses.
University launches Degree Course in Tourism Studies.
MTA urged to train personnel in areas related to tourism.
Work permits for trainees will be recommended subject to reciprocal
opportunities to ITS students.
From 2004 hotel and restaurant classification will also depend on
service aspect by which time untrained persons will not be eligible for
work in such establishments.
Speaking during a presentation at the Centre for
Creativity in Valletta, Tourism Minister Michael Refalo had words of
praise for the Malta Tourism Authority's Human Resource and Support
Services Directorate and especially for its Director John Muscat Drago
and Senior Manager Joe Tanti, who were instrumental for the launch of a
programme which will enable operational and supervisory persons employed
in Maltese hotels and restaurants to further their training and
experience in Ireland.
"It is through their pro-active approach that
MTA has succeeded in tapping the EU's Leonardo Programme and fully
funding, to the tune of LM80,000, travel, board, lodging and the grant
of a subsistence allowance for 60 leisure industry employees who will
undergo on the job training in Irish tourism establishments."
The Minister added that MTA’s Irish partner is
the Council for Education and Recruitment and Training (CERT), the
Organisation that in 1988 had advised Government on the setting up of
the Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS).
"Since that time ITS has trained and taught
thousands of young men and women and their presence in the industry has
made a very noticeable sea change in the food and beverage service and
production side of the leisure industry. There are however some areas
which still need to be taken care of especially in the industry's middle
to lower order. There is still a sizable percentage of persons working
who have never received any training. Moreover as in most other
countries with a leisure industry such as ours, one finds a substantial
number of part timers who alternate between a full time employment which
is often completely unrelated to their part time occupation."
The Minister said that great strides forward have
been made but that still more had yet to be accomplished. He recalled
that 1,000 young men and women had followed ITS courses this year and
that in Academic Year 2000 / 2001 ITS has introduced Foundation Courses
which have attracted 180 applicants who will be joining at first year
level. Academic Year 2001 / 2002 will also welcome the first ever four
year course in Tourism Studies at the University.
"We are very pleased and encouraged that Malta's
youth has given a rousing and enthusiastic welcome to this course which
has attracted double the forecast number of applicants."
Minister Refalo said that MTA’s Human Resource
and Support Services Directorate complements all the good work which ITS
does and urged the Directorate to spread its interests mainly to
personnel employed in tourism related areas, especially those whose job
entails contact with visitors, such as customs, airport, and transport
personnel and persons employed in retail outlets.
"While many are helpful to visitors we
regrettably still have some who require intensive training in customer
relations and hospitality."
"Every one should understand that very often
their continued employment depends on Malta maintaining tourism's
momentum and success."
The Minister said that he was availing himself of the
morning's ceremony to make two further important policy directions.
"The Ministry often receives requests from local
hotels, especially those which belong to international chains, to allow
trainees from overseas establishments to work in Maltese leisure
outlets. ITS annually gives the opportunity to hundreds of its students
to gain overseas exposure and experience. We welcome such opportunities
and the Institute has standing reciprocal arrangements with a number of
international chains in many countries."
"The Ministry will therefore recommend the
approval of a number of work permits for trainee personnel only if the
applicant company offers similar reciprocal facilities for ITS students
to study and work overseas."
The Minister stressed the importance of training at
all levels of the industry
"While Five and Four star hotels and some first
class restaurants have well trained staff and offer on the job further
training programmes, others do not. It is essential that for the
industry's advancement and better HR development that all staff in
hotels and restaurants receive training.
The Ministry will again in conjunction with ITS,
offer personnel already working in the industry and who have not had the
chance to undergo training, the opportunity to follow training courses.
Our aim is that by the end of 2003 all staff working
in the industry would have received training. From then onwards only
those, be they Maltese or foreigners, who prove that they have undergone
industrial training will be eligible for employment in Maltese hotels
and catering establishments.
The classification of hotels and restaurants will by
then also depend on the service aspect and the quality of the full and
part time personnel employed."
The first ten employees of the 60 selected to
follow the Leonardo Training Programme leave for Ireland on the 22nd
September.
