Training centers to focus on skilled tourism staff

Training centers to focus on skilled tourism staff

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's push for greater tourism revenues has given rise to new training centers, which hope to produce a more professional tourism staff by the year 2005.

Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief said here on Wednesday that the government will modify the country's 153 vocational training centers to the new demands of the tourism industry.

Speaking at a tourism seminar at the new office building of the Ministry of Post, Telecommunication and Tourism on Jl. Merdeka Barat, Latief said training centers in Bali and Yogyakarta will concentrate on producing professional workers for hotels, restaurants and airlines.

The seminar was attended by tourism officials from government and private sectors.

"Most people who work in restaurants and hotels are at the middle and lower levels, very few are regarded as professional," Latief said, adding that most top jobs in tourism are held by expatriates.

However, he said, the program will depend on the support of other sectors.

"So far the rising demand for local professional staff has not been supported by a good educational system," he said.

Input from the private sector and what they expect will also aid the government in its efforts, he said.

"We need to sit down together and discuss the best way to provide your companies with professional staff."

The minister also called on universities to assist in the training of tourism professionals.

"So far tourism programs are only available at academies and not at universities." (03)