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THE MALTA TOURISM AUTHORITY PARTICIPATES IN LEONARDO MOBILITY AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
31/08/2001
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.
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