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CHTA warns of growing labour needs

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by Marlon Madden

As officials anticipate a continuously strong rebound of the tourism industry from the near shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is calling on leaders in the region’s bread and butter industry to ramp up efforts to be adequately staffed to meet the impending surge of arrivals and continued growth.

Drawing attention to a recent statement from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) which predicts “a massive increase in global international inbound travel,” CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig noted that the Caribbean’s tourism industry must do more to source and train its own people to meet the industry’s growing labour needs.

“The recent statement from WTTC and CHTA knowledge partner ForwardKeys points to strong demand in the months ahead for travel to ‘sun and sea’ destinations such as the Caribbean and Latin America, which are leading international inbound bookings,” said Madden-Greig, who added that “it is imperative for our members to be diligent in staffing their properties and enterprises with trained, qualified hospitality professionals.”

This comes as some industry operators in Barbados start to report a potential labour shortage in some areas. The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) is expected to carry out research to find out how widespread the issue is and possible causes.

However, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Lisa Cummins said her ministry has already reached out to tertiary level learning institutions to fast-track training opportunities to boost employment prospects of those interested in the industry.

Madden-Greig pointed to the need to re-energize the partnerships between schools, training institutions and the tourism industry, which she said were put in place by many Caribbean jurisdictions in the past and played a critical role in creating employment and career opportunities for thousands of residents throughout the region.

WTTC’s latest tourism Economic Impact Report indicates that more than 126 million travel and tourism jobs will be created over the next decade. With an estimated one in every three new jobs created being in the travel and tourism space, officials are anticipating numerous opportunities for job seekers and businesses seeking to fill those positions.

Madden-Greig said she believed the CHTA’s networking opportunities, the on-the-ground public-private partnerships, and its Caribbean Tourism Job Bank can be useful tools in bridging the labour gap between supply and demand.

“Our Tourism Job Bank is an excellent, free resource for both employers and job seekers,” she said, while encouraging Caribbean residents in search of tourism-related positions to upload their resumes and credentials to the site where they can be reviewed by prospective employers looking for qualified applicants.

CHTA members, who receive free basic postings as part of their membership benefits, are also encouraged to post open positions to the Caribbean Tourism Job Bank, which can be found at https://jobbank.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/.

Madden-Greig urged all national hotel and tourism associations to continue partnering with local institutions to fast-track the training of prospective hospitality workers so they can take advantage of the increasing number of excellent career paths the industry offers.

“As an industry, we need to ensure that all stakeholders understand the tremendous economic benefits that can accrue from engagement with the hospitality sector. CHTA and our Tourism Job Bank can help, but more needs to be done to counter the misinformation that has created doubts about the stability and future of the industry that surfaced as a result of the pandemic,” she said.

“The Caribbean tourism industry presents a world of possibilities for professional growth and development,” added Madden-Greig, noting that there are more than 1,000 job and career paths, with over one in five opportunities at the supervisory, management, or ownership levels.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

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