Tourism industry lacks human resources: Resort pays for airfare and accommodation for student interns

Vietnam’s tourism industry is recovering and developing strongly, leading to an increase in demand for human resources. While many tourism businesses, restaurants, and hotels are lacking human resources, training facilities are unable to supply enough.

Businesses are "thirsty" for human resources

According to Master Ngo Thi Quynh Xuan, Principal of Saigon College of Tourism , the professions that are especially "hunted" by businesses today are restaurant and hotel management, culinary techniques (chef profession), tour guide, and travel management.

Previously, schools had to go find businesses. Now, businesses come to schools to "hunt" for students. "There are even resorts in Phu Quoc that are willing to pay for airfare, accommodation, and even living expenses just to get students to agree to do an internship," said Master Xuan, adding that this is a rare opportunity, helping students to both practice their skills and earn income while still in school.

According to Master Quynh Xuan, this "thirst" for human resources comes from the big changes after the Covid-19 pandemic, many long-term workers left the tourism industry, creating a big gap and an opportunity for the younger generation.

According to Master Phan Buu Toan, Vice Principal of Saigon College of Tourism, currently the restaurant and hotel sector is seriously lacking in human resources. Businesses are placing recruitment orders more than the schools can supply.

In fact, recruitment needs range from basic positions to senior management. Mr. Nguyen Huu Tho, Director of the Consulting and Admissions Center, Saigon College of Technology and Tourism, said that businesses associated with the school are in need of a large number of personnel in many positions: receptionists, room attendants, waiters, chefs, sales staff, tour guides, etc.

In the intermediate training sector, Ms. Vo Thi My Van, Principal of Saigontourist College of Tourism and Hospitality, also said that the recruitment demand is very large but the number of students studying is still small, not enough to meet the demand. In particular, Saigontourist College also creates conditions for students to study and intern internationally. "In September, the school will send a group of students to Hungary to study, opening up opportunities to access the global working environment," Ms. Van added.

Cooking is one of the professions that businesses are "hunting" for.

PHOTO: YEN THI

What do students need to be "chosen" by businesses?

There are many opportunities but that does not mean that everyone can easily “catch the eye” of businesses. The requirements for students are getting higher and higher, not just stopping at a degree.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tho frankly said that new graduates today often only have professional knowledge but lack skills and work attitude.

Master Ngo Thi Quynh Xuan also believes that the first factor that businesses care about is work attitude. “Skills and knowledge can be trained, but customer service attitude is very difficult to train if young people are not ready from the beginning. That is one of the important things and seems to be basic but is not easy to train. This is the core value in the service industry,” Master Xuan emphasized.

The second factor is foreign language. In the context of Vietnam becoming an attractive destination for international tourists, tourism students are required to communicate fluently in at least one foreign language, the most common being English.

Third, professional and technological skills. According to Master Xuan, students need to know how to apply technology to serve customers. For example, hotel management students must be proficient in hotel and restaurant management software; tour guides must know how to make clips, take photos, and edit videos to create new experiences for customers; sales staff need to know how to exploit online platforms or social media channels to sell services. "Businesses need people who can do the job, not just degrees," Master Xuan affirmed.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tho believes that tourism students need to improve their foreign languages and soft skills at work such as: communication and presentation skills, emotional management skills, situation handling skills, teamwork skills...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nganh-du-lich-thieu-nhan-luc-resort-chi-ve-bay-an-o-cho-sinh-vien-thuc-tap-185250818204435946.htm