Industry support adds to the success of MTA’s Choice Programme
The eighth edition of the Choice Programme, organised by the Industry HR Development Unit with the Malta Tourism Authority in collaboration with the Institute of Tourism Studies, held for secondary schools in Malta and Gozo has come to an end. This year a total of 33 schools participated, reaching more than 2500 students.
Various stakeholders contributed to the success of this year’s edition by delivering talks in schools or by hosting students. These included the MHRA, Radisson Blu Golden Sands Resort & Spa & Radisson Baypoint, Hilton Malta, Intercontinental Malta, Le Meridien St Julians, The Westin Dragonara Resort, The Palace Hotel, Corinthia Marina Hotel, Calypso Hotel, EF Language School, the Institute of Hospitality, FATTA and Acumen Centre Ltd.
Interesting feedback was received about employment in tourism directly from students, any of whom commented that the Choice programme helped them to understand more about the various career openings in the tourism sector.
Students participated in the Choice competition by submitting projects directly associated with tourism. The winner/s, Hannah Farell and Christina Warrington with the project entitled ‘Marsascala – experience the difference’ will spend a week in Budapest were flights are sponsored by Airmalta and accommodation sponsored by Corinthia hotels. Other establishments who have contributed prizes are the San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Le Meridien St Julians, Diplomat Hotel and the Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa.
The presentation of projects and prizes was held on Friday 26th June. Parliamentary Secretary Hon Dr Mario de Marco presented certificates to the participating students. Mrs Claire Zammit Xuereb shared the private sectors experience during the Choice programme. Mr Karl Grech from the Industry HR Development Unit, spoke about the importance of soft skills within the industry. Mr Brian Bartolo and Ms Marie Louise Fenech representing Airmalta and Corinthia Hotels respectively encouraged students to further their studies in tourism.
L-GĦAŻLA TA’ KARRIERA FIT-TURIŻMU TIBNI FUQ L-OSPITALITÀ TAGĦNA BĦALA POPLU
“L-għan ewlieni tal-programm CHOICE tal-Awtorità tat-Turiżmu huwa li jsaħħaħ il-kuxjenza fuq it-turiżmu u jippromwovi l-karrieri fl-istess qasam mat-tfal fl-iskejjel sekondarji Maltin u Għawdxin. Karriera fit-turiżmu hija karriera li toffri għażla u li tibni fuq l-ospitalità tradizzjonali tagħna bħala poplu.”
Is-Segretarju Parlamentari għat-Turiżmu, l-On. Mario de Marco qal dan waqt il-preżentazzjoni finali tal-programm CHOICE tal-MTA, fejn tfal minn skejjel sekondarji mhux biss jiltaqgħu u jitkellmu ma’ diversi nies mill-industrija iżda wkoll joħolqu proġetti relatati mat-turizmu.
Huwa qal li r-riżors uman huwa importanti għal Malta u għas-settur tat-turiżmu minħabba l-kuntatt dirett mat-turisti; fejn irrefera għall-fatt li t-turiżmu f’pajjiżna jimpjega b’mod dirett (lukandi u ristoranti) madwar 10,000 ruħ full-time u 9,000 ruħ part-time, minbarra eluf oħra bħal m’huma l-gwidi, aġenziji tal-ivvjaġġar, souvenir shops, xufiera eċċ.
Dr de Marco żied jgħid li kien għalhekk li l-Gvern iffoka fuq strateġija ċara li permezz tagħha jtejjeb it-taħriġ dirett f’dan il-qasam. Dan għamlu bil-ħolqien tal-Istitut għall-Istudji Turistiċi (ITS), li kien kruċjali biex bdejna nimxu lejn professjonisti gradwati mħarrġa speċjalment fil-qasam turistiku, inkluż iċ-ċentru ġdid tal-ITS li kien inawgurat f’Għawdex fil-ġimgħat li għaddew u li sar minn fondi Ewropej. Hu semma wkoll li fl-aħħar snin, kienet ukoll l-Università, li taħt il-Fakultà tal-Management, waqqfet Dipartiment għall-Istudji Turistiċi u bdiet toffri korsijiet li jwasslu għall-Baċċellerati f’dan il-qasam.
Huwa temm billi ħeġġeġ lill-istudenti preżenti sabiex ikomplu jinvestu fl-istudji tagħhom għax huwa dan l-investiment li se jkun jiswielhom għal ħajjithom.
Din is-sena, 2,500 student minn 33 skola differenti pparteċipaw fil-programm CHOICE. Mill-2001, ħadu sehem aktar minn 22,000 student. L-istudenti kollha li ħadu sehem kienu mħeġġa biex jipparteċipaw f’kompetizzjoni fejn kellhom jagħżlu tema relatata mat-turiżmu u joħolqu xi preżentazzjoni jew proġett fuqha.
Il-Programm CHOICE huwa organizzat mit-Taqsima għall-Iżvilupp tar-Riżorsi Umani fl-Industrija tal-MTA bil-kollaborazzjoni tal-Grupp Corinthia u tal-Airmalta.
For further information, kindly contact Andrè Arciola, Industry HR Development Unit, MTA on 22915122 or choice@visitmalta.com
This issue is available at: 0907.