Human Resources for Tourism Development

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This technical cooperation (TC) grant aims to expand training delivery, improve service quality, and increase competitiveness in the tourism sector by establishing the framework for a system of national, competency-based skill standards. The grant funds two components: (a) development of national skill standards; and (b) training of trainers and project promotion. The first component will consist of the following activities: a) assessment of human resource development needs in the targeted regions; b) development of competency-based standards; and c) design or adaptation of standards curricula. The second component will include: a) development of programs to train trainers; b) establishment of a database; and c) marketing and promotion of the standards and training programs. The human resource development needs activity will define specialized regional and general training needs and validate the four to five regions selected for participation in the project. The needs assessment criteria will include: (a) number of tourism personnel in the region; (b) number of regional tourism establishments; (c) assessment of local training capacity; (d) type of diversity of specialty programs required; (e) new tourism investments in the region; (f) governmental plan for regional infrastructure development; and (g) budget considerations. The second activity in component one will establish a system of skill standards by: a) chartering an advisory council that includes participation of all sectoral stakeholders; b) identification and agreement by the advisory council on a methodology for identifying and validating competency-based skill standards, assessments, and certification; c) development of a cost-effective means for assessing and certifying the competence of individuals according to established skill standards; and d) identification and validation of national, competency-based skill standards, assessments and certification for a minimum of 40 occupations, according to areas of need that have been determined by the needs assessment and that meet the advisory council's approval. The last activity under the first component, consists of developing training programs based on the needs assessment and standards-setting process. In the second component, 150 master trainers will be trained using materials developed through the standards-setting process. The second activity of this component funds the development of a database to manage the standards, training materials, participants, and provider networks established by the project. The third activity funds the marketing and promotion of the occupational standards and training materials.