Tourism authorities have approved the Viet Nam Tourism Occupational Skills Standards, the first of 10 job standards for the tourism sector.— Photo dulichhue

HCM CITY (VNS)  — Tourism authorities have approved the Viet Nam Tourism Occupational Skills Standards, the first of 10 job standards for the tourism sector.

The standards – Front Office (Version 2013) – were developed by the Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme (ESRT) by foreign and Vietnamese experts as part of the Viet Nam Human Resources Development in Tourism Project funded by the EU.

It is for use in travel businesses, by tourism training providers, and in evaluating students.

The Viet Nam Administration of Tourism has tasked the ESRT with popularising the standards with tourism businesses and training institutions.

Following standards for the front office, those for nine others – onsite guidance, small and medium-sized enterprises, hotel management, tourist boat services, food and beverage services, housekeeping, food preparation, travel operations and travel agents, and tour operations — are expected to be rolled out by April.

Equipment supply

The programme supports localities by providing basic equipment for tourism occupational skill training worth 300,000 euros (US$406,000), of which 200,000 euros are meant for tourism colleges and the rest for community centres.

A list of five such colleges and 10 centres were approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and European Union in Viet Nam last year.

The colleges are in Lao Cai, Son La, Nghe An, Gia Lai, and Kien Giang.

The task is expected to be completed by the end of March. — VNS