HANOI – The tourism industry has been coping with HR challenges, although it is showing positive signs of recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.
During a Q&A session before the National Assembly Standing Committee on the afternoon of August 10, the ministers of labor and tourism answered questions on solutions to improve the quality of human resources in tourism, a key factor relevant to the recovery of this industry.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung stated that the tourism industry was among those most harmed by the pandemic. After reopening, Vietnam has prioritized domestic tourism since attracting international tourists is still a difficult task.
Each country has its own pandemic prevention strategies, causing considerable challenges to receive foreign tourists. While Vietnam is prepared to welcome international tourists, it still needs to overcome some difficulties.
For solutions to HR problems in the tourism industry, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has strengthened the capacity of institutions and lecturers, promoting local and international cooperation in HR training, improving vocational skills with occupational standards at the national and international levels.
The ministry suggested continuing to support employees in this field with specific policies.
For HR development, the overall assessment of HR quality in the tourism industry is a dire need. Priority should be given to vocational education and training.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has carried out the project to develop a national qualification framework for key occupations in tourism. Moreover, the ministry has cooperated with relevant ministries and departments to evaluate and issue several national occupational standards compatible with the ASEAN.
The list of level IV training faculties in tourism from occupational to post-graduate education has been completed.
In response to questions from the National Assembly deputies, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said that relevant ministries and departments had joined hands to improve the current situation of HR and employment in the sector.
According to statistics, there are 19.8 million people working in the tourism industry, a massive increase compared to the previous quarter.
The labor market in the tourism industry has recently bounced back after being negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Reopening strategies and policies supporting business and employees have created a basis for the industry’s recovery and growth.
Many policies have been implemented to help the labor market recover, including solutions to retain and attract workers, and support on-the-job training. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has issued a list of level IV training faculties in tourism for vocational and college education.
Currently, the labor industry has applied a hands-on approach which means learning by doing and studying basic knowledge and skills in vocational institutions. Vietnamese students participating in the ASEAN Skills Competitions have also achieved good results.
As for long-term solutions, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung pointed out seven groups of solutions, training in knowledge, professional skills, self-control ability and adaptability; improving the system of national and regional occupational skills standards; attracting quality talent suitable for the industry; planning synchronous linkages between the government and local authorities, travel businesses and educational institutions; diversifying forms of study and training; counseling and providing students with career orientation.
Furthermore, it is necessary to apply some short-term policies focusing on vocational training for workers.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism should coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to develop a labor development project in the tourism industry for both short-term and long-term training, in terms of basic knowledge and vocational education.
