Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, currently facing a labour shortage, has plans to ignite enthusiasm among the rural youth to join the sector via an Rs.50 million campaign over three years. This campaign to attract particularly youth and women is a private sector driven initiative where school leavers would be asked to join the industry as [...]

Business Times

Tourism industry hunts for job seekers

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Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, currently facing a labour shortage, has plans to ignite enthusiasm among the rural youth to join the sector via an Rs.50 million campaign over three years.

This campaign to attract particularly youth and women is a private sector driven initiative where school leavers would be asked to join the industry as hoteliers, tour operators and travel agents are facing a drop in the numbers willing to work in this sector.

Tourist Hoteliers Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President Sanath Ukwatte told the Business Times on Tuesday that they would be detailing to the youth the career development and paths available in the industry and the kind of requirement necessary to become successful hoteliers.

In addition, he pointed out they needed to attract women to the industry as the women quotient has come down a lot in the industry.

In this respect, Mr. Ukwatte explained they intend attracting the women seeking employment in the Middle East to join the industry by highlighting the perks of joining the trade.

Less than 10 per cent of the total workforce in the industry comprises women and this figure needs to be pushed up to 30 per cent, he said.

Unlike the apparel industry and working overseas, the opportunities in the hotel and related services sector were immense in going up the career ladder with even a possibility of working in a foreign country as well, the THASL President noted.

In this respect, the THASL believes it would be ideal to start the opportunity to approach the workers first from the Southern province and later expand islandwide to Kandy, Central and North and East provinces.

This 3-year campaign is set to attract youth and women through the television and print media including regional level workshops, Mr. Ukwatte said adding that they would also seek the support of society leaders and religious leaders.

Some of the perks on offer in this sector would be the increased service charge that is expected to significantly increase their take-home pay, he said adding that employees would have the opportunity of travelling to work from home as well.

The industry hopes to collaborate with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority in this regard as well.

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