This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Tourism careers on the menu
17/03/2003
"Training and skills levels in the tourism industry are integral to delivering a quality product and ensuring Scotland's place as a must visit destination", Tourism Minister Mike Watson said today.
The Minister stressed the need for the industry to improve its reputation as an attractive career choice to young people during a visit to Glasgow College of Food Technology.
Mr Watson said:
"The tourism industry can offer a huge variety of career opportunities to people of all ages and abilities yet it continues to be tarnished by a false reputation characterised be low pay, unsociable working hours and stop-gap choices.
"Experience can be gained and careers built in hospitality, retail, transport, travel and many more disciplines at all levels through to senior management. There are also opportunities for self-employment and business start-ups.
"The level of skills and training in tourism is an integral part of delivering a quality visitor experience because VisitScotland analysis shows that many complaints are focussed on staff performance and attitudes.
"To address this VisitScotland has established a working group to develop a Strategy and Action Plan to improve and co-ordinate industry skills and training. The foundation that students gain through courses such as those offered by Glasgow College of Food Technology are an ideal springboard for lifetime learning and continued career development in hospitality and tourism."
The Working Group which will improve and co-ordinate industry skills and training will include: the Scottish Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Careers Scotland, the Scottish Tourism Forum, Springboard Scotland, as well as Tourist Boards and industry representatives.
The Scottish Executive's Tourism Framework for Action Implementation Group, set up last year, is devising a project aimed at ensuring basic attitudes towards skills and training in the tourism sector improve.