Tourism audit to assess labour needs and skills
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is taking part in a Caribbean-wide online survey on labour needs and skills in the tourism market. The Regional Human Resources Development Knowledge and Skills Audit for the Tourism Industry has been commissioned by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. The survey is being administered by A-Z Information Jamaica Limited and local participation will facilitated by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. The data collected will be fed back to each country, which will assist in the goal to develop a skilled tourism workforce.
“A primary focus for the Ministry of Tourism and Transport is ensuring that our workforce has the necessary skills for the industry,” said Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan. “By working with the CTO for this audit, we will gain valuable data to identify gaps and further invest in our people. I encourage all relevant members of the industry to take the time to complete these surveys as your participation will assist the government in improving our tourism product.”
The audit is a series of surveys targeted at different areas of the industry. The first survey is the General Establishment Survey that forms the primary data collection portion. It should be completed by owners, CEOs, managing directors, general managers or human resources managers in the tourism industry, including those who are self-employed. This first survey is available until Monday, 1 November.
People in the Cayman Islands can take part in the survey by visiting the DoT website. Over the course of the next four weeks, other surveys will become available for completion.
Tourism Director Rosa Harris said the department “is dedicated to supporting our tourism workforce and collaborating with our regional partners to investigate opportunities for our people through research. We will use this information to further inform our decisions as we continue to develop our national tourism training opportunities.”
Visit the DoT website for more information on the survey.
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Skills as in how well can you mix a drink. Too bad rolling a spliff isn’t seen as a skill as is pouring alcohol into a container and shaking it around.
Our opening will be a false start since we’ll be on the red-list soon.
I still think lots of caymanians refuse to do tourism and financial services jobs as they just refuse to play the game and be polite and serve people properly. They think they are entitled to a good job without training for it and trying to be the best on island.
I have worked in every industry-hotels, financial services, customer service, home services, government. It is not feeling entitled, it is common courtesy. Personally, I will not be polite and well-mannered with a customer who is a total A-hole and thinks that because they are paying they can treat me like their mop. Sorry. They can stuff their money where the sun doesn’t reach.
I don’t work I them because neither crunching numbers nor caring for people appeal to me as a job. (I’d also be a bad nurse.) But according to you its because I have an entitled mentality. Talk about leaping to conclusions.
If only all tourism companies shared the grats properly it could be a worthwhile career.
Tour companies on land and sea dont share the inclusive grats that groups and corporations pay in advance.
Casual workers on boats and busses therefore depend on stray cash tips; which they often dont get as guests assume their grats paid will be shared with staff.
No locals can tolerate this.
Why hasn’t government banned permits for tour guides and drivers anyways?!!
Minister Kenneth announced a new bartending course last week. But we haven’t heard a word since regarding details.
Is this just a token to rubber stamp thousands of permits?!!
Bartending courses have been offered many times over the years but not enough people commit long enough to remain for the duration of the course for it to become a steady offering. Hopefully this time it fares better.
Completely agree. I was a waiter for four years while I went to university. Then, I managed environmental projects and made lots of money. Then I worked as an accounts auditor for governmental projects. Then I came here in a similar capacity. Then Covid happened, and I worked construction. Now, I mostly dig ditches and post holes, however my education makes me dig them with walls that are square and structurally sound.
This sounds like I’m making fun of you, but I’m not. Nobody has ever forced me into employment. I’ve always chosen what I wanted to do, and I’m happy with what I’m doing now.
Now, more than ever, we are defined by our ability to adapt. Be safe.
Why are you still here
Who the hell would want to work in the Tourism industry now? Catering to complaining visitors that will only give you covid as a tip.
That’s not the point, the real reason for all this is that “I wanna be re-elected” is going through the motions to show how much he cares for …his people.
I only have two words to contribute: Transferable skills. All of us have them. Just because you were a waitress for 15 years, does not mean you cannot learn to take reservations and go to work for a hotel. If you worked at the dock receiving tourists but you have social graces, then you can be a concierge at a hotel. Polish yourself and go get them, tiger!
Like if you were a counter clerk for CIG you could… Nevermind.
Just adopt the core Ritz Carlton experience strategies and apply them universally to our offerings in Cayman. It involves biting your tongue and agreeing with a surly customer even when they are wrong, rude, and/or drunk. Remembering names, smiling, and kissing wealthy foreigner ass. All of these things are hard and soul-consuming, but those are the fundamental not-so-secrets to customer retention, high repeat visitor loyalty, and also sweet tips.
Anyone can enroll in their courses:
https://ritzcarltonleadershipcenter.com/virtual-offerings/
Yeah, understand, but that’s a no from me dawg.
I have no problem with those who do this and make good money. Much respect.
28/10/2021 at 10:54 am Hard pass for me. Anyone who can stomach that kind of crap can go for it, but not me. All I ask for is common courtesy; if I receive it, I will extend it.
Rubbing shoulders with the self-made multi-millionaires, billionaires, patent innovators, and global business titans who attend and socialise at our 4 and 5 star hotels/restaturants, and understanding who they are, their scope, power, and interests (beyond refilling their water glass), can open many doors in life. Pity more Caymanians are so preloaded with closed-mindedness, and bias, that they dismiss putting themselves in direct proximity of that power-dynamic gift-horse. They can’t see beyond the basic pay check, time sheet, and duties to the bigger opportunity and life leverage that comes with congenial rapport.