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Ms Jennie Chua, Chairperson of the Tourism Industry Skills and Training Council Council members Ladies and gentlemen
Introduction
I am happy to join you this evening for the launch of the Tourism Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) System.
2. This is a useful occasion to paint the big picture of our overall efforts to strengthen and facilitate the services sector as a growth engine for Singapore’s economy. The services sector now accounts for over 60% of GDP. It is also the dominant source of job creation and employs 70% of our workforce.
3. Singapore has established its capabilities in the manufacturing sectors. Qualities such as efficiency, productivity, connectivity, good quality control and a low defect rate attract others to invest in manufacturing plants within Singapore. Similarly, if we are to become a leading services hub within Asia, relevant qualities and capabilities must be built up. The key to achieving this will be the skill sets and competencies of the worker. So, while the Council has organised a unique and interesting programme for us today - which include tour hosts, housekeeping attendants, bellmen, and animal trainers –there is a deeper and more important message. The services sector, as in the Tourism industry needs many skilled workers to thrive and grow, and at all levels, from rank and file workers to top managers and craftsmen.
4. The tourism sector is a growth industry. Last year, tourist arrivals increased by 7% over 2004, and hit record levels. Tourism receipts in 2005 were 10.8 billion dollars, up 10% over 2004. The average length of stay of visitors has also increased. Riding on this momentum, the Singapore Tourism Board has set even higher targets for this year - 12 billion dollars in tourism receipts and 9.4 million visitor arrivals.
5. The growth is in turn supported by many tourism developments –hotels such as Siloso Beach Resort, Amara@Sentosa and the Boutique Hotel@Tiong Bahru, attractions such as the Singapore Flyer, and entertainment joints such as St James Power Station and Ministry of Sound.
6. The biggest projects are of course the Integrated Resorts. The Marina IR alone is expected to generate 10,000 jobs within the IR, and another 20,000 jobs around it. I am especially heartened to read in the newspapers that the Las Vegas Sands, the developer of the selected="true"="true" proposal, is prepared to have Singaporeans taking up three quarters, and if possible, all of its workforce in the Marina IR. To make sure that happens, we must start to prepare our workers now, so that they have the right skills and attitude to be considered for the jobs.
Tourism WSQ
7. We have therefore started to invest resources and effort to build a local pool of skilled workers. Our universities, polytechnics and ITE have started many tourism-related courses, to impart in our youngsters the skills requirement of the industry. We are bringing in world renowned international universities, such as Cornell University and University of Nevada Las Vegas, to add to the choices for Singaporeans.
8. As for adult workers, we want to ensure that there is an avenue for them to consider joining the tourism industry. Whatever career you are already in now, it is never too late to consider a switch. To achieve this, many members of the industry have been working with WDA to draw up skills standards and developing a formal qualification system for the industry. I am happy to announce that their work has been completed.
9. So today, we are launching the Tourism WSQ –a skills and qualifications framework for the tourism workforce. With WSQ, the Government is conferring national qualifications and certification to workers in the Tourism sector, and showing them the skills upgrading pathways to support their career progression. It will help uplift the image and professionalism of the industry. It will motivate workers in the tourism industry to attain qualifications and upgrade skills and raise productivity.
10. I am encouraged that many companies in the tourism sector have come on-board as early adopters of WSQ. They range from hotels and accommodation services like Shangri-La Singapore, Pan Pacific Singapore, Raffles International Training Centre (RITC), The Ascott Group Limited, to attractions like the Singapore Discovery Centre, Singapore Zoological Gardens, Underwater World and Royal Selangor, to travel companies like Chan Brothers Travel. They are training their current workers, and preparing new hires with WSQ certified skills. We also have the buy-in of strong training providers, such as the Singapore International Hotel and Tourism College (SHATEC), Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), UNLV (Singapore campus), and Tourism Management Institute of Singapore (TMIS), to deliver WSQ courses.
11. The Sentosa Leisure Group has also decided to take a bold and encouraging step. It is partnering WDA and the Tourism Academy@Sentosa (TAS), to equip the entire Sentosa’s workforce, of about 3,000, in relevant skills certified under the Tourism WSQ Framework. For a start, they will deliver service excellence to all staff in Sentosa, from CEO to manager to the cleaner, to ensure consistency in the delivery of service standards, and to build the unique Sentosa service experience.
12. With the strong support of the companies and the training providers, WSQ will become the stamp of quality for a job candidate in the tourism industry. It means that for an adult worker who is trying to join the Tourism industry from another unrelated industry, there is now an avenue for you to convert your skills and be certified to a national standard, thereby maximising his chances of landing a job in this high growth sector.
Providing Opportunities to Workers
13. These developments in the Tourism Industry are part of our overall efforts to gear up our preparations to diversify our economic base into the services sector. Broadly, the strategy is centred on high standards of skills that will set the Singapore worker apart and ahead of our competitors. The GEMS movement was a part of this effort and served to create a national awareness to improve our service standards. But to sustain good service delivery in individual sectors, we will need to involve business partners and other stakeholders to train and upgrade the mass of their workers. Last year, I announced that the Government will set aside 100 million dollars to develop the WSQ system and to set up world class service training institutions.
14. WDA is spearheading and coordinating these efforts on a national level. Last year, it completed the WSQ for the retail industry, and set up the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS), a joint project with Nanyang Polytechnic, to equip retail workers with WSQ skills. SIRS aims to train and place at least 1,000 workers into the retail industry in 2006. To do so, it will have to forge partnerships with the retail industry and the companies, reach out to job seekers, and provide them with career guidance and job search services.
15. At the World Gourmet Summit award ceremony in April this year, I announced a new programme called CRAFT for Chefs –a training cum apprenticeship programme to develop a new generation of culinary masters for the F&B sector. The training will also be based on the WSQ system for adult workers.
16. Today, we are launching the Tourism WSQ. WDA is also working with other sectors, including Infocomms, precision engineering and others, which we will launch in the coming months.
17. With all these initiatives, we seek to put Singapore on the map as a country that is known for its high quality of service standards. It is an ambitious goal but one that will assure multiple pathways for adult workers to acquire skills, find good jobs and progress in their careers. These efforts will bring more high paying jobs for Singaporeans. Our commitment to Singaporean workers is that even if they have somehow missed out on formal education, or need to change industry because of economic restructuring, the pathways to acquire new skills and find new jobs are available.
Conclusion
18. We also have with us parents and teachers today. We hope the event tonight impresses upon you that Tourism is a highly skilled industry, which offers good career progression, and a fun and exciting profession.
19. In closing, let me thank all of you again for your efforts and contributions towards the development of the Tourism WSQ. Your continued commitment, support and partnership are crucial to the success of our tourism sector. Let us all work together to build a vast talent pool of local workforce to help Singapore achieve its Tourism 2015 vision. Thank you.
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