Careers in Hospitality and Tourism- The Reality is Now
By Donn Richard
March 2008
Singapore
Global tourism is one of the largest sectors of the Global Economy. Additionally, many experts forecast significant, continual growth as the target market (tourists) becomes increasingly selective and demanding in where and how they choose to spend their money. This has meant an increase in high-end tourist facilities even in countries whose economies were primarily driven by manufacturing or even by low-end tourism.
Singapore is a case in point. Singapore's economy has been driven primarily by electronics manufacturing, financial services, and oil refining. Its infrastructure is superb, including one of the World’s most efficient airports. It has consistently been noted for its safe, low-crime atmosphere.
In short, Singapore has all the necessary ingredients for a thriving, successful tourism sector.
More importantly, the Singapore Government is aware of all this and had set the Singapore Tourism Board on an aggressive drive to increase tourism over the past 3-4 years. This drive has already yielded positive results. Tourist arrivals have risen dramatically and are expected to continue increasing far into the foreseeable future.
Singapore’s tourism sector currently makes up three percent of the city’s GDP. However, forecasts predict this number to rise to up to 10 percent by 2015.
The Singapore government is committed to doubling the number of visitors to 17 million a year by 2015, and to treble tourism receipts to $30 billion. This means enormous job creation in tourism and hospitality.
Let us consider present examples. Singapore was very recently chosen to be the host city for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010. This event alone will draw an estimated 200,000 visitors to Singapore.
MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) are often considered to be the fundamental building block of the tourism sector. Singapore has shown its pulling power by successfully hosting what are without doubt two of the jewels of the MICE market. These were the 2006 Annual Meetings of The Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.
Furthermore, the already famous Orchard Rd is currently undergoing a massive makeover. Additionally, Singapore hosts the prestigious Formula 1 Grand Prix (ambitiously held at night and thus making it Asia first "night" street race.) There continues to be investment in leisure, business and education, including Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest marine life park at Resorts World at Sentosa, The National Art Gallery, the 35-hectare Sports Hub, new marinas for yachts, gardens by the bay... and of course the two casinos.
New entertainment districts are opening all over the city, especially along the Singapore River. No less than 15 new hotels are expected to welcome visitors in an estimated 6,400+ additional rooms by 2010.
The Integrated Resorts alone are expected to attract an additional 2-3 million visitors.
The above has dealt primarily with infrastructure and tourism arrivals. However, a more important factor is human resources. Singapore’s unemployment rate of around 2% is one of the lowest in the world. As a result, manpower is extremely stretched. Again, this means terrific opportunities for employment in the Tourism and Hospitality sector!
There is an incredible and diverse range of jobs that the tourism industry can offer. If interacting with tourists and customers is not for you, there are numerous behind-the-scenes possibilities e.g. IT, production, marketing, secretarial work etc. The opportunities are endless.
The hottest study programmes at the moment are in hospitality and tourism. And enrollment will certainly increase with the announcement by the MOE that it is soon introducing a quality assurance scheme called EduTrust to replace CaseTrust. This to ensure that academic excellence at all private tourism & hospitality colleges in Singapore are met. The importance of a government sponsored quality assurance scheme cannot be over-emphasized.
Successful completion of high school is enough to enter the industry. Of course, career advancement will certainly require further education, whether it be in-company training or outside. And for those whose career aspirations include management, a degree will be needed. Again this does not mean that a degree is a prerequisite. It is possible to start as a clerk and end up as a manager.
As such, it is imperative to consider that Training and skills upgrading for working adults is offered under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework developed by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
There are various Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) Training programmes that assist adult workers in the tourism & hospitality industry.
Scholarships and training subsidies are made available for Singaporeans and PRs. Additional help is given with work placement upon completion of a particular study programme by the government approved training organizations. For more details visit http://tourismfnb.wsq.gov.sg
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) offers scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in collaboration with renowned tourism industries and four partner schools. Generously, the involved company will also provide sponsorship.
Some of the institutes that offer STB scholarships are:
Cornell-Nanyang
Institute of Hospitality offers a Master degree programme to meet the needs of
outstanding students and working professionals who wish to further their careers
in the hospitality industry.
For more information visit:
www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/admissions/mmh/finance/sing.html#STB
Temasek
Polytechnic offers three diploma study programmes, namely the Diploma in
Culinary & Catering Management, the Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management,
and the Diploma in Leisure & Resort Management.
For more information visit:
www-bus.tp.edu.sg/bus_home/bus_courses/bus_ft_courses.htm
Republic
Polytechnic offers the Diploma in Integrated Events Management.
For more information visit:
http://www.rp.sg
Nanyang
Technological University offers the Bachelor of Business (Tourism and
Hospitality Management.)
For more information visit:
www.ntu.edu.sg/Admissions/Scholarships/stb.htm
The STB FIREfly Scholarship Programme.
For more information visit:www.stb.com.sg/careers/scholarship.html
Some advantages
the Tourism & Hospitality industry offers:
-
The ever
increasing number of tourist arrivals
- The ever increasing number of meetings, conventions and exhibitions held here
-
Guaranteed
advancement opportunities and a secure career
- Competitive pay
- The diversity of jobs tourism brings
--
Employment
opportunities at globally recognizable brands
- The chance to promote Singapore to the world and while contributing to its
economic success
- Great subsidized training opportunities at quality educational establishments
- Chances to interface and
learn from people of other cultures
Some disadvantages
the Tourism & Hospitality industry offers:
-
Shift work
required in some positions (but often as
you’re climbing up the ladder into managerial
positions, you’ll find yourself working more regular hours.)
- It can be stressful dealing with the public on a regular basis (people in this
line of work need patience and a calm, problem-solving attitude)
Interesting Links:
Careers in Tourism & Hospitality
http://app.tourismcareers.sg/main (Must Read info provided by the Singapore Tourism Board)
www.centralsingaporecdc.org.sg (provides direct job-matching services for the unemployed)
www.northeast.org.sg (provides direct job-matching services for the unemployed)
www.northwestcdc.org.sg (provides direct job-matching services for the unemployed)
www.southeastcdc.org.sg (provides direct job-matching services for the unemployed)
www.southwestcdc.org.sg (provides direct job-matching services for
the unemployed)
https://pes.wda.gov.sg/jbs/Logon/index.aspx
(employment service system provided by SWDA)
Careers at Integrated Resorts
http://www.singaporedice.com/latestjobs.html (our very own jobs page with positions at the IRs)
www.rwsentosa.com/en_careers.html (jobs page of Resorts World at Sentosa)
http://careers.marinabaysands.com/Default.aspx
(jobs page of the Marina Bay Sands)
Colleges Offering Tourism and Hospitality Study Programmes
www.acpe.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.nanyang.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.shinescollege.com (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.easb.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.unlv.edu.sg (UNLV Singapore Harrah Hotel College offers tourism related study programmes)
www.cni.ntu.edu.sg/index.shtml (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.sp.edu.sg (polytechnic offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.nyp.edu.sg (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.tourismacademy.edu.sg (the Tourism Academy at Sentosa)
www.shatec.sg (Singapore Hotel Association College offering programs in tourism & hospitality)
www.sheltoncollege.edu.sg (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.rafflescampus.edu.sg (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.np.edu.sg/Pages/default.aspx (college offering tourism & hospitality study programmes)
www.mdis.edu.sg/index.php (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.tmis.edu.sg(official training arm of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore)
www.apmi.edu.sg/index.php (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
http://dimensions.edu.sg/index.htm (college offering tourism & hosp. related study programmes)
www.aec.edu.sg/index.php (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.bradfordrex.com.sg (college offering casino tourism/hospitality related study programmes)
www.ite.edu.sg (college offering part-time courses designed to meet the needs of adult learners)
www.sim.edu.sg (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.hotelschool.cornell.edu (institute offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www-bus.tp.edu.sg (polytechnic offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.rp.sg (polytechnic offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.ntu.edu.sg (university offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
Casino Dealer Colleges
www.icgtraining.com (casino dealer college)
www.agmi.sg
(casino dealer college)
Casino & Tourism/Hospitality Colleges
www.acpe.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.nanyang.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.shinescollege.com (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.easb.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.bradfordrex.com.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programs)
www.tmis.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programs)
www.dimensions.edu.sg(college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
Must Visit Links
www.singaporedice.com/careersandjobsatmbsandrws (Must Read article by Donn Richard if you want to know more about career opportunities at the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa)
www.singaporedice.com/studyoptions.php (Must Read article by Donn Richard if you wish to enter the casino industry)
www.singaporedice.com/singaporevsmacauandhongkong.php (Must Read article by Donn Richard if you want to know more about tourism in Macau and Hong kong compared to tourism in Singapore)
http://app.tourismcareers.sg/main (Must Visit website by the
Singapore Tourism Board. Offers valuable advice for people considering a career
in tourism and hospitality)
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