Students who thought housekeeping and bartending as interesting as the tourism industry got were in for a surprise at the Ministry of Tourism’s (MOT) careers fair. On Monday, the MOT kicked off its third annual two-day fair at the Kendal G Issacs Gymnasium.
This tourism pitch focused on 11th and 12th grade students from public and private high schools throughout The Bahamas, realising that those donning uniforms today would be poised for positions in the country’s number one industry in the future. Undoubtedly, some students have determined to become doctors, lawyers, artists, or professors, but the MOT’s careers fair hoped to attract those who might be less certain about their futures, or even sway those who think they know, as teenagers often do, into the multi-faceted and wonderful world of tourism.
“A lot of students have told us through surveys that they think that all of the tourism jobs are at the bottom of the career ladder,” said Ruthann Rolle, Manager of Tourism awareness. According to Ms Rolle, that’s simply a misconception. She said many students have a false perception of the industry, failing to realise that there are jobs at all levels and definitely there is money to be made. “Today is a dismantling of the myths,” said Ms Rolle who is also chairperson for the careers fair which attracted about 900 students.
Perhaps it’s easy to see why those misconceptions exist. Some politicians and economists have been saying for years that tourism creates jobs with limited horizons, without the hope of opportunities for advancement. Several employers participated in the fair, challenging that position by showing that the industry is indeed diverse.
For students who instinctively equate hotels with tourism, it must have been an eye-opener to see just how specialised the industry is.
Each of the hotels participating brought to the forefront its unique forte. Sandals, reknown as one of the best wedding and honeymoon destinations in the Caribbean, showcased that aspect of the industry for potential, would-be wedding planners.
Atlantis, the award-winning, family resort showcased several areas of the industry including landscaping, marine park, information technology, and security surveillance.
Other hotels like the Hilton and Radisson focused on food and beverage and convention services, while the Radisson was the sole resort holding the platform for casino services.
Although hotels and resorts were a major presence at the fair, The College of The Bahamas (COB) and Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) focused on the culinary aspect of the industry.
The organisation with the most diverse platform was the MOT which hosted interactive sessions with students to introduce them to careers related to tourism such as films production, training and education, communications, and the People-to-People progra-mme. Overall there were 18 employers who participated.
It’s evident that tourism has grown over the years where young people have an opportunity to take up posts in the industry that also requires degrees. According to Ms Rolle, “We have students who are entering the industry now with degrees.
“It is becoming a very qualified industry and soon to come is a release on the Human Resources Needs Assessment Survey that was done by COB’s research department and The Bahamas Hotel Association, in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism.”
An industry that already seems saturated, hiring most of the country’s workforce, has more positions to fill according to Ms Rolle, which made it an important effort to reach these students. “We are in excess of 1,000 jobs this year that we need to fill,” added Ms Rolle who was hesitant to give more details on that disclosure.
As for what positions there are to be filled, those that are interested will just have to wait for the report.
By: BARRY WILLIAMS, The Nassau Guardian
